Paula's Choice Softening Cream Cleanser for mature skin
Beta-Glucan
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract
Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil
Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for mature skin; other cleansers fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate cleansing for your normal skin, as Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate effectively remove impurities while Beta-Glucan and Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract provide soothing benefits for your wrinkles and fine lines.
- While it offers general hydration and anti-inflammatory action, the formula lacks sufficient humectant ingredients for optimal hydration.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
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
★4.4Overall 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
How well does Paula's Choice Softening Cream Cleanser work for mature skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for mature skin, effectively washing away impurities while soothing lines with beta-glucan and chamomile flower extract without causing irritation. However, because it lacks sufficient moisture-binding ingredients, a cleanser for mature skin of this type needs richer hydrating components and specialized anti-aging ingredients to keep dry skin fully plump and soft.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for mature skin?
This cleanser works well for mature skin thanks to Beta-Glucan and Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, which help calm your face and soften fine lines. A cleanser for this skin also needs extra moisture-attracting ingredients to keep the skin fully hydrated.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Beta-Glucan do for mature skin?
Beta-glucan helps mature skin by boosting hydration, smoothing fine lines, and supporting the skin barrier. It also provides antioxidant protection and encourages skin repair, making it a great addition to anti-aging routines.
What does Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract do for mature skin?
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract helps mature skin by keeping it soft and smooth while reducing the look of fine lines. It is unlikely to irritate dry or sensitive skin and may support a more even skin tone over time.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening steps of your routine, right before your toner and moisturizer. Using a gentle cleanser helps clean your skin without causing irritation, keeping it soft and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine alongside retinol, applying it first to gently wash your face before your treatment step. It is safe for your skin and unlikely to cause irritation, though mature skin generally needs extra moisture-attracting ingredients to keep wrinkles looking smooth.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using a gentle cleanser daily helps wash away dirt and impurities while keeping your skin calm.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin since it avoids harsh ingredients and is well-tolerated. However, because mature skin needs extra moisture, a cleanser of this type works best when it includes rich hydrating ingredients and soothing plant extracts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle ingredients are safe for these delicate areas and are unlikely to cause irritation.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Apigenin 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, 2016Skin 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, 2021Novel beads of alpha-cyclodextrin and soybean oil achieved high adapalene encapsulation (>96%), demonstrated good skin tolerance without adverse reactions in human volunteers, and provided stratum corneum penetration in pig skin comparable to commercial gel and cream formulations.
Pharmaceutical Research, 2008Treatment 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 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, 2022Topical 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, 2021Topical 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
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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
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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