Product Rating:   (73 reviews) Odor not that bad/strong
It smells like some food odor I've smelled before. It is not exactly vinegar-y, I can't identify it. It does not smell bad to me. The odor is not strong. However, I've decided not to use this product because my skin seems drier the day after I apply it. Maybe my skin isn't oily enough to need this product, but it seems like a moisturizer should moisturize.
—April


I love the new HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion! Light enough so that it does not irritate my oily acne-prone skin, but packed with moisture for the dry areas on my face, chest and upper back. I will be stocking up on this one. Thank you, Paula!
—Tracey F.


HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion is the moisturizer I've always dreamt of, it is lightweight and fluid in texture yet provides soothing and effective moisturization. The product feels great on my skin and the packaging is brilliant, as just a few pumps go a long way. This has fast become a staple of my skin care regime...it even works great for the skin around the eyes. Well done, Paula's Choice!
—Joe C.


OMG you must, must, must get this, the feel of my skin after I put it on is amazing.
—Pat W.


I just received the new HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion yesterday. I used it this morning and was so pleased. I have combination skin that gets so "tight" in the winter. It is so hard to find that happy medium for my skin. Heavy lotions/creams break me out and cause blackheads. Others aren't quite enough or don't last. Great job Paula's Choice!!!!!!!!!!
—Amy C.

Best Lotion I've ever used
By far the best face lotion I have ever used! It does exactly as described...leaves face with a matte finish...not sticky at all! I can use it all over my combination skin! Thank you Paula!!!
—Chantel

Perfect moisturizer
I love, love, love this moisturizer. It is absolutely perfect. I use this all over my face, and put just a dab of hydrating treatment cream over my dry patches. These are the only moisturizers I've ever used that don't irritate my sensitive skin. Please don't ever discontinue these!
—Chris

Hydralite rocks the Casbah!
Absolutely awesome moisturizer. Totally awesome texture, makes my skin feel amazing and doesn't cause my normally prone skin to break out. Another A++.
—Serene Pedersen

hydralight moisture-infusing lotion
Really amazing! It left my face moisturized but, not greasy or shiny. Highly recommend this!!
—R-C

Smell?
I received a sample of this lotion and it feels nice but has a very strong smell that isn't all that pleasant. Is this normal for this product?
—Megan Dorman

What a JOY!!!
What a joy it is to use a moisturizer without fear of redness or break outs! WOW!!! For the first time in my life!!! I find myself looking at my new, radiant, and luminous skin in the mirror many times a day because I just can't get over it! I am also using the Refreshing Toner, the Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Mattifying Concentrate Serum and the 2% BHA liquid and the 8% AHA gel. Amazing luminosity and radiance to my skin at 55 that I've never had EVER in my life! I can't get enough of this stuff!
—Cheryl Leui

Smell is a deterent
I liked the feel and performance of the lotion, but the overpowering unpleasant smell will keep me from using it again. The smell lingered for hours unfortunately. I don't know if the bottle I received was old or if it's supposed to smell this way? Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by producing a new formula with a more pleasant odor. Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding another lotion or a replacement with our new formula. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Lisa Jackman

Funny Smell
I got 3 samples of this product. It has a very nice texture to it and is not greasy. I have very oily skin and this is wonderful. However, the smell is not so great. It may have been my samples, but they smell kind of musty. Customer service said this is normal. It would be an awesome moisturizer if not for the smell. All of her other products I have used are fantastic and I will keep purchasing them.
—Rachel S

Great product for chemo skin
After my mom started chemo for breast cancer, her scalp became drier and more sensitive (as well as bald!). She tried several products before trying my HydraLight. It worked perfectly! When dealing with cancer, every little bit of success helps. Thank you, Paula for the outstanding products and the genuine care you show our skin.
—Elizabeth Morrow

Nice texture, slightly unpleasant scent
If you're trying to decide between two different Paula's Choice products, take advantage of the opportunity to order samples! I was looking for a moisturizer for my oily skin, and ordered samples of a few products. Although I liked the texture of the Hydra-Light Moisture Infusing Lotion (especially for use around the eye area), the scent was unpleasant enough to me that I wouldn't use it. I respect Paula for not adding irritating fragrances to her products -- but you'll have to try this one for yourself to see how you feel about the scent.
—Kimberly

Bad smell
I am glad to know that I'm not the only one who thought I received a rancid bottle. Since I have combination skin, I don't have to use much of it. Therefore, I've had my bottle for six months now. I've noticed that the smell is becoming more and more unpleasant as the days go by. It wasn't so bad at first, but now I'm at the point where I'm ready to throw it out.
—Manjit

Great smell!
I can't believe people are complaining about the smell of this product. I love the smell don't change it Paula. This is a perfect everyday moisturizer! Great for sensitive skin too!
—George

The smell
I just could not get past the yeasty smell. After putting in on, I had to immediately wash it off. Sorry, but this one was not a winner for me.
—E C

yucky Smell
I ran out of my favorite Skin Balancing Moisture Gel so I reached for this in the meantime. OYE! Now I remember why I pushed it aside in the first place. The smell is horrible on this product. I threw out the whole bottle today. Not worth holding onto as a back up. Anyone looking for an excellent moisturizer... try Paula's Skin Balancing Moisture Gel... absolutely weightless, greaseless, amazing product!
—Lori

Love it but can't use it!
I love this moisturizer more than any of the other PC moisturizers for several reasons: It is very light and doesn't contribute to oiliness, clogged pores and acne and feels perfect on my skin. None of the others have worked this well for me as they are either too heavy or moisurizing or too matte for my skin. I'm 58 but my skin can be quite oily and is never dry so finding the perfect balance of moisture without drying is what I need. This is that perfect balance but I can't use it! Whenever I put it on, my eyes burn like fire for the entire day. Sad!
—Rebecca Toy

Love it but can't use it!
Perfect balance of moisturizing without oil. Have never noticed a bad smell either and love the light texture! Can't use it though because it causes my eyes to burn like fire! Sad!!
—Rebecca Toy

waiting with hope...
This moisturizer felt so refreshing on my freshly washed face and didn't feel greasy at all on my very oily skin! However, about the smell...I was worried that my bottle had gone bad because of the smell of mildew (until I spoke to customer service)! I cannot wait until this product is reformulated! Soon, please!
—tara

Great Moisturizer for Oily Skin
This is the only moisturizer I have been able to find that doesn't add shine to my already oily skin. I also have acne and doesn't cause breakouts. It does have a funny odor but I don't care because it works for me in other areas.
—Natalie

Caution around eyes
I having been using Paula's skincare products for about 6 months now with fabulous results. I just tried this lotion because my combination skin gets dry in the winter. This lotion is very light weight and does not cause blackheads. However, I cannot use it around my eye area. After one use around the eyes, I developed redness, itching and burning followed by dry, flaky skin that lasted for days. Just use caution around your eyes.
—Heather

Mildew smell
I thought I was managing the mildew smell until I read the other reviews. This worked OK, but the smell has made me worried that it was going bad. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Elizabeth Rude

The smell is VILE!
I love this moisturizer. It's probably the best I've ever used. However, the smell is so rotten that I'm not ordering this product again. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Valerie

If only the smell wasn't so bad
The bad part is the smell is PAINFULLY disgusting to me! The good part is I love the feel of this lotion on my skin. I liked using this along with the Skin Balancing Moisture Gel as well. I will stick to the Moisture Gel from now on though. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Frank

Love the product, hate the packaging
Hi Paula--I absolutely love this moisturizer for around my eyes--it works great! I wear contacts, have seasonal allergies, and the area around my eyes is very dry. I need to use something to alleviate the dryness, but other moisturizers make my eyes tear or contain propylene glycol, which our doctors said to stay away from (I know the controversy, and have chosen to listen to the doctors). Anyway, that's all I use this moisturizer for and it works great because it's light and doesn't give me mascara "racoon eyes" on days I don't wear foundation. And the smell . . . what smell???? The only problem I have with this is the packaging. BAD IDEA! The pump opening constantly gets clogged (and I mean DAILY) from the lotion staying in the opening and drying out. I can force it out, but then I have way too much moisturizer. A little half a pump goes a long way, especially when it's only used around the eyes. And it's utterly ridiculous to have to use a toothpick to clean out the opening every day. I'm sure our dry Colorado climate contributes to the problem, but I waste so much of this and it's so frustrating because it's an excellent product. PLEASE . . . change the packaging to one of those tubes that stands on its cap so there's no drying out and no waste!!!!!
—Trudi

WOW! Thank you!
Finally a moisturizer that doesn't make me break out! I love it! Thank you so much for developing this wonderful product. Goodbye flaky, dry winter skin!
—Linda

I love Hydra Light!
I love this lotion for my oily-in-the-summer-and-combo-in-the-winter skin. Like other reviewers, I don't like the smell but have found I can live with it. The smell fades quickly - sometimes I wash it off my hands which helps too. Thank you Paula for a great lotion!
—Laura

Me, too--the smell!
I'm really torn about how to rate this product...it feels great and works just like it should...but it just doesn't smell very good. I would love to use it, but the smell just gets to me after a little while. It isn't an AWFUL smell, but it isn't pleasant either. I will definitely try this again once it is reformulated! In the meantime, I am happy with the Skin Balancing Moisture Gel, which I love. Still, it would be wonderful to have two options! Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Lisa

Works for Mature Oily Skin
I am 40 with oily skin that can get dry & flaky at times. This is the BEST moisturizer, it is very light, blends in easily & gives the right amount of moisture. Great product!
—Viki

Smells Terrible
I liken the smell to a wet wash cloth that was left in the bottom of the hamper way too long. Mildew. That said, it works ok. I'm not wowed, but I use it since I spent the money on it. Maybe I feel this way because it smells so bad? I just wait out the odor - it tends to dissipate as it dries. Please reformulate quickly! Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Mary Beth

Good, but not moisturizing enough for me
I thought this worked well initially, but it really wasn't moisturizing enough for my very dry skin. I have oily skin as well as dry, and it did help the oiliness, but my skin still felt tight after applying. I might try it again in the summer, but in the winter, it was not enough for my skin. And the smell is really unpleasant, but I would have endured it if it worked really well for me. Customer Care: Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding a product that will work for you. Also, please note that we have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee return policy.
—Anne Marie

Yeah, it does smell bad!
Love the way this makes my skin feel, but man does it stink! I love my other Paula's Choice products, but I may have to quit using this one. I keep hoping I will get used to the smell, but so far no luck.
—Tracy

Stinky, Stinky!
This product smelled so bad that it made me gag. I couldnt get to the sink to wash it off fast enough, but I could still smell it afterwards! The texture was light and nice, but the smell was so overpowering that I couldn't even keep it on long enough to say how well it worked! Yuck! Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Marlene Mounce

Great For sensitive/combo skin
This is an amazing moisturizer for extremely sensitive allergy prone combination skin. I love it! Most other products that cater to sensitive skin either cause acne, are for extremely dry skin, or do indeed contain irritants. This product does have a distinct adhesive kind of odor, but it quickly dissapates as it dries. I would gladly tolerate an odor that goes away in an awesome moisturizer than have added unecessary fragrance that makes my skin itch or burn.
—Carolann

Smell is Rancid
I got a sample of this because the Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion didn't moisturize my skin enough. I was so excited to use it! I dapped it around my face and was ready to rub it in and almost gagged from the smell! I had to wipe it off immediately. Now I am trying the Recovery Moisturizer. So far so good.. and it doesn't have a rancid smell.. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Hania

Redness
I really like this moisturizer. It's not too light or too heavy. The only problem is it causes redness and burning. I really hope the new formula will fix this problem. Customer Care: Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding a product that will work for you. Also, please note that we have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee return policy.
—Monique

Great Moisurizer
I went back to smell it after just reading all the reviews. I honestly don't smell anything except a usual moisturizer smell that hasn't had scents/perfumes added to it. This moisturizer really absorbs well, is light (as the name suggests) and doesn't leave the skin feeling heavy or greasy. I will continue to use it.
—Alison

Leaves an undesirable film
I purchased this product to add some hydration to my T-Zone area. It leaves a film that I found unpleasant and it seemed like my skin coouldn't breath. It was also very drying on my drier skin areas. Customer Care: Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding a product that will work for you. Also, please note that we have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee return policy.
—CM

moldy smell
I loved the texture of this lotion, but I too could not get past the moldy smell. I thought at first it was the plastic bottle. I had to stop using it. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Christine

I really didn't like this product!
I ordered two of the these to try out. One for my sister and one for me; however, we did not see any positive results. I really didn't like the smell at all, it smells like glue and the apperance also resembles glue. This product also irritated my skin, and did not help with my dry and flakey skin. One sentence, this product did more harm than good! Customer Care: We regret that our product was not what you may have expected. Our Customer Service will be more than happy to assist you in finding another product that will work better for you. Please note that Paula's Choice also has a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee return policy within 60 days of purchase.
—amy

Smells Bad!
I disagree with the posting below. I love almost all of Paula's products, but my husband leaned in to kiss me last night and he said 'whoa...hon did you try something new? What is that smell?' I think you need to have oilier skin for this, it did not help my skin. I'll go back to my former Paula's moisturizer.
—Jenna

Great product, bad smell
I almost love this moisturizer but having something stinky on my face is a problem. I often use it anyway because it does a good job and I like the ingredients list but there is a distinctly vinegar/rancid smell. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Sharon Filbig

the best option for oily skin with no flaking
I tried this product and found it very pleasing. The texture is very light and refreshing, just enough to take care of post-facewashing tightness. But, as I break out almost constantly, it wasn't moisturizing enough to deal with flaky skin from acne (even though it was just the right moisturizing level when my skin wasn't flaking!). I'd really recommend it to anyone with skin on the oily side, and it's what I'll use instead of the hydrating treatment cream when my skin starts behaving. Also, does not contain silicone (which can cause breakouts for me) like some of Paula's other oily skin moisturizing options.
—Kendall M.

I LOVE THIS PRODUCT
I have extremely sensitive skin that I have gone without using any kind of moisturizer until I reach 45 and realized I needed something. I tried everything from $20 to $300. Then I found one I could use. I loved it, but it is $100 before shipping. I have recently ran out of it, and unfortunely laid-off too - $100 is impossible at the moment. I searched the Internet and found Paula's Choice. I loved the fact that I could try it before I bought it. But because of the other reviews, I was afraid of the smell - I don't think it's that bad and the smell goes away after it absorbes. I was truly shocked that this product didn't break-out my face. Because I love this product, I am trying other products. Thank you so much Paula for a great product that is affordable.
—Laura

Odor renders moisturizer unwearable
This product had an intensely unpleasant odor that did not go away once the moisturizer was absorbed. Only removal solved it. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Alessandra

The smell - do not want
I am so glad I ordered only a sample of this. It smells like earwax. There is no way I could use this product, no matter how good it is. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Christine

Great Moisturizer
This moisturizer is lightweight. i did not notice any odd smell that other have people have mentioned. I have tried many of Paulas products and have never had a bad egg. Her skin care is the only one Ive tried that actually works.
—Ann

Good Moisture, Bad Smell
I would totally purchase this product again if it weren't for the smell. Everytime I would come to bed with it on my boydriend would comment about how bad it smelled and then turn over... definitely not a good thing! I'm waiting for a reformulation and then will try again.
—Pamela

Fabulous Moisturizer and More!
I will start by saying I am a makeup artist and I am not without this moisturizer in my kit. A top notch product, it performs just as stated. The beautiful part about it though is that the consistency is perfect for blending into a foundation to sheer down the coverage, creating a beautiful tinted moisturizer! It also helps the foundation blend better over drier skin as well.
—Angela

Good moisturizer, bad smell
Like a lot of the other reviews, this product does as it says but it also has an unpleasant smell. I'd probably use it more if it wasn't for that. I got it as a package deal for the oily/combo skin forgetting that this was the smelly product people complained about. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Erica

Smell is a stopper
I too thought I received a bad batch, the smell made me have to shelf it. Too bad because when I forced myself to use it it worked well. I went back to using Cetaphil. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Tanya Renee

Amazing for Sensitive Skin!
This is the ONLY facial moisturizer that takes away my dryness w/o making my skin feel greasy- it even takes away the eczema patches on my face! Prior to using this product, it was very difficult to find an excellent facial moisturizer that did not contain a lot of glycerin (I am allergic), and this product does not aggravate my skin in the slightest. The smell that others are referencing is absent, unless one opens the top and takes a deep whiff- it is truly an excellent product!
—Debbie C.

Pretty good!
This is the perfect summer moisturizer for combination skin! It makes my face feel like velvet and keeps it from feeling tight. The problem with the smell... it seems to get stronger the more the bottle sits, so new moisturizer might not smell as bad as the moisturizer that you have had for a couple of months. I really hope they can fix this because it is definitely a deterrent for me.
—Erica

Works great!!
I love Normal/Combination skin that can get pretty oily in the summer but dry and flaky in the winter. This product works great!! I use this with the Antioxidant Concentrate at night and my skin feels wonderful in the morning!!
—Jen

Smells like a stinky basement....
but don't let that put you off, this is actually a really beautiful moisturiser, light and silky, and the smell soon dissipates once you actually put it on. Five stars for the product, but minus two for the odour, which is at odds with Paula's other products, given that most of them have little to no smell. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Natalie Elliott

Wonderful product!
I've been using this moisturizer for years, and find it to be the perfect product. Does not aggravate my acne, and does not make my face oily. When I've ventured away and tried non-Paula's Choice products(even those recommended by my dermatologist) I've foudn it was a mistake to do so and always come back. The smell is not at all bad - - those who are complaining should consider the downsides of the alternatives: yes, they could add fragrance and make it smell like roses, but is that really worth having irritants go on your face? Love this product for what it is - amazing! I just wish the price hadn't gotten so high on this little bottle.
—Ruth Ann L

Bad smell
I'm glad it's not just me. I couldn't get past the rancid smell and threw my bottle away. It was past the 60 days and I no longer had my labels or pkging to return it. I will not purchase this moisturizer again! Customer Care Response: Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that this product did not meet your expectations. Paula and her team are working on a reformulation which we should see next year. We would like to credit you for the item without you having to send it back to our office. If you would please contact our service team with your full name and mailing address, we will make sure a credit is applied promptly.
—Joscelyn

Hubby couldn't stand it
The reviews for this product gave me a chuckle. I have to say, I liked this product...at first! But like one of the other posters said over the months the smell became worse and worse. My husband HATED it. His nose is much more sensitive than mine and even from the beginning he said he didn't want to sleep near me! By the end I did throw it out as it smelled rancid like it went bad or something. Customer Care Response: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by producing a new formula with a more pleasant odor. Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding another lotion or a replacement with our new formula. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Erin

Rancid Smell!!!!
I only bought a bunch of the samples for this and I am glad I did. This smells so bad my friend could smell it when they were in the same room with me. I tried evrything to cover it up even makeup, but the only way to get rid of the odor was to wash my face about 3 times. Something really needs to be done about the smell!!! If every sample smells like this then I do not see how anyone could use it. Customer Care Response: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by producing a new formula with a more pleasant odor. Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding another lotion or a replacement with our new formula.
—Barbara

Bad Smell
I reaaly like the feel and texture of this product but returned it immediately because of the odd smell. I thought maybe the product went bad. Paula - please change the smell and I'd buy this again!
—Judy

Not for rosacea!
I agree with other reviewers about the smell - sour and annoying. That was the least of my problems with this product. If you suffer from rosacea, tingling means trouble. Within seconds after applying this lotion, my skin was burnning. It was red and itching within minutes. Although it is the recommended moisturizer for rosacea, my experience was awful. Customer Care Response: We are sorry to hear about your experience with this product. Please contact Customer Care via Live Chat, Phone or Email for return assistance.
—Allison

Glad I got a sample first
Needed a lotion more moisturizing than the recovery gel. Got the sample and yes,the smell is really bad. Even 45 min. later my face smelled like an old sponge, that weird mildew smell. Hope they can reformulate. Customer Care Response: We are sorry to hear about your experience with this product. Please know that Paula and her team are currently working on a reformulation to this product so that future bottles will not have such a strong odor associated with it.
—Emily Weiner

Great product
I do not understand why people are complaining about the odor. It is not any worse than a lot of products on the market and works a lot better. Love it. Don't change the formula for me.
—Mike Johnson

Great but STINKY!!
I received this about three weeks ago as I needed to find something to get me through the dry winter months in Colorado without weighing my face down. I love this lotion!!!! BUT it does stink. It's like an old mildewed washcloth smell and it's the worst!! Thankfully after 10-15 minutes the smell is gone - so I will keep it around because I love it. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your feedback. Please know that Paula is aware of this issue and is working on a resolution so that the smell will not be as intense. We expect to have this available in early 2010.
—Jennifer

Couldn't Even Finish Sample
The smell is outrageously bad. I was almost gagging. I thought my sample was "bad" as well. Poor product design. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by producing a new formula with a more pleasant odor. Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding another lotion or a replacement with our new formula. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Tracy H

Yes, it really smells
For the first time ever, I'm returning a product. This smells really icky. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by producing a new formula with a more pleasant odor. Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding another lotion or a replacement with our new formula.
—Karla

Unusual smell
I received a sample of the HydraLight Lotion and would keep using it if it weren't for the smell. Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by reformulating the product. Please call our Customer Service for assistance if you would like to find a replacement. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Alice

This Product Turns Rancid!
I have searched for years, looking for a product that moisturizes my skin, but light enough not to clog pores and cause break-outs. Well, I found it in this product and was thrilled with the effects until, half-way through the bottle, it began to spoil and smell awful! Now, I dread using it because of the terrible odor and have 2 more unopened bottles that I can not use!! Jeanie Customer Care: All of our products are fragrance-free and as such, any smell that occurs in our products is a direct result of the ingredients that are used. We are working to make this product optimal for our customers by producing a new formula with a more pleasant odor. Please call our Customer Service for assistance with finding another lotion or a replacement with our new formula. Please note that we also have a 60-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
—Jean Cameron

Use enough, smell dissipates
I am over 40 and have oil/combination skin. I use this moisturizer every day and it feels very light. The smell other reviewers smell is stronger when you first open the product, but dissipates after you put it on your skin. I use at least 3 pumps for adequate coverage.
—Cara

Good, but could be better
I've been using this product for a while now, and for the most part I like it, but there are a couple of caveats. Others have complained about the smell, describing it as either rancid or mildew-y. I don't find it to be that bad. To me, it's more of a sour smell, like vinegar, and it dissipates quickly. Nevertheless, I'm glad to hear that it's going to be addressed soon. My main complaint is the change in texture over time. It starts off creamy, but then becomes very watery towards the end of the bottle, even if I shake it every time I use it. I will continue to use this product, but wish something would be done to make the texture more consistent, because it gets a bit sloppy to use when it's watery.
—Susan P.

What makes this product unique?
HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion is an innovative formula that supplies key ingredients all skin types need, but is specially formulated to be light enough for those with normal to oily or combination skin. Antioxidants, anti-irritants and cell-communicating ingredients work to help skin behave more normally while skin-identical ingredients prevent moisture loss and keep skin exceptionally healthy. Nervous about breaking out? This moisturizer's water-light texture poses minimal to no risk of clogging pores and leaves a silky matte finish. Excellent under makeup or for use around the eyes.

This product is 100% fragrance- and colorant-free.

Who is this product for?
HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion is recommended for normal to oily/combination skin. It can be used by those struggling with acne and stubborn dry patches.

How should this product be used?
HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion can be used once or twice daily, as desired. Apply after cleansing, toning, and exfoliating. During the day you can use HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion with a Paula's Choice foundation and pressed powder with SPF 15 or use Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Daily Mattifying Lotion SPF 15 instead.

Apply to cleansed, toned and exfoliated skin, focusing on particularly dry areas, including around the eyes.

What Makes Paula's Choice Products Unique?

Created by world renowned skin care expert and author Paula Begoun

Proven effective based on hundreds of published scientific studies

Targeted systems for wrinkles, acne, rosacea, sensitive skin, oily skin, dry skin and more

Fragrance-free, color-free, free of harmful skin irritants, and never tested on animals

100% customer satisfaction guaranteed

Unequalled customer service

Water, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate (skin-conditioning agent), Cyclopentasiloxane (silicone/skin-conditioning agent), Butylene Glycol (water-binding agent), Dimethicone (silicone/skin-conditioning agent), Propylene Glycol Isoceteth-3 Acetate (water-binding agent), Squalane (emollient), Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 (gel-based thickener), Potassium Cetyl Phosphate (emulsifier), Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate (thickeners), Cholesterol (skin-conditioning agent), Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract (anti-irritant), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidants), Sodium Hyaluronate (water-binding agent), Dimethicone Crosspolymer (suspending agent), Glycerin (water-binding agent), Superoxide Dismutase (antioxidant), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (vitamin C/antioxidant), Sodium PCA, Phytosphingosine (water-binding agents), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (thickener), Cetyl Alcohol (emollient), Xanthan Gum (thickener), Laureth-4 (emulsifier), Laureth-23 (solubolizing agent), Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid (preservatives).

Directions: Apply to clean skin, focusing on particularly dry areas, including around the eyes. If you are using an AHA or BHA product, apply moisturizer after that step.

How is HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion different from the former Completely Non-Greasy Moisturizing Lotion?
The major differences are that HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion has a silkier feel, an even smoother application, and contains a greater array of antioxidants than Completely Non-Greasy Moisturizing Lotion. Texture- and finish-wise, the two moisturizers are quite similar.

I have normal to oily skin with dry patches. Should I use HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion or Skin Balancing Moisture Gel?
HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion leaves a finish that leaves skin feeling more moisturized than Skin Balancing Moisture Gel. Skin Balancing Moisture Gel leaves a silky matte finish on the skin, and is a better choice for oily to very oily skin with surface dryness or those who need light moisturizing but don't want any after-feel. Both moisturizers work well under makeup.