Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Anti-blemish3 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Quickly makes red bumps less visible, calms razor sting, unclogs pores, and diminishes the signs of ageing—all in a completely non-irritating formula.”
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-aging3 ingredients credited for this claimModerate support
“Quickly makes red bumps less visible, calms razor sting, unclogs pores, and diminishes the signs of ageing—all in a completely non-irritating formula.”
This product contains palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1. These ingredients might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · 14 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
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:
glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.
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: palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1
ExfoliationNot advertised by the brand · 2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy6 flagged ingredientsMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Dipropylene glycol~5.5–8.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to dissolve other ingredients in a formulation. Slows down the rate of product drying
More about Dipropylene glycolSalicylic acid~1.7–2.5%
- 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 acidPentylene glycol~2.8–4.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolButylene glycol~2–3%
- 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 glycolPolysorbate 20~1.7–2.5%
Palmitoyl tripeptide-1~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
More about Palmitoyl tripeptide-1Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7~1.2–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
More about Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7Dipotassium glycyrrhizate~0.95–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A salt derived from licorice. Works as an emollient to soften the upper layer of the skin and can help calm down inflammation. Might be helpful for skin lightening
More about Dipotassium glycyrrhizateNordihydroguaiaretic acid~0.6–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize the formula of product formulation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin
More about Nordihydroguaiaretic acidOleanolic acid~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Might be helpful against blemishes, work as an anti-oxidant, reduce inflammation and improve skin's ability to hold on to moisture, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness when applied topically to human skin
More about Oleanolic acidSodium hyaluronate~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateAllantoin~0.15–0.6%
- 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 AllantoinTrehalose~0.2–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin
More about TrehalosePanthenol~0.2–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolGlycerin~0.3–0.7%
- 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 GlycerinPeg-60 almond glycerides~0.2–0.75%
Sodium metabisulfite~0.1–0.2%
Peg/ppg-18/4 copolymer~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Methyl gluceth-20~0.15–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and soften it
More about Methyl gluceth-20Bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane~0.15–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silaneGlycereth-26~0.1–0.4%
Sodium hydroxide~0.1–0.35%
Carbomer~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
More about CarbomerDisodium edta~0.05–0.25%
Caprylyl glycol~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolIngredient list view
Water, Dipropylene glycol, Salicylic acid, Pentylene glycol, Butylene glycol, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, Dipotassium glycyrrhizate, Nordihydroguaiaretic acid, Oleanolic acid, Sodium hyaluronate, Allantoin, Trehalose, Panthenol, Glycerin, Peg-60 almond glycerides, Sodium metabisulfite, Peg/ppg-18/4 copolymer, Methyl gluceth-20, Bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, Glycereth-26, Sodium hydroxide, Carbomer, Disodium edta, 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 choiceSoothe + SmoothYOUR PRODUCT | bioClarityTreat Acne Clearing Gel | Geek & Gorgeous 101Calm down | Peter Thomas RothAcne-Clear Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 75% | 71% | 70% |
| Price | $46.27 | $14.00−$32.27 | $11.00−$35.27 | $38.00−$8.27 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 10 | 3 of 10 | 5 of 10 |
| Key difference | — | Lactic Acid | Lactobionic Acid | Dimethicone |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"Paula's choice - Soothe + Smooth" has a good moisturizing formula. As we expect from a proper moisturizer, the formula includes a combo of effective humectants and emollients. These are the two different types of ingredients that are essential for improving the skin hydration and supporting a healthy skin barrier. Humectants in this product (glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, trehalose, methyl gluceth-20 and bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, caprylyl glycol and pentylene glycol in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
Ingredient callouts
- We like that this moisturizer contains peptides (palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 1.20% - 1.90% and palmitoyl tripeptide-1 1.40% - 2.10%). There are many different kind of peptides and they are naturally present in our skin. They all are a combination of amino-acids. Some of them work as natural anti-biotics, promote wound-healing and production of collagen. The science is still not settled on how effective peptides in skincare are, but it is very likely that they have a benefit. Peptides might help restore the skin barrier and fight the signs of aging. At the very least, peptides work as humectants: they attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve its hydration.
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate in this product (0.95% - 1.40%) can also further help improve the skin barrier. It might be able to calm down inflammation and reduce sensitivity. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is an active compound from the licorice root.
Irritation risk
There are actives in this product that can be irritating. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 108.95CA$ in Canada, for 36.00$ in the United States and for 49.00A$ in Australia.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 20 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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