Paula's choice Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
Works for
2 of 3 advertised claims delivered
ExfoliationSalicylic acid, AllantoinStrong evidence
“Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion 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.
MoisturizingGlycerin, Allantoin + 6 moreGood evidence
“CALM Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant is a leave-on, sheer lightweight lotion with a texture that works to soothe redness and smooth away dry skin with skin-plumping hydration.”
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:
allantoin, 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: dimethicone, cetyl alcohol.
Anti-agingMagnesium aluminum silicate, Camellia sinensis leaf extractLimited evidence
“It also diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and lessens the size of pores.”
This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.These ingredients - camellia sinensis leaf extract, magnesium aluminum silicate - could be helpful for preventing or repairing signs of aging in theory, but there is no evidence that it actually works.
This ingredient camellia sinensis leaf extract might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin and help it fight off some of the sun damage.
Anti-blemishNot advertised by the brand · Salicylic acid, Allantoin + 2 moreStrong evidence
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.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract + 1 moreModerate evidence
This product contains antioxidants (camellia sinensis leaf extract, epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy9 flagged ingredientsLow risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Butylene glycol~5.5–8.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolCetyl alcohol~3.4–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholCyclopentasiloxane~2.8–4.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin
More about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone~2.2–3.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeSalicylic acid~1.5–2.3%
- 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 acidAvena sativa bran extract~1.6–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Allantoin~1.1–1.7%
- 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 AllantoinCamellia sinensis leaf extract~0.95–1.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractGlycyrrhiza glabra root extract~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
More about Glycyrrhiza glabra root extractEpilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might contain antioxidants
More about Epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extractLauric acid~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Helps water and oil mix together. Has anti-bacterial properties that might be helpful in preventing blemishes
More about Lauric acidGlycerin~0.4–0.9%
- 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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20~0.35–0.8%
Sorbitan stearate~0.3–0.75%
Magnesium aluminum silicate~0.2–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Might be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and, when combined with zinc carbonate and malonic acid, reducing fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating elastin production. Also helps stabilize the product formulation
More about Magnesium aluminum silicateAmmonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Increases thickness of a product. Texture enhancer for oil-in-water emulsions
More about Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymerPeg-40 stearate~0.15–0.6%
Xanthan gum~0.15–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumHexylene glycol~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps create a more spreadable product texture
More about Hexylene glycolSodium hydroxide~0.1–0.4%
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.1–0.3%
Disodium edta~0.05–0.25%
Phenoxyethanol~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolCaprylyl glycol~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolIngredient list view
Water, Butylene glycol, Cetyl alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Salicylic acid, Avena sativa bran extract, Allantoin, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract, Lauric acid, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan stearate, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, Peg-40 stearate, Xanthan gum, Hexylene glycol, Sodium hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol
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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 choiceRedness Relief 1% BHA Lotion ExfoliantYOUR PRODUCT | Colleen Rothschild BeautyWeightless Moisturizer | BiodermaSebium Mattifying Lotion | CodexialEnoliss Perfect Skin Spot Scrub Purifying Anti-Marks Correcting Care | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 85% | 81% | 80% |
| Price | $60.06 | — | $44.04−$16.02 | $17.03−$43.03 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 7 | 2 of 7 | 3 of 7 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Mannitol | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 3Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
- 5A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparationssciencedirect.com
- 6
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