Paula's Choice Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser for skin with dark spots
Glycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Lactic AcidAverage
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 normal skin as glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice provide humectant action, but it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal results.
- The cleanser effectively removes impurities with sodium cocoyl glycinate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, though it does not contain specialized ingredients to target your main goal of pigmentation.
- The product is safe for your normal skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
- Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers find this cleanser effectively removes makeup and impurities while maintaining skin's moisture, making it suitable for sensitive and combination skin. The gel-to-cream texture is generally well-received for leaving skin soft and refreshed. Some users report issues with the packaging being difficult to dispense and occasional mild irritation around the eyes.
Highlights
Gentle and non-drying Mostly Mentioned
- “Does not dry skin”
- “Leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed”
- “Never strips or dries”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “Melts off make up”
- “Lifts away dirt and excess oil”
- “Removes makeup including mascara well”
Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
- “It has no scent”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Fragrance free”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “Silky cleanser”
- “Rich, creamy foam”
- “Refreshing gel texture”
Difficult packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Packaging is a bit inconvenient”
- “Hard to squeeze out”
- “Container isn't very pliable”
Expensive product Rarely Noted
- “Pricey for a cleanser”
- “Small bottle for the cost”
- “Good but expensive”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Irritating for sensitive eyes”
- “Stung my eyes”
- “Avoid the eye area”
Hard to rinse Rarely Noted
- “Takes a lot of rinsing”
- “Film left behind”
- “Hard to wash off”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.com, dermstore.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, spacenk.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Paula's Choice Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser work for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser works moderately well for skin with dark spots because it safely cleans impurities with mild ingredients, though it lacks specialized components to target pigmentation. A cleanser of this type needs soothing and brightening ingredients along with gentle cleansers to properly care for dark spots.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is an average fit for skin with dark spots because it washes away dirt well and contains licorice root extract and lactic acid, though it lacks specialized ingredients to fully target your main goal of pigmentation. To get a better fit for this skin, a product of this type needs specialized brightening ingredients along with soothing and hydrating agents that help clear dark spots while keeping the skin soft and comfortable.
What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for skin with dark spots?
Aloe vera leaf juice helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone by encouraging melanin aggregation and reducing pigmentation. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may gradually brighten areas affected by melasma.
Planta Medica, 2012Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine to wash away impurities safely, though this skin with dark spots needs a cleanser with specialized brightening ingredients to help fade dark spots.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first to clean skin, followed by your retinol treatment and moisturizer. This cleanser is safe and unlikely to cause irritation for this skin, but dark spots need a cleanser that also contains brightening ingredients and extra softening ingredients for the best results.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It effectively washes away impurities without harsh ingredients, but because it does not target dark spots, this skin needs dedicated brightening serums or treatments.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on skin with dark spots because it is safe and free of harsh ingredients. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to target your main goal of dark spots, which means a cleanser of this type needs added brightening ingredients and gentle exfoliants for this skin.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the thin skin around your eyes may require a gentler formula to avoid dryness. This type of product needs to respect delicate areas while keeping skin comfortable and clean.
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, 2001A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Why other cleansers fit skin with dark spots better
Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Decyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauric Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Edta, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Linoleic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Cocoyl Proline, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Pca, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Aspartic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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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
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