My skin is extremely sensitive, and I also have taken allergic reactions to products, so I test EVERYTHING on my arms for at least 24 hours before testing on my face.
I’ve tried various products with retinol over the past couple of years. I wish I had kept track of everything that I’ve tried. The ones listed below I have tried over the past year, and this is my experience of trying them out. Your experience might be different than mine because everyone’s skin is different, as are sensitivity levels.
With any retinol product use, sunscreen is a MUST! And you should be wearing it anyways!
First up we have Paula’s Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol (1.7oz, $29 USD, mini sample 0.05oz $1 USD).

As per the Paula’s Choice website:
Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer contains a unique complex of ingredients proven to remodel your skin by building and preserving collagen, firming skin and protecting against moisture loss. The feather-light, silky texture provides substantial hydration. The active ingredients in the Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer are proven to make a visible difference in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, and skin firmness.
My experience – This one is probably the best place to start if you’ve never used retinol based products before. I moved from using this every second night, to every night within a few days of using it. I think that it did help with fine lines and evened out my skin tone. But over our colder than usual winter, I didn’t find it gave me enough hydration, so I decided to try out the next retinol in serum form:
Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum (1oz, $40 USD, mini sample 0.034oz $1.50 USD)

Described on the website:
Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum is an exclusive formula that utilizes a proprietary blend of highly stabilized retinol, potent antioxidants, and skin-repairing ingredients. Its soothing, silky texture goes to work immediately to help skin of any age look and act younger. Anti-irritants reduce redness and soothe sensitive skin, and the serum helps fade red marks from past breakouts. With ongoing use, you will see fewer wrinkles, smoother skin, and improved skin tone.
My experience – I love this serum. It mixes well with other serums (like vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid). It really does go on silky. I think that because my skin was used to the moisturizer with retinol, that it made switching this one so easy. I think that it is helping with fine lines, and my skin is definitely smoother. I would recommend this one, but if you have sensitive skin, try to gradually introduce it if you’ve never used retinol based products before (like every third night, and then move to every second before using nightly.
This final product, I had received with a recent Paula’s Choice order, as a gift with purchase. Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment (1oz, $55 USD, trial size sample .16oz, $20 USD)

According to the website:
Combined with potent antioxidants, Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment is specially formulated to smooth and firm skin by helping to boost cell regeneration and stimulate collagen production. Its creamy lotion texture absorbs quickly and goes to work immediately to refine pore size, reduce deep wrinkles, fine lines, brown spots—it can even help breakouts, too! Licorice, oat extract and other anti-irritants help to minimize the irritation some people may get from products containing high amounts of retinol. You’ll be amazed at how much younger and radiant your skin will look and feel.
My experience: This one is in lotion form. It was way too strong for my sensitive skin. It stings, as in OMG GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF NOW! I didn’t use this one long enough to notice any benefits. I thought that I would be able to use this one since my skin had already adjusted to the previous retinol products. Nope. If you have sensitive skin, I would steer clear of this one.
All three products can be purchased on the Paula’s Choice website.
Disclosure: I paid for the two full sized retinol products, and third one (the trial sample size) was a gift with purchase.
Thanks for reading!!! ❤
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