Paula's Choice CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser for oily skin
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Glycerin
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Hydroxyacetophenone
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin as glycerin provides humectant action to support hydration, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control to address oily shine.
- The cleansing agents, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine, are present in moderate concentrations for effective pore cleansing, offering general skincare benefits supportive for oily skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsA notable portion of reviewers find it too gentle for removing heavy makeup or sunscreen on its own, often requiring a double cleanse, and some dislike the texture of the reformulated version.
Highlights
Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and comfortable”
- “doesn't dry out skin”
- “feels like moisturizer”
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
Calms redness Often Mentioned
- “redness was considerably better”
- “skin is so calm”
Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “doesn't remove stubborn mascara”
- “needs double cleanse”
- “struggles with heavy makeup”
- “not deep cleaning enough”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “creamy gel texture”
- “silky-smooth finish”
- “cushiony cleanser”
- “glides on easily”
Repairs skin barrier Sometimes Noted
- “repaired my skin barrier”
- “stopped the flaking”
- “no stinging or burning”
- “great for damaged barrier”
Odd texture/clumping Sometimes Noted
- “clumps at the opening”
- “congeals into jelly”
- “feels a bit slimy”
- “texture is odd”
Not for oily skin Rarely Noted
- “not deep cleaning for oily skin”
- “didn't feel clean enough”
- “too gentle for my oiliness”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like cooking oil”
- “odd odor”
- “canola-esque scent”
- “unpleasant smell”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.co.uk, paulaschoice.com.au, cultbeauty.co.uk, skinsort.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Paula's Choice CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser work for oily skin?
Paula's Choice CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, as it cleans pores effectively without causing irritation, though it lacks enough ingredients to properly control oily shine. To work best for oily skin, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients like Niacinamide and Ceramides or Salicylic Acid to manage shine and support skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, and Cocamidopropyl Betaine make this cleanser a good fit because they support hydration and gently cleanse pores without causing irritation. To truly shine, an oily skin cleanser of this type needs ingredients like Niacinamide, salicylic acid, or ceramides to actively manage oily shine and support skin health.
What does Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate do for oily skin?
Sodium cocoyl glutamate helps wash away excess oil and dirt while being very gentle on the skin. This mild ingredient is less likely to cause dryness or irritation, keeping oily skin clean and comfortable.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routine to wash your face. It is very gentle and unlikely to irritate your skin, but because it lacks ingredients for oil control, oily skin needs a product with strong oil-absorbing and balancing ingredients instead.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol as part of your routine, applying it before your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation, but because it lacks ingredients for optimal oil control, oily skin also needs products with targeted oil-balancing ingredients for the best results.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser morning and night as part of your daily routine. Mild cleansers of this type are unlikely to cause irritation and help keep skin clean when used regularly.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it is very gentle and free of harsh ingredients. However, because it lacks strong oil-control ingredients, an oily skin type needs a cleanser with targeted oil-absorbing or balancing ingredients to fully manage excess shine.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this gentle cleanser around your eyes and on your body because its formula avoids harsh ingredients and is very safe for the skin. However, since the skin around the eyes and on the body can be very thin and sensitive, a cleanser for this skin needs soothing agents and gentle cleansing ingredients to maintain comfort.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Cellulose Gum, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Inulin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Phenoxyethanol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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How does it fit your skin?
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