The skincare industry can often be a confusing place for consumers. With a plethora of products on the market, each boasting a myriad of health claims, it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction. Manufacturers often make bold assertions about the benefits of their skincare products, and while some of these claims may be rooted in truth, others can be greatly exaggerated or even entirely unfounded.

As a consumer, it’s crucial to exercise due diligence when shopping for skincare products. Taking claims about products at face value may leave you out-of-pocket and underwhelmed, with a product that doesn’t deliver on its promises. It’s important to look beyond the marketing hype and examine the ingredients used within the product. This can provide a more accurate picture of what the product can realistically achieve.

In this article, we will be critically analyzing the ‘Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA’ by Paula’s Choice. We will be examining the claims made about this product and comparing them to the ingredients used within the product. This truth assessment will help to establish whether or not the product really will live up to its claims.

So, without further ado, let’s look at the main claims being made about this product and break them down:

Claim #1: The Product Reveals Youthful Radiant Skin

Paula’s Choice’s Website States: “Reveals youthful radiant skin…”

Truth Assessment: Possibly

Explanation: The ingredient Glycolic Acid is a type of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that can help exfoliate the skin, removing the dead skin cells on the surface and revealing the newer, more radiant skin underneath. However, the effectiveness of this process can vary from person to person, depending on their skin type and how their skin reacts to Glycolic Acid. Therefore, while it’s possible that this product could reveal more youthful, radiant skin, it’s not a guarantee for all users.

Claim #2: The Product Reduces the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Paula’s Choice’s Website States: “…and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The product contains Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, a peptide that is known to stimulate collagen production. Collagen is a protein that gives skin its elasticity and firmness, and its production decreases as we age, leading to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. By stimulating collagen production, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 can help reduce the appearance of these signs of aging. Additionally, Glycolic Acid can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by promoting cell turnover and revealing newer, smoother skin.

Claim #3: The Product Continually Revitalizes Skin’s Texture

Paula’s Choice’s Website States: “This innovative daily-use formula…continually revitalizes skin’s texture…”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: Glycolic Acid, an AHA, is known for its exfoliating properties. By removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, it can help to smooth out the skin’s texture over time. Additionally, the product contains Salicylic Acid, a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that can penetrate deeper into the pores to exfoliate from within, further helping to improve skin texture.

Claim #4: The Product Visibly Evens Skin Tone

Paula’s Choice’s Website States: “…visibly evens skin tone…”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The product contains several ingredients that can help to even out skin tone. Glycolic Acid can help to fade hyperpigmentation (dark spots) by promoting cell turnover. Additionally, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, and Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane are derivatives of Turmeric, a spice known for its anti-inflammatory and brightening properties, which can also help to even out skin tone.

Claim #5: The Product Promotes Visibly Firmer-Looking, Smoother Skin

Paula’s Choice’s Website States: “…and helps promote visibly firmer-looking, smoother skin.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The product contains Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, a peptide that can stimulate collagen production, leading to firmer, more elastic skin. Additionally, the exfoliating properties of Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid can help to smooth out the skin’s texture, leading to smoother-looking skin.

Claim #6: The Product Fights the Impact of Free-Radical Damage

Paula’s Choice’s Website States: “A specially selected mix of antioxidants helps fight the impact of free-radical damage…”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The product contains Epigallocatechin Gallate, a potent antioxidant found in green tea, which can help to neutralize free radicals and reduce the damage they cause to the skin. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause oxidative stress and damage to the skin cells, leading to premature aging. By neutralizing these free radicals, antioxidants can help to protect the skin and prevent this damage – how much this actually visibly improves the appearance of the skin is up for debate, however.

Claim #7: The Product Binds Moisture for Beautifully Radiant Skin

Paula’s Choice’s Website States: “…while ceramides and peptides bind moisture for beautifully radiant skin.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: Ceramide NG is a type of ceramide, a lipid that naturally occurs in the skin and plays a crucial role in maintaining the skin’s barrier and retaining moisture. By replenishing the skin’s ceramides, this product can help to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture, leading to more hydrated, radiant skin. Additionally, peptides like Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 can also help to improve the skin’s moisture retention by stimulating collagen production and improving skin elasticity.

Assessment Verdict:

Truth Rating: 8/10

Overall likelihood for product to make good on its claims: Likely

Based on the analysis of the ingredients and their known effects, this product seems to be largely truthful in its claims. It contains a number of ingredients that are known to have beneficial effects on the skin, such as Glycolic Acid, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, and Epigallocatechin Gallate. These ingredients can help to exfoliate the skin, stimulate collagen production, and protect against free radical damage, respectively.

However, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of these ingredients can vary from person to person, depending on their skin type and how their skin reacts to these ingredients. Therefore, while it’s likely that this product could have the claimed effects, it’s not a guarantee for all users.

Furthermore, this assessment assumes that all of the ingredients are used in effective quantities. In skincare formulas, the concentration of each ingredient is crucial. The ingredient list on a product is listed in order of weight, but this doesn’t tell us the exact concentration of each ingredient. A product could contain a beneficial ingredient, but if it’s not used in a high enough concentration, it may not have the desired effect.

Remember, when evaluating skincare products, it’s important to do your own research and understand what each ingredient does. Be skeptical of claims that seem too good to be true, and look for evidence to back up these claims. Additionally, keep in mind that everyone’s skin is different, and what works for one person may not work for another.

This product review has been commissioned by Truth In Skincare (TiS), an independent industry regulator. The review is conducted by a TiS-appointed industry consultant, who utilizes a variety of reliable sources to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information provided. These sources include CosIng (Cosmetic Ingredient Database – by the European Commission), the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), and The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Additionally, various publicly available sources are also consulted to provide a well-rounded perspective on the product under review.