My new skincare discovery

Just when you think you’ve got your skincare routine sorted, along comes another brand to blow everything out of the water.

I discovered Paula’s Choice a year or so ago. I avidly read their Beautypedia reviews and am guided by their suggestions and commentary.

Paula’s Choice are all about following research and being strict about avoiding ingredients that irritate the skin and contain fragrance. They are frustrated that deteriorating and sensitive ingredients such as antioxidants, vitamin C and peptides are packaged by many companies in a way that allows them to breakdown and spoil pretty much the moment you open them. Paula’s Choice hate jar packaging of serums and moisturisers with a passion. Oops Estee Lauder!!

I noticed I was getting low on serum and thought I’d give a Paula’s Choice serum a go. I sent the company an email asking for advice on a skincare routine based on my skin type and symptoms which at the time was oily, aging and dehydrated. They suggested the Hydralight range.

Following that advice I picked up a Hydralight Advanced Kit. And at $135 it was such great value. The kit contained cleanser, toner, exfoliating acid, SPF (day) moisturiser and night moisturiser.  It came with a bonus retinol serum sample.

Well knock me over with a feather, I cannot believe the difference these products have made. My skin was pretty good to start with but the Paula’s Choice products they have taken it to a whole new level.

The biggest difference for me is that my oily-shiny skin now seems to have become closer to normal. I don’t get shiny part-way through the day like I used to.

I’m not sure if it’s because my skin is more hydrated and therefore not over compensating with oil or because it’s better pH balanced or less irritated by the ingredients, but the change is phenomenal. And my makeup primer, which I had to use, is no longer needed.

So here’s my review, product by product:

Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser – I use this as a second or morning cleanser. It has a gel-like texture and my skin seems to soak it in. I rub it in for a while until it starts to create a bit of friction. I remove it with a warm wet face washer. This cleanses my skin beautifully without stripping it and make it feel tight. The individual price is $43.

Hydralight Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner – I put a few drops onto a cotton pad and rub it all over my face. I’m not too sure what this product does but I assume it probably changes the pH and neutralises the skin to get it ready for exfoliation. I apply it morning and night. Individual price is $28.

Skin Perfecting 1% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion – I put a small amount of this all over my face and leave it on. It has an interesting smell which is presumably the salicylic acid. Salicylic works well on clearing pores and exfoliating the skin – perfect for those prone to blemishes. I apply this in the morning. This has helped to keep my skin super smooth. Individual price is $36.

Resist Intensive Repair Retinol Serum – I got myself a trial version to try and was surprised by the oily texture. At first I thought this is going to be too oily for my oily skin but I was surprised how it sinks in and I don't look like an oil slick.

I absolutely love retinol as it's a fantastic anti-aging ingredient and having it included in a serum is genius. I ended up purchasing the full 30ml size as it’s a winner for me. I apply it at night. Individual price is $56.

Hydralight Shine-Free Daily Mineral Complex SPF15 – a very light liquid moisturiser with sunscreen. I keep pouring it everywhere because I always expect a moisturiser with SPF to have a thicker consistency. It doesn’t leave a white sheen on my face at all like some sunscreens can. Probably one of the easiest most comfortable SPF moisturisers I’ve ever used. I use it every single morning. Individual price is $33.

Hydralight Moisture-Infusion Lotion – A light night-time moisturiser which is good for containing all of the products, just like wearing a nice overcoat. I wear it at night over the serum. Individual price is $37.

In addition I have started using a Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting AHA Gel exfoliant (because a BHA exfoliant is just not enough). The AHA exfoliant is glycolic and really does pack a punch (gives a bit of a sting) and for me that’s a thumbs up. Individual price is $37. 

And as a day-time serum I use a combination of the Resist Pure Radiance Skin Brightening Treatment (great for fading brown spots and refining skin tone, contains anti-oxidants) along with 4 drops of the Resist C15 Super Booster (a Vitamin C booster). Individual price is $108 for the two.

My lovely 20-year old daughter has also fallen in love with the Paula's Choice products and has found her normally blemish-prone skin to be much clearer and smoother.

So if you okay with a skincare brand that’s not into pretty packing, fancy smelling products, but focused on research and using key ingredients, I encourage you to give them a go. It’s a winner for me.

Paula's Choice is not available in stores here in Australia. They do have an online Australian store and ship (normally for free) within a couple of days.

They do sell sample sized products, so if you're worried about shelling out $$$ without being sure what you're getting, these may be for you.

The also have a YouTube page which is a great source of further information about their product range and philosophy.

This is not a sponsored post. The opinions are my own.

Until next time xx

Chicago Guide

This is my fourth city guide following previous guides on New York, Washington DC, and Boston. We travelled to Chicago in late July 2015, right in the middle of summer. We stayed 4 nights which we found to be just the right amount of time. We fell in love with Chicago and voted it the 'most liveable City' out of the four cities we visited.

Accommodation

We stayed in an AirBNB apartment in River West.

View to Downtown Chicago from the apartment

The apartment was located about a 4 minute subway ride from Chicago’s CBD. The townhouse was a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom masterpiece.

Apartment kitchen and meals area with artwork that looks like pieces of wagyu steak (sitting on the dining table)

Owned by an architect/designer the apartment contained furniture he designed and was decorated with artwork by various artistic friends of his - all of which were for sale of course.

The owner made the furniture himself

It had climate controlled air-conditioning, direct entry via a lift, piped music, a steamer-shower, every mod-con you could imagine and views to die for.

Artwork for sale

We hit the jackpot with this one.

The steamer shower which Mr P loved

Transport

The house was one short block from the subway and it took 4 minutes to the city centre. How handy is that! We purchased a Ventra Card from the CVS across the road and loaded enough credit for the 4 days of travel we did. We also used the Ventra Card on the buses to get us from one end of Chicago to the other. Walking is easy as the city is flat and easy to navigate. We were able to follow our city map with ease.

Sights you must see

1.  Cloud Gate aka The Bean in Millennium Park – the photo op of the city, take photos of it and reflections from it, we spent way too long taking photos here than we imagined

The Bean

2. Crown Fountain in Millennium Park – two glass block towers displaying different faces which eventually spurt water on people underneath, a great spot on a hot summer’s day to cool down

3. Willis Tower, 233 S Wacker Dr – formerly the Sears Tower, 103rd floor skydeck with glass-floored ledges that jut out into mid-air, great photo op

View north

Sitting on the Skydeck 103 floors up

Miss P afraid of heights, no way!

Willis Tower

4. Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St – a famous building for an excellent photo op

5. Chicago River Cruise – a great way to take in the city from a different perspective, cheap as chips in the yellow taxi boats

6. Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave – Chicago’s most visited attraction, brilliant lakefront and city views, fireworks twice a week

7.  Oak Street Beach and Ohio Street Beach – great spots at the top and the bottom of the Magnificent Mile to take in the splendour of Lake Michigan

Oak Street Beach

Ohio Street Beach

8. Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park – an awesome band shell, trademark swooping silver exterior

9. Tribune Tower, 435 N Michigan Ave – rocks from famous buildings and monuments from around the world are embedded into the building’s façade e.g. bits from Taj Mahal, 9/11 site, Sydney Opera House - to be seen to be believed

Debris from 9/11 embedded in the building

10. Historic Route 66 Sign, E Adams Street (outside Panda Express) – marks the spot where Route 66 starts, 2400 miles to Los Angeles

11.  Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St – pilgrimage site to many as the film location where the Blues Brothers drove through and crashed into the plate-glass windows

Of course when you're in Chicago you must watch the Blues Brothers on Netflix

12. Chinatown – 10 minutes south of the CBD, incredible food and culture

13.     Bill and Giulianna Rancic's house - checking it out as any good fan would

Supermarkets/Pharmacy

We frequented the local CVS (across the road from the apartment) which combines a pharmacy and supermarket into one. We mainly bought breakfast items and snacks to keep us going.

Dining Out

1. RPM Italian, 52 W Illinois Street – restaurant part-owned by Bill and Giuliana Rancic (Fashion Police, Red Carpet Award shows), pasta, steak and seafood fine dining restaurant, bookings are essential

Artichokes

Cannoli with Ricotta

2.     Eataly, 43 East Ohio Street - similar to the New York City store

3. House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn St – multiple stages with nightly blues live, great food

4. Elephant & Castle Pub, N Wabash Avenue – great English pub food with interactive trivia games

5.     Do-Rite Donuts - 50 W Randolph St - peanut butter banana, coffee cream and chocolate-ganache-drippin Boston cream donuts are just some of the varieties

Serving the best donuts in Chicago

Shopping

1.  Ulta Beauty, 114 S South St – competitor to Sephora and I think even better. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the LORAC stand – sad really!

2. Michigan Avenue – one mile of shops, check out The Lego Store

and American Girl Place (to be seen to be believed)

Hershey’s Chocolate Shop, Zara, Apple Store, Nike Chicago, Crate & Barrel, Burberry

Garrett Popcorn Shop (worth queuing for), North Bridge Shopping Centre

3. Target – 1 S State Street – we visited the Target city store and it was ginormous by Australian standards. Pretty overwhelming to be honest.

4.     Graham Crackers Comic stores

Look up you’ll be surprised what you see

The skyscrapers are awesome and I felt that I spent a lot of time just staring at them and taking in the architectural features. It’s a beautiful city to look at and photograph.

Cob of corn?

Public art everywhere!

Trump Tower

Weather

We were blessed with gorgeous summer weather and beautiful blue skies the entire time we were there. The view from Willis Tower was spectacular and we could see for miles 360°.

Until next time xx