Paula's Choice SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol
Pores, you’re not growing on me. Wrinkles, stand down. A few drops of this serum morning and night shrinks enlarged pores and smooths skin. You win. A skin-renewing serum loaded with antioxidants specially designed for normal to oily skin that helps develop a balanced-looking complexion while also helping defend skin against environmental stressors.
- Blackheads, Enlarged Pores
- Combination, Oily Skin
- Protects your skin from environmental damage
- Silky-smooth texture makes a great foundation primer
- Great for use around eyes
Why is it different?
SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum, for all degrees of oily skin, has a unique texture with a soft light feel that supplies skin with an exciting mix of antioxidants and retinol to help soothe skin, visibly improve the appearance of wrinkles and uneven skin tone, and unclog congested pores. This revitalizing serum amplifies your skin’s hydration and fends off environmental assault for a refreshed more even-looking complexion.
Substantial, well-researched antioxidants, cell-communicating ingredients and potent anti-irritants are delivered in a silky base that feels weightless on skin. Once applied, this product forms a breathable barrier which not only protects the skin but works to nourish and repair it.
All Paula’s Choice products are 100% fragrance free, clinically proven to be non-irritating, and never tested on animals.
What does it do?
SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum weightlessly delivers an invisible layer of retinol and age-fighting antioxidants to ease the appearance of first signs of aging. It also hydrates and helps defend skin against environmental assault. This cutting-edge formula helps to balance and revitalize skin, leading to a healthier, more normal-looking appearance.
Those with oily skin will love the special absorbent ingredients that leave a smooth matte finish, plus ingredients that normalize how skin behaves. No need for a separate foundation primer, as this provides all the benefits of a primer plus anti-aging and mattifying ingredients!
Who is it for?
SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is ideal for those with combination to oily or very oily skin who want to stave off signs of aging and smooth their skin.
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Cyclopentasiloxane (silicone slip agent), Isododecane (matte finish solvent), Cyclohexasiloxane (silicone slip agent), Dimethicone Crosspolymer (silicone suspending agent), Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate (non-aqueous thickener), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A/antioxidant), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride(thickener), Retinol (antioxidant/cell-communicating ingredient), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (vitamin C/antioxidant), Haematococcus Pluvialis (Astaxanthin) Extract (antioxidant pigment), Bisabolol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidants/anti-irritants), Salix Alba (Willow) Leaf Extract(anti-irritant), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo) Leaf Extract, Calluna Vulgaris (Heather) Flower Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Betula Alba (White Birch) Bark Extract (antioxidants), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil (antioxidant plant oil), Silica (absorbent), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).
Apply after cleansing, toning and exfoliating. Smooth a few drops onto face, neck and eye area before moisturizing. For daytime, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 25 or greater. May be alternated with a Paula’s Choice serum that does not contain retinol.
All skin types can use any of our serum and each provides multiple anti-aging benefits, but there are some formulary distinctions that make certain Paula’s Choice serums preferred for specific skin types. Here’s how they break down: RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum and RESIST Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum can be used by all skin types, including sensitive skin. The Resist Intensive Wrinkle Repair Serum contains the highest amount of retinol.
SKIN RECOVERY Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is best for normal to very dry skin because it contains plant oils.
SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is best for normal to oily or combination or breakout-prone skin because it has the lightest texture and weightless finish.
Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is one of three Paula’s Choice serums that does not contain retinol. It’s the natural choice for anyone whose skin cannot tolerate retinol.
RESIST Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum has the lightest texture of all the Resist serums and is our only water-based (rather than silicone-based) serum. It does not contain retinol, so is recommended for those whose skin cannot tolerate this ingredient (or it may be used with one of our retinol serums).
Our newest CALM Redness Relief Repairing Serum is fortified with anti-inflammatory agents in a weightless texture, perfect for all skin types, including extra sensitive skin.
How does the SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum differ from the other retinol products Paula’s Choice offers?The silky, weightless SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is best for combination to oily skin types. It contains several antioxidants (vitamins C & E, green tea, willow leaf, grape seed, and more) as well as retinol. The percentage of retinol needed for efficacy is generally between 0.01% and 1%, which is quite a range, but further proof of just how powerful retinol is! For more on percentages of retinol in Paula’s Choice products, see our article Which Strength of Retinol Do I Need? All of these products may be used with SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum or on their own, as each treats skin to a beneficial range of anti-aging ingredients.
Is the texture of SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum similar to Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel?No. SKIN BALANCING Invisible Finish Moisture Gel is a silicone-in-water emulsion and has a light, water-based gel texture while the SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is a non-aqueous serum that has a completely different feel. They're designed to work beautifully together, or you may use the SKIN BALANCING serum with any of our other moisturisers.
Does SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum decrease the appearance of pores?The silicone polymers in this product float over skin and minimally "fill in" pores, creating a smoother surface. The effect (as with all such products) is temporary and how long it lasts depends on your pore size and skin's oil output, as well as other products used at the same time. Overall, this product is not capable of reducing pore size, but it's conceivable this effect will be noticed and can be prolonged by pairing it with a matte finish foundation and powder.You can reduce enlarged pores by not using heavy, greasy products and using a well formulated BHA exfoliant along with other key ingredients found in our SKIN BALANCING line.
I use a prescription product with tretinoin (i.e. Retina-A, Renova, Tazorac). Since SKIN RECOVERY Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum and SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contain retinol, is it OK to combine them?We are not aware of any contraindications surrounding the use of tretinoin and retinol and believe this combination is beneficial to skin. Because this question concerns a prescription drug, we recommend consulting your physician and following his or her advice. Alternately, you can apply the serum in the morning and the prescription retinoid product at night.
At what point after my laser and/or peel procedure can I begin using my serum again?First, we urge you to follow the post-procedure instructions your doctor or nurse provided. If nothing was mentioned about when to resume use of a serum, please contact the doctor's office where you had the procedure done. Otherwise, our general advice is to begin using your serum again as soon as possible. All of our serums contain skin-repairing, anti-inflammatory, and replenishing ingredients that calm reddened skin and help enhance the healing process. Make sure you're also protecting your "new" skin every day with a product rated SPF 15 or greater.
Is SKIN BALANCING Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum suitable for those with rosacea?Yes. Research has shown that retinol can reduce inflammation that leads to symptoms of rosacea. The other antioxidants and soothing agents in this serum will help calm redness and soothe skin as they deliver anti-aging benefits.
