I Tried Paula’s Choice Oil Booster To Calm My Skin—Here’s How It Worked

We put Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review. 

Whether you’re a long-time fan of facial oils or you’re just getting started, there are so many different kinds that at times it can feel a bit overwhelming to choose. Facial oils provide many benefits to those seeking hydration, nourishment, calming effects, and more. Plus, applying them can feel like a mini spa experience each day.

Ahead, I put Paula's Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster to the test to see if it lived up to its promise of helping to hydrate and renew the skin, keep reading for all my thoughts below.

About My Skin: It’s combination/sensitive and occasionally dry

My skin is very interesting in that at times, it experiences a little bit of everything. It’s been challenging over the years to nail my skin type down, as it can be dry, oily, and sensitive all in one month, yet I’ve settled on the fact that it’s combination sensitive and occasionally dry. I enjoy using facial oils and I’ve been using them for years. I have tried so many different brands, including Tata Harper, Herbivore Botanicals, Omorovicza, and more. I have a routine skincare regimen and I use chemical exfoliants and retinol, so my skin can sometimes look and feel a bit irritated and red. 

The Feel: It’s light 

The feel of this oil isn’t heavy at all, and it absorbed into my skin right away. The best way to explain it is that it feels like a mix between a light oil and serum texture, I’ve tried other oils in the past that feel quite oily, but this isn’t that. It is slightly thicker than standard face oils. It's also completely fragrance-free and has no distinctive scent which is a plus.

The Results: Wonderful for soothing and hydration

First off, the instant results I saw were how it calmed down some redness in my skin and also felt very soothing as it was absorbing. There isn’t much of a greasy feel or shine, but that is also dependent on how much you apply. With facial oils, remember, a little goes quite a long way, and with time you’ll find out how much is best for your particular skin type. I do get some flaky skin around my nose throughout the year, especially in colder, winter months and I noticed that it soothed my nose and took care of the flaky skin. I wore it alone and added it to a moisturizer and both times felt that it gave extra hydration and calming benefits. To give some expert tips on facial oils, Darya Rzaca + Aneta Zuraw provided some helpful tips on the topic. 

For best application tips, Rzaca recommends, “Use a few drops in the morning or evening - apply it directly to the cleansed skin of the neck and face avoiding the eye area.  You can apply the oil itself or mix a drop into a moisturizer. Perfect to use during cold weather as the skin barrier will be improved and protected.”

When asked how facial oils benefit the skin, and if any skin type can use them, Zuraw notes, “Facial oils are a source of essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. They protect the skin against free radicals, make it soft and smooth, regenerate and soothe irritations. Also, facial oil ingredients work as an emollient; they help to moisturize by softening and sealing while preventing water loss.” 

Can anyone benefit from the use of facial oils? Rzaca added, “Facial oils can be used with all skin types. The most important thing is choosing the proper oil to match specific skin types and conditions to avoid irritating the skin barrier or clogging the pores.”

The Value: It’s 100% worth it

While just under $40 and not exactly in the budget-friendly category, we find this oil to be a worthy purchase for its benefits, the multi-purpose aspect with quality, effective and non-irritating ingredients. When used as directed this product can last a good while even though the size is less than 1 oz.

Similar Products: Shop these alternatives

Good Molecules Ultra Hydrating Facial Oil ($10): This fragrance-free facial oil is composed of camellia oil and sea buckthorn to relieve dehydrated skin and leave you glowing. Vegan, gluten-free, and never tested on animals, use this oil daily alone or with your favorite skincare.

Naturium Plant Squalane Face Oil ($16): A lightweight facial oil that’s formulated with pure sugarcane-derived-squalane helps to moisturize skin for a healthy, hydrated complexion. Apply a few drops to your face and neck following your preferred serums and before any kind of heavy moisturizer or cream.