Paula’s Choice Gel Exfoliant 8% Glycolic Acid – Review

What does Paula’s Choice AHA Gel Exfoliant do?

Paula’s Choice 8% Gel Exfoliant is a mild and non-abrasive Glycolic Acid exfoliator that gently removes the dead skin cells and debris from your skin, revealing the radiance hidden below. With powerful antioxidants, the surface of your skin is revitalized, firmness is enhanced and mild discolorations and fine lines reduced. Your skin is smoother and softer and looks more healthy, clean and vibrant.

8% Glycolic Acid AHA Gel Exfoliant

Contains Chamomile and Green Tea

Reduces skin discolorations & fine lines

Minimizes pore size and unblocks pores

Stimulates collagen and elastin

Firms your skin

Gentle formula can be used twice a day

Fragrance free & non-irritating

No parabens or propylene glycol

Not tested on animals

All skin types

pH 3.5 to 3.9


Who should use Paula’s Choice AHA Gel Exfoliant?

If your skin is dry and is showing early signs of aging, this AHA Gel Exfoliant Glycolic Acid Peel by Paula’s Choice will smooth, soften and brighten your skin. This lightweight formulation gently reduces fine lines and wrinkles, hydrates your skin, smooths your complexion and minimizes mild hyper-pigmentation and age spots.

Gel Exfoliant

It also helps to increase cellular activity and firm your skin by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. This Gel Exfoliant is so gentle that it can be used twice a day for beautiful, clean healthy skin in a matter of weeks.

You can also check out Paula’s Choice RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment that is a 10% AHA Exfoliant for very dry skin.


How to use Paula’s Choice AHA Gel Exfoliant

You can use this Gel Exfoliant once a week or twice a day – it’s gentle formula can be used as often as you like to rejuvenate your skin. However, only apply the gel to your face after you have cleansed your face and neck, but make sure to avoid the lips and eye area. With Paula’s Choice Gel Exfoliant, you don’t need to rinse it away, instead you can leave the gel on your face and follow with a sunscreen SPF 15 or greater during the day (glycolic acid increases the sensitivity of your skin to the sun)  and use your favorite moisturizer at night. 


Ingredients in Paula’s Choice AHA Gel Exfoliant

Paula’s Choice AHA Gel Exfoliant is available in a 100 ml (3.3 fl oz) pump action dispenser and contains the following key ingredients:  Glycolic Acid, Green Tea, Vitamin E and Licorice. Below you will find a full list of the ingredients.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycolic Acid (exfoliant), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (skin-replenishing emollient), Glycerin (skin-replenishing/hydration), Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), Beheneth-5 (emulsifier), Behenyl Alcohol (fatty alcohol/emollient thickener), Dimethicone (silicone slip agent), Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate (emollient thickener), Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate (emollient emulsifier), Undecane (emollient), Phospholipids (skin-replenishing fatty acids), Allantoin (skin soothing), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant),Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (soothing plant extract), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (non-fragrant skin-replenishing emollient), Bisabolol (soothing plant component), Arctium Lappa Root Extract (burdock root; antioxidant and soothing plant), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (licorice-derived soothing agent), Panthenol (hydrating B vitamin), Sodium Acrylates Copolymer (film-forming agent), Tridecane (emollient), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene (emollient), Sclerotium Gum (emulsion stabiliser), Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate (emulsifier), Disodium EDTA (chelating agent), Ethylhexylglycerin (preservative), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).

Benefits of Glycolic Acid

As the smallest member of the Alpha Hydroxy family, Glycolic Acid easily penetrates the surface layer of your skin to remove all the dead cells and debris that has accumulated over the years. All of this debris not only blocks your pores, creating blackheads and breakouts, but it can make your skin look old, dull and tired, and this build-up also prevents your other skincare products from penetrating your skin – reducing their efficacy.

Glycolic Acid removes this barrier on your skin, allowing other nourishing ingredients and skincare products to better penetrate your skin. Removing this debris also helps to remove blackheads and white heads, as well as reducing fine lines and wrinkles, evening your skin tone, smoothing your skin and reducing mild skin discolorations.

Benefits of Green Tea

As a powerful antioxidant, Green Tea is a fabulous ingredient for reversing the signs of free radical damage in your skin and protecting your skin from further damage. Sun spots and age spots, as well as other mild hyper-pigmentation problems can be reduced by including antioxidants as an ingredient in your skincare products, as well as in your diet.

Green tea ingredient in hyaluronic acid serum & Gel Exfoliant

Benefits of Vitamin E

Another potent antioxidant, Vitamin E softens and smooths your skin – smoothing imperfections and mild pigmentation issues so that your skin tone becomes more even and your skin more youthful and radiant. It helps to heal the damage caused by free radicals and along with Green Tea gives you a  double dose of these powerful antioxidants to maximize the softening and protection provided by this wonderful gel.

Benefits of Licorice

Licorice is a well known antioxidant ingredient that is used to brighten your skin and to reduce discolorations and age spots on your skin, as well as dark circles under your eyes. Licorice is said to be beneficial for fading skin blemishes, healing dry skin, reversing the signs of free radical damage and providing protection from harmful UV rays.


Overview of Paula’s Choice AHA Gel Exfoliant

If your skin is starting to show the first signs of aging with fine lines and wrinkles or mild discolorations and age spots, then the Paula’s Choice Gel Exfoliant is like magic in a bottle. This stuff is amazing! It smooths and softens your skin, evens out your skin tone and reduces mild pigmentation problems from free radical damage.

Paula's Choice Gel Exfoliant 8 percent Glycolic Acid

With loads of antioxidants and 8% Glycolic Acid, after a few weeks your skin looks refreshed and healthy with a lovely youthful glow. Always follow the directions with any chemical peel (don’t forget to perform a patch test first) and speak to your medical professional if you have any concerns.


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glycolic acid serums

DIVINE Glycolic Acid Skin Peel (40%)

With 40% glycolic acid, the DIVINE Glycolic Acid Skin Peel is one of the stronger alpha hydroxy peels on the market helping to minimize the appearance of uneven skin texture and other signs of ageing. It’s designed to improve your skin tone, stimulate the production of collagen and reduce the appearance of fine lines and large pores. As part of your skincare routine, the DIVINE Glycolic Acid Skin Peel supports natural cell turnover and helps to give you clean, healthy and beautiful looking skin.

Paula’s Choice Gel Exfoliant 8% Glycolic Acid – Review

Paula’s Choice 8% Gel Exfoliant is a mild and non-abrasive glycolic acid exfoliator that gently removes the dead skin cells and debris from your skin, revealing the radiance hidden below. With powerful antioxidants, the surface of your skin is revitalized, firmness is enhanced and mild discolorations and fine lines reduced. Your skin is smoother and softer and looks more healthy, clean and vibrant.

InstaNatural Glycolic Acid Peel 30% – Review

With its advanced resurfacing formula, the InstaNatural Glycolic Acid Peel is designed to professionally exfoliate layers of dead cells from your skin and reveal the younger and fresher skin hidden underneath. These dead skin cells and other debris clog your pores and build up on the surface of your skin, giving your complexion an aged and tired look that is unattractive and undeserved! It also helps to remove blackheads and white heads that gives your skin a bumpy appearance.