Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser for mature skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Panthenol
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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
- Suitable for normal skin, this cleanser utilizes salicylic acid and glycerin to gently exfoliate and maintain skin balance, offering moderate pore-cleansing benefits.
- While effective for general cleansing, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly address your concerns with wrinkles and fine lines.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, with no identified risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser as part of both your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily since your skin is normal and not sensitive.
- Apply this first in your routine before using your toner, moisturizer, and SPF.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water. Avoid rubbing your skin too hard.
- Apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin for the best fresh feeling. Make sure your face is clean of heavy makeup first.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area while washing. Do a quick patch test before your very first use to be safe.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers with oily, acne-prone, and combination skin frequently praise this cleanser for its ability to reduce breakouts and unclog pores without stripping the moisture barrier. While most find it leaves skin feeling soft and thoroughly cleansed of makeup and oil, a minority of users with drier or highly sensitive skin experienced tightness, flaking, or irritation.
Highlights
Effective acne control Mostly Mentioned
- “Helped clear my cystic acne”
- “keeps my breakouts at bay”
- “noticed fewer blackheads within weeks”
- “essential for maintaining clear skin”
Gentle & non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Doesn't strip my skin”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “leaves face feeling soft not tight”
- “soothing on inflamed skin”
Thorough cleansing Often Mentioned
- “Removes all my makeup easily”
- “cuts through oil instantly”
- “face feels incredibly clean”
- “takes off waterproof sunscreen”
Pleasant gel texture Sometimes Noted
- “Silky gel feel”
- “lathers up perfectly”
- “rinses off without residue”
- “a little goes a long way”
Drying for some Sometimes Noted
- “Made my skin flaky”
- “felt very tight after washing”
- “dried out my cheeks”
- “too harsh for winter use”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Cap broke immediately”
- “leaks when traveling”
- “dispenses too much product”
- “hard to close the lid”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused a burning sensation”
- “turned my face red”
- “broke me out in a rash”
- “stung my eyes”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smells like plastic”
- “has a weird chemical odor”
- “scent is off-putting”
- “smells like glue”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com.au, dermstore.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, paulaschoice-eu.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser a great fit for mature skin?
Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser is a great fit for mature skin because it uses salicylic acid and glycerin to gently exfoliate and maintain skin balance while offering safe, irritation-free cleansing. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients, helping keep skin feeling smooth and comfortable.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for mature skin?
Salicylic acid and glycerin make this cleanser a great fit because they gently sweep away dead cells and keep skin feeling soft and balanced. It is safe to use every day, though it does not contain ingredients specifically targeted at smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
What does Salicylic Acid do for mature skin?
Salicylic acid helps smooth and firm mature skin by boosting collagen and elasticity while reducing roughness and wrinkles. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used correctly, but this skin type also needs extra hydrating ingredients to stay soft and plump.
What does Glycerin do for mature skin?
Glycerin helps keep mature skin feeling soft and smooth by drawing moisture into the outer layer and locking it in. This daily hydration boost supports the skin barrier, keeping dry areas comfortable and protected against irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routine as the first step after removing makeup. It gently cleans and exfoliates your skin with salicylic acid and glycerin, leaving it balanced and comfortable without irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in the same routine as retinol by applying it first to cleanse your skin before putting on your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used this way, as the gentle formula helps keep the skin calm and balanced while you use active treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Using a gentle cleanser regularly helps maintain skin balance while supporting overall skin health without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin, as it contains salicylic acid and glycerin to gently clear pores while keeping the skin balanced. It has a safe profile with no harsh or prohibited ingredients, though some reviewers do note mild dryness.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can safely use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes because its gentle formula has a very safe profile with no harsh ingredients. However, the skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin, so use a gentle touch to avoid any accidental 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, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The 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, 2012Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser decreased prokaryotic microbial alpha diversity, altered prokaryotic microbiome structure, increased phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine, and decreased ceramides on facial skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Coacervates formed from mixed micelles of sodium lauroylsarcosinate and cocamidopropyl betaine with cationic guar gum exhibited a dense porous structure with high viscoelastic modulus under strong electrostatic interactions, and a looser mesh structure with lower viscoelasticity and enhanced skin adsorption under weakened interactions.
Soft Matter, 2024Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
Ingredients
Salicylic Acid, Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Glycerin, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Panthenol, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin
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
How does it fit your skin?
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