Paula's Choice CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser for combination skin
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Glycerin
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Hydroxyacetophenone
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 cleansing for your combination skin, as Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine effectively remove impurities from pores, while glycerin provides essential hydration. This formula offers general cleansing and hydration benefits but lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target oily shine concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like glycerin, making it suitable for your combination skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients and includes soothing agents like glycerin.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
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 combination skin?
It works reasonably well for combination skin, as it gently washes away impurities while keeping skin hydrated, though it lacks ingredients to manage oily shine. This skin type needs a cleanser that safely balances oil production and maintains moisture while effectively addressing oily shine.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine help clean out pores, while glycerin keeps your skin hydrated without causing irritation. For this skin type, cleansers also need ingredients that balance oil production and manage oily shine.
What does Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate do for combination skin?
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate is a mild cleansing ingredient that helps wash away dirt and oil without leaving combination skin feeling too dry or stripped. This type of gentle cleanser uses ingredients that are very kind to the skin barrier and maintain a healthy balance for both oily and dry areas.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2025Scientific Reports, 2021
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine, used after a makeup remover at night and before a hydrating toner or moisturizer. Combination skin needs a cleanser that removes impurities while also containing ingredients to manage oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it contains gentle, soothing ingredients like glycerin. Combination skin also needs specialized ingredients to effectively target oily shine concerns.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser works fine for your combination skin, though other products fit it better because this formula lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target oily shine concerns. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, clay, or salicylic acid to help control excess oil.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your combination skin because it contains gentle cleansing agents and soothing glycerin. It lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target oily shine concerns, so combination skin needs a cleanser that also manages excess oil.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this gentle cleanser safely around the eyes and on the body because it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. A product of this type needs soothing components like glycerin and mild cleansers to care for thinner or delicate skin areas without causing irritation.
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 combination 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, 2019
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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