Paula's Choice Softening Cream Cleanser for dry skin
Beta-Glucan
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract
Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil
High
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Excellent suitability for your dry skin due to Beta-Glucan and Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, which offer soothing and moisturizing benefits to combat dryness and flakiness.
- The formula provides effective cleansing with Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, removing impurities without stripping your skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing agents that prevent irritation.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsRecent reviews are dominated by disappointment over its discontinuation, and some users with oily skin found the rich, creamy texture too heavy or ineffective at removing heavy makeup.
Highlights
Hydrating and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “never tight or over-washed”
- “skin feels nourished”
Product discontinued Mostly Mentioned
- “devastated it's gone”
- “why discontinue a great product”
- “hard to find replacement”
Soothing for sensitive Often Mentioned
- “calmed my skin”
- “doesn't sting my eyes”
Creamy, luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “smooth and creamy”
- “glides over skin”
- “feels like a lotion”
Softening effect Sometimes Noted
- “skin feeling so soft”
- “improves skin softness”
- “supple and smooth”
Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't remove waterproof makeup”
- “struggles with heavy makeup”
- “need a separate remover”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “miss the pump”
- “hard to get out of bottle”
- “cap breaks easily”
Too heavy for oily Rarely Noted
- “left a greasy residue”
- “too thick for my liking”
- “caused breakouts”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, paulaschoice-eu.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice Softening Cream Cleanser a great fit for dry skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because it contains beta-glucan and chamomile extract, which help soothe and moisturize dry, flaky skin. It also gently removes dirt without stripping your face, and uses calming ingredients to prevent irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for dry skin because it contains beta-glucan and chamomile extract, which bring soothing and moisturizing benefits to help combat dryness and flakiness. These ingredients help improve skin hydration while washing away impurities safely without stripping your skin.
What does Beta-Glucan do for dry skin?
Beta-glucan helps dry skin by boosting hydration and supporting the skin barrier so it holds onto moisture better. Studies show that using beta-glucan daily improves skin moisture and helps calm dryness and roughness.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract do for dry skin?
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract helps soothe dry and sensitive skin while supporting moisture retention and a smoother feel. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against everyday environmental stress.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016Phytotherapy Research, 2006
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine right before your hydrating toner and moisturizer. Using a gentle cleanser helps wash away dirt without stripping dry skin, keeping it calm and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first before your retinol treatment. Using a gentle, hydrating cleanser like this helps keep your skin comfortable and supports your skin barrier when using strong treatments like retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using a mild cleanser like this helps clean your skin without stripping away essential moisture.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, as its gentle formula cleans without stripping and includes soothing ingredients that prevent irritation. It contains mineral oil and soybean oil, which help keep dry skin soft and smooth while washing away impurities safely.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes because its gentle ingredients remove impurities without stripping dry skin. The thin skin around the eyes and on the body stays comfortable and calm due to soothing agents that prevent irritation and maintain moisture.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Apigenin protects against UVA-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts, decreases MMP-1 expression, and when applied topically as a cream in human subjects, increases dermal density and elasticity while reducing fine wrinkle length, skin evenness, moisture content, and transepidermal water loss compared to control cream.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical application of oat beta-glucan ameliorates epidermal hyperplasia and accelerates epidermal barrier recovery by promoting keratinocyte differentiation through dectin-1-mediated ERK and p38 signaling pathways that upregulate CaSR expression.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Beta-glucan and porous PLGA membranes containing beta-glucan enhanced the proliferation, migration, and cellular responses of adult human dermal fibroblasts and adipose tissue-derived stem cells, and induced strong collagen gel contraction, while proving biologically safe.
Biomedical Materials, 2010Topical chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015German chamomile solution applied twice a day healed peristomal skin lesions significantly faster than once-a-day 1% hydrocortisone ointment in colostomy patients, with a mean healing time of 8.89 days versus 14.53 days.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2011Topical chamomile reduces the incidence and delays the occurrence of phlebitis due to amiodarone infusion in coronary care patients compared to a placebo of lanoline.
Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017The 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, 2003Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019
Ingredients
Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Chlorphenesin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Laureth-4, Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hydroxide, Water
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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