We caught up with Paula herself to talk all things Paula’s Choice ahead of the launch on August 1st.

Q1. What does it mean to you to have Paula’s Choice launching at Sephora Australia & New Zealand? (we are obviously ecstatic!)

"Australia and New Zealand have been part of my life since 1991 when I began spending time there every year doing my book tours. When I launched Paula’s Choice in 1995 and welcomed Australia as my first international distributor in 1997, it was one of the most exciting parts of my life and for my company. Now expanding into Sephora helps us reach more people in a more intimate way than I could do on my own."

Q2. Why did you choose Sephora as your exclusive retail partner?

Sephora resonates with Paula’s Choice Skincare mission in so many ways, but primarily it’s because of the how much they care about their customers and how they want the best for them. They are also very responsive to sharing information and education. That is very meaningful to us.

Q3. Can you tell us a bit about why you started Paula’s Choice?

"It all started because of my own struggles with acne and eczema. I spent years looking for products that would help but nothing did. At University, I dove headfirst into science and later worked as a reporter at a TV station. That scientific curiosity melded with my investigative drive, and I started digging into the real science behind what worked (and didn't) for skin health, as documented in research and medical journals.

It became clear: The beauty industry was rife with misinformation and irritating ingredients, often causing the very problems people were trying to fix. I wanted better. I wanted Paula’s Choice to solve problems, not cause them and that’s exactly what we’ve done."

Q4. We know that Paula’s Choice is well-loved by skincare lovers worldwide; what makes it stand apart from other clinical skincare brands?

"The only thing that has ever mattered to me is that people use products that work. That’s why I started writing my books in 1985 to educate on what worked for skin and what didn’t. When I finished the 1993 edition of Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me, which was over 700 pages, I realized that I was endlessly writing “this product is bad…” or “this product is great but…”. The fact that so many products always came up short in some way motivated me to start formulating my own products. Products that work without gimmicks is the part of Paula’s Choice Skincare I think most people relate to but even more importantly, it’s the results they see in the mirror."

Q5. What is your best skincare secret?

"I don't believe in skincare secrets! Everything I learn, I share, so that no one has to go through the struggles that I did. For instance, one of the things I educate on regularly is exfoliation.
A lot of people don’t realize that they have dead skin accumulating on the surface, resulting in dull, rough texture, magnified fine lines, uneven skin tone, and clogged pores. It sneaks up on us because when we’re young, skin naturally sheds effectively on its own, but over time, this process slows down due to sun damage and other factors. Using a gentle leave-on exfoliant like my 2% BHA Liquid to gently slough off the dead skin makes a world of difference to rejuvenate your complexion’s texture, tone and clarity."

Q6. What’s next for Paula’s Choice and can you give us a sneak peek into what’s coming?

My lips are sealed for now, but there are some exciting things on the horizon for our Sephora Australia & New Zealand customers!