Paula's choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant
Works for
Anti-blemishSalicylic acid, Inulin + 1 moreWorks well
“Visibly minimise redness with the help of Paula’s Choice Calm 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant, a non-abrasive, leave-on exfoliant that works to gently smooth away build-up and unclog pores.”
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
ExfoliationSalicylic acid, AllantoinWorks well
“CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant”
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.
Anti-agingTocopherol, Laminaria digitata extractNot delivered
“Working to support a healthy microbiome, this exfoliant has a light gel-cream texture that soothes the skin.Formulated with 1% salicylic acid, the exfoliant works to clear congested pores and reveal more youthful-looking skin.”
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Inulin, Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide + 9 moreWorks
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
galactoarabinan, glycerin.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycine soja oil, caprylyl glycol.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy9 flagged ingredientsMedium risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Methylpropanediol~5.9–7.3%
Dicaprylyl carbonate~4.2–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonateC15-19 alkane~3.1–3.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about C15-19 alkaneHydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer~2.4–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finish
More about Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymerSalicylic acid~1.7–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
More about Salicylic acidPropanediol~1.7–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolInulin~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is claimed to support the growth of "good" bacteria in skin (as a "prebiotic"), but the research is lacking
More about InulinPrunus mume extract~1.2–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Caprylyl glycol~1–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolAllantoin~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinTocopherol~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolSodium hydroxide~0.6–0.85%
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.55–0.8%
Hexylene glycol~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps create a more spreadable product texture
More about Hexylene glycolSorbitan isostearate~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sorbitan isostearateAlpha-glucan oligosaccharide~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Alpha-glucan oligosaccharideGlycerin~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinPrunus mume extract~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Laminaria digitata extract~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Seaweed extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but good research is lacking at the moment
More about Laminaria digitata extractPrunus mume extract~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Albatrellus confluens extract~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Glycine soja oil~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
More about Glycine soja oilOpuntia ficus-indica stem extract~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Galactoarabinan~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about GalactoarabinanCitric acid~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidSchizophyllan~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Prunus mume extract~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Maltodextrin~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize the product formulation and can help absorb oil
More about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolIngredient list view
Water, Methylpropanediol, Dicaprylyl carbonate, C15-19 alkane, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Salicylic acid, Propanediol, Inulin, Prunus mume extract, Caprylyl glycol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Sodium hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene glycol, Sorbitan isostearate, Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, Glycerin, Prunus mume extract, Laminaria digitata extract, Prunus mume extract, Albatrellus confluens extract, Glycine soja oil, Opuntia ficus-indica stem extract, Galactoarabinan, Citric acid, Schizophyllan, Prunus mume extract, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol
Compare prices
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Paula's choiceCALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin ExfoliantYOUR PRODUCT | Jan MariniMarini Multi-Acid Exfoliating Pads | Deviant SkincareGentle Resurfacing Liquid | CodexialEnoliss Perfect Skin Spot Scrub Purifying Anti-Marks Correcting Care | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 79% | 79% | 78% |
| Price | $45.50 | $95.00+$49.50 | $52.00+$6.50 | $16.96−$28.54 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 8 | 2 of 8 | 2 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | Glycolic Acid | Glycolic Acid | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Skin Control Peel PadsB. Kamins Lactic-10
Product summary
"Paula's choice - CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant" is effective for: Anti-blemish and Exfoliation
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Salicylic acid (1.70% - 2.10%). This is an oil-soluble exfoliating acid. Because of this property, it can work inside pores and help reduce the congestion. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and is used to treat acne. Because it is a quite strong exfoliator, be careful with using this product too often: it could result in over-exfoliation.
- Humectants (galactoarabinan 0.30% - 0.55% and glycerin 0.50% - 0.75%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Paula's choice" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.
Price
The product retails from 35.00$ up to 45.50$ in the United States and from 35.00£ up to 270.00£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 9 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
- 3A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparationssciencedirect.com
- 4
- 5
- 6
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