Paula's Choice CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser for sensitive skin
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Glycerin
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Hydroxyacetophenone
Low
- LowNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
A weak match for sensitive skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin, as Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine effectively remove impurities without stripping natural oils, though this can lead to dryness for sensitive skin.
- Glycerin and Coco-Caprylate Caprate provide supportive hydration and soothing effects beneficial for redness and irritation.
- The formula is generally safe for your sensitive skin, with no harsh ingredients that would pose a significant risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
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
Why is Paula's Choice CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser a weak match for sensitive skin?
This cleanser may lead to dryness for sensitive skin because its cleansing ingredients, while removing impurities, can strip moisture from delicate skin. A cleanser for sensitive skin needs hydrating and soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramide-3 to clean effectively without causing irritation or imbalance.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser may be a weak fit for sensitive skin because its cleansing agents, such as Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine, can strip away natural oils and lead to dryness. A cleanser for this skin needs barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and soothing actives like niacinamide to keep skin calm and hydrated.
What does Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate do for sensitive skin?
Sodium cocoyl glutamate helps cleanse sensitive skin without causing irritation or allergic reactions. It is very well tolerated and has a low potential for skin disruption, keeping the skin calm.
What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, before your soothing toner and moisturizer. Because this product is a weak match for sensitive skin, a cleanser of this type for your skin needs gentle cleansing ingredients that lift away impurities while leaving plenty of natural moisture behind.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but it may cause dryness on sensitive skin since its cleansing ingredients can strip natural oils. Apply this cleanser first to clean your face, wait for your skin to dry completely, and then follow with your retinol treatment. Sensitive skin needs a cleanser with extra hydrating and barrier-restoring ingredients like ceramides or nourishing oils to prevent dryness and irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a weak match for sensitive skin because it can lead to dryness, so you may need to use it less often or switch to a very gentle, fragrance-free cleanser with extra hydrating ingredients and soothing plant extracts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin, as its ingredients pose a low risk of irritation. However, it is a weak match because it may lead to unwanted dryness, so sensitive skin needs a very gentle, fragrance-free wash loaded with soothing hydrators to keep the face soft and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, as it is generally safe and unlikely to cause irritation on thin or thicker skin areas. However, this type of product is a weak match for sensitive skin and needs extra gentle, hydrating ingredients and barrier-supporting components to prevent dryness.
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
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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