Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Cleansing
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Key actives
Works for
Cleansing
What does the product description say?
This gentle gel-to-cream cleanser removes dirt, oil and makeup, and rinses away skin-damaging pollutants that can cause premature signs of aging.
Source: Paula's Choice US
This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, decyl glucoside, disodium cocoyl glutamate, lauric acid, linoleic acid, sodium cocoyl glutamate, sodium cocoyl glycinate, sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium lauroyl oat amino acids, sorbeth-230 tetraoleate, sorbitan laurate) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.
Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside
Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen
Used as a cleansing agent. Helps water and oil mix together
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent
Helps water and oil mix together. Has anti-bacterial properties that might be helpful in preventing blemishes
An excellent emollient. Helps soften the skin, restore its barrier function, and can help to calm down inflammation. It can be helpful to prevent blemishes and clogged pores
Helps oil and water mix together
Helps oil and water mix together
Helps water and oil mix together
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Cleansing |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Paula's choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser | Current | $28.00 | |
 Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Cleansing Foam | 50% | $4.69 | |
 Olival Amino Gel | 50% | - | |
 CeraVe Gel Moussant Anti-Imperfections | 48% | - | |
 Sanex Zero % Sensitive Skin Shower Gel | 46% | ≈ $6.02 | |
 Mesoestetic Facial Gel Cleanser | 45% | - |
Key Actives
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Helps water and oil mix together. Has anti-bacterial properties that might be helpful in preventing blemishes
An excellent emollient. Helps soften the skin, restore its barrier function, and can help to calm down inflammation. It can be helpful to prevent blemishes and clogged pores
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to lighten the skin, but solid evidence is lacking
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
An amino-acid that helps increase skin hydration and might help to slightly improve skin firmness, potentially reducing lines and wrinkles
Helps oil and water mix together
Used as a cleansing agent. Helps water and oil mix together
Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent
Helps oil and water mix together
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
An amino acid that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and support skin's barrier function
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin
An emollient that helps soften the skin
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In theory, could support healthy skin's microbiome, but evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Potential irritants
Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen
Used as a cleansing agent. Helps water and oil mix together
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent
Helps water and oil mix together. Has anti-bacterial properties that might be helpful in preventing blemishes
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Comedogenic ingredients
Helps water and oil mix together. Has anti-bacterial properties that might be helpful in preventing blemishes
All ingredients
Used as a cleansing agent. Helps water and oil mix together
Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent
Helps water and oil mix together. Has anti-bacterial properties that might be helpful in preventing blemishes
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
An excellent emollient. Helps soften the skin, restore its barrier function, and can help to calm down inflammation. It can be helpful to prevent blemishes and clogged pores
Emollients that are naturaly present in skin. In addition, they help water and oil mix together in the product
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to lighten the skin, but solid evidence is lacking
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
An amino acid that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and support skin's barrier function
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In theory, could support healthy skin's microbiome, but evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking
An amino-acid that helps increase skin hydration and might help to slightly improve skin firmness, potentially reducing lines and wrinkles
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
Ingredient list view
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, Linoleic acid, Phospholipids, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Cocoyl proline, Sodium citrate, Sodium pca, Sodium lactate, Arginine, Glycine soja sterols, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Pca, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose oxidase, Aspartic acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Ecofriendly surfactant is allergen of the year
- Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acid
- Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin
- Safety Assessment of Amino Acid Alkyl Amides as Used in Cosmetics
- Irritant and sensitizing potential of eight surfactants commonly used in skin cleansers: an evaluation of 105 patients
- The Permeability Barrier in Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency: Evidence for a Direct Role for Linoleic Acid in Barrier Function
- Digital image analysis of the effect of topically applied linoleic acid on acne microcomedones.
- Effect of Topical Application of Glycine and Proline on Recalcitrant Leg Ulcers of Prolidase Deficiency
- Functional glycine receptor in cultured human keratinocytes
- Combination of amino acids reduces pigmentation in B16F0 melanoma cells
- Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
- Local rhamnosoft, ceramides and L‐isoleucine in atopic eczema: a randomized, placebo controlled trial
- Histidine and/or Histidine Derivative for the Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases
- Safety Assessment of α-Amino Acids as Used in Cosmetics
- Acetyl aspartic acid, a novel active ingredient, demonstrates potential to improve signs of skin ageing: from consumer need to clinical proof
- In vivo topical application of acetyl aspartic acid increases fibrillin-1 and collagen IV deposition leading to a significant improvement of skin firmness