Review aha boday paulas choice

I've been on a "test all the AHA body lotions" kick lately. Someday I may do a detailed comparison if I have time, but I'll give you a big fat spoiler right now: Paula's Choice RESIST Skin Revealing Body Lotion with 10% AHA has been the most effective and least annoying to use for me of the bunch so far. Effective how, you may be wondering? Well keep on reading and I'll give you the whole scoop.

First of all, I think it's important to address the reason why I am on the quest for the perfect AHA body lotion. I suffer from Keratosis Pilaris, AKA those annoying little white or red bumps that can appear on your upper arms (or thighs, or other areas). This isn't a life-threatening condition, but I find it unattractive and annoying, so naturally I like trying things that will diminish it. Aside from that, AHA lotions can also also just generally make your skin feel softer, smoother and less dry, which is something that everybody probably wants.

The star ingredient of this product is of course the AHA, in the form of glycolic acid. The pH range is 3.5-3.8, making it very suitable for exfoliation. It also contains a number of other moisturizing agents (such as shea butter), giving the lotion a very nice texture.

Full ingredients: Water, Glycolic Acid (alpha hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone (silicone slip agent), Glycerin (skin-repairing ingredient), Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol (thickeners), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) (emollient antioxidant), Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), PEG-100 Stearate (thickener), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (stabilized vitamin C/antioxidant), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (anti-irritant), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil (non-fragrant plant oil/antioxidant), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Extract (antioxidant), Salix Nigra (Willow Bark) Extract, Allantoin (anti-irritants), Butylene Glycol (slip agent/stabilizer), Xanthan Gum (thickener), Disodium EDTA (chelating agent), sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol (preservatives).

Glycolic acid doesn't play nice with some people's skin, but for me it seems to work exceptionally well. Luckily Paula's Choice sells this (and many of their other products) in sample packets so you can give it a trial run if you're not sure.

The packaging on this product isn't especially elegant: It's just a squeezy tube with a hole. Squish.

Personally I think it would be more convenient if it came in a bottle with a pump since I tend to use it immediately after I shower, but we can't have everything, can we?

The texture of the lotion isn't especially thick, but it isn't super milky or runny either.

OK, now for the good stuff—here's why I prefer this over the other AHA body lotions I've tried:

• Effectiveness. I noticed a big difference in how soft my skin felt after using this just once, and in a week or so my KP was reduced dramatically. Love. I didn't see such immediate results with the other lotions I tried.
• Scent. This product is fragrance-free, and it doesn't really have much of a natural scent to speak of. Some AHA lotions/treatments have a vaguely sour, cat pee-esque smell that is rather unappealing. If anything, this smells slightly like school glue? Inoffensive.
• Texture. This lotion has a nice consistency and sinks into the skin easily. I've noticed that all AHA body lotions tend to make my skin feel a bit "clammy" right after I've used them, but that sensation dissipates the quickest with this lotion.

So yeah, in case you weren't sure, I love it. This may actually be a holy grain product for me—the only aspect of it that I don't love is the price. At $27 for 7oz, it's more expensive than some of the other options I tried (though not ridiculously pricey). Also, Paula's Choice does seem to have sales on their exfoliant products pretty often (Including now! More info below.)

Here are a few other random observations:

• This stuff can make you feel sort of flushed/tingly for a bit, so I would highly recommend not putting it on raw skin. That includes freshly-shaved legs. You won't die if you do it, but it will sting.
• I use this at night because AHA products can make you more photosensitive. I wear sunscreen during the day anyway, but better safe than crispy.
• I know from past experience that if you stop exfoliating, the KP will come back. I feel like once I sort of have it "under control" I can drop down to using this every other day instead of daily though.

What do you think of Paula's Choice 10% AHA Body Lotion? If you have KP or just generally rough/dry skin, what are your favorite products for combating it?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my full disclosure policy.

Can I use AHA body lotion everyday?

“To prevent acne or razor bumps on the body, use a glycolic acid cleanser in the shower,” Dr. Zalka notes. As we mentioned above, the AHA can also help smooth and brighten dry, dull skin. “Use it as a daily moisturizer after showering or bathing and apply while the skin is still moist,” she explains.

What does AHA body lotion do?

This leave-on exfoliant gently removes built-up layers of dead skin, revealing smoother, softer skin from the neck down. It also significantly improves the appearance of hard, clogged, red bumps on arms and legs.

What does Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment do?

This leave-on body exfoliant with 2% BHA, also known as salicylic acid, gently exfoliates built-up layers of dead skin to reveal the radiant, smooth skin hiding underneath.

What does glycolic body lotion do?

Glycolic Body Lotion is supercharged with ingredients that go beyond simple moisture, helping to strengthen and replenish a compromised skin barrier, boosting the production of vital natural moisturizing factors that keep it healthy, soft, and flexible—like ceramides and cholesterol—as well as helping restore and ...