Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-blemish
- Exfoliation
- Moisturizing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 2
Key actives
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.
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
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.
Source: SpaceNK
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.
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)
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
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant
Source: From product name
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.
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)
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Moisturizing
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.
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
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
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
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
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
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
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.
Source: SpaceNK
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too 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
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
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Exfoliation | |
| Anti-blemish | |
| Anti-aging |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 66/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Paula's choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant | Current | $35.00 | |
 StackedSkincare Overnight Exfoliation Stack | 81% | - | |
 Jan Marini Marini Multi-Acid Exfoliating Pads | 79% | $95.00 | |
B. Kamins Lactic-10 | 78% | $28.00 | |
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad Self Tanner For Face | Dr. Dennis Gross | 78% | $20.00 | |
 CeraVe Blemish Control Gel Moisturiser with 2% Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide for Blemish-Prone Skin | 78% | $11.00 |
Key Actives
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
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)
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
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
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Potential irritants
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)
A gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finish
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Comedogenic ingredients
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
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
All ingredients
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
A gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finish
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)
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
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
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
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
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
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
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Used to stabilize the product formulation and can help absorb oil
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
Ingredient 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
- Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
- Beta Hydroxy Acids
- A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparations
- Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Study
- Probiotics and prebiotics potential for the care of skin, female urogenital tract, and respiratory tract