Final Up to date on December 7, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
A fast Look on the Paula’s Selection web site and also you’ll be overwhelmed by the quantity of cleansers the model makes. Final time I counted, there have been 10+! How are you supposed to choose one of the best one out of all these Paula’s Selection cleansers? Fortunately for you, I’m so simply intimated and I’ve determined to begin this skincare journey with Paula’s Selection Pore Normalizing Cleanser. As a result of, who doesn’t need smaller pores, am I proper? On this Paula Selection cleanser evaluation, I’ll share with you what’s on this cleanser, which pores and skin varieties it’s greatest for, and whether or not it is best to add it to your skincare routine, pronto:
Key Substances in Paula’s Selection Pore Normalizing Cleanser: What Makes It Work?
SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE
This can be a surfactant, which simply means it’s the factor that really cleans your face. It’s one of many gentler ones – comes from sarcosine (an amino acid) blended with fatty acids, and it removes oil and grime with out completely destroying your pores and skin barrier within the course of. Means higher than these harsh sulfates that depart your face feeling such as you simply scrubbed it with sandpaper.
What I like about it’s you continue to get that foamy lather (all of us need the froth, let’s be actual) however your face doesn’t really feel tight and stripped after. And that’s good as a result of when your pores and skin feels squeaky clear? That’s not clear, that’s broken. This one does the job with out being harsh about it, which is strictly what you want when there’s additionally salicylic acid in right here.
GLYCERIN
Glycerin is boring however dependable, just like the good friend who all the time exhibits up after they say they are going to. It’s a humectant so it grabs water and pulls it into your pores and skin. In a cleanser it’s mainly there to cease your face from feeling like a desert when you’re washing it. However right here’s the truth – glycerin in a cleanser is sweet however it’s not going to alter your life since you rinse it off like 30 seconds later. It retains issues from feeling stripping when you’re utilizing it, which is sweet, however it’s not going to provide you precise hydration like it might in one thing that stays in your face. It’s simply there to maintain your pores and skin from freaking out whereas all the things else does the cleansing.
SALICYLIC ACID
Ssalicylic acid is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) and everybody goes completely psychological for it in relation to zits and pores. Which… yeah okay it IS good for that. It’s oil-soluble so it could get inside your pores and break down all of the gross buildup and lifeless pores and skin hanging out in there. Plus it calms down irritation which is why it really works for breakouts. BUT – and that is vital – in a cleanser it’s mainly not doing a lot. Like yeah it’s there, however cleansers don’t keep in your face lengthy sufficient for salicylic acid to truly get in there and do its factor. The analysis is fairly clear that BHAs want time in your pores and skin to work – we’re speaking minutes, not the 30 seconds you spend washing your face. So the salicylic acid on this cleanser is extra like a background character right here than one of many lively elements. In case you truly need exfoliation and clear pores, get a leave-on BHA therapy, like one of many cult Paula’s Selection merchandise, BHA Liquid Exfoliant. This light cleanser will wash your face positive and possibly offer you a tiny little bit of exfoliation however don’t anticipate it to be your miracle employee.
Associated: Everything You Need To Know About Salicylic Acid In Skincare
NOTE: The colors point out the effectiveness of an ingredient. It’s ILLEGAL to place poisonous and dangerous elements in skincare merchandise.
- Inexperienced: It’s efficient, confirmed to work, and helps the product do the very best job to your pores and skin.
- Yellow: There’s not a lot proof it really works (at the least, but).
- Pink: What is that this doing right here?!
- Water: It’s actually simply water, the bottom that all the things else dissolves into. Makes up a lot of the system as a result of that’s how cleansers work, nothing wild taking place right here.
- Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer: This thickens all the things up and retains the system steady so it doesn’t separate into bizarre layers. Provides it that gel texture as an alternative of being all watery and pathetic, mainly makes it really feel like an precise product.
- PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate: It’s an emulsifier and surfactant so it blends all the things collectively and helps with the cleansing. Comes from glycerin and palm oil, fairly light. Additionally helps the cleanser rinse off clear with out leaving gunk in your face.
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate: Okay don’t panic however sure this can be a sulfate. It’s a surfactant that makes foam and cleans, and yeah it’s extra irritating than the sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. However look, it’s not poison – it depends upon how a lot is in there and what else is buffering it. Because it’s listed after a bunch of different cleaning brokers it’s in all probability not the primary occasion, simply there to spice up the froth and cleansing a bit. Nonetheless, I want it weren’t right here.
- Arginine: That is an amino acid and it’s truly fairly cool in cleansers. Helps maintain the pH at an excellent stage to your pores and skin (you need round 5 to five.5), and it’s additionally good to your pores and skin typically. Plus it could assist settle down irritation from surfactants, so it’s in all probability in right here to steadiness out that sodium laureth sulfate.
- Butylene Glycol: One other humectant like glycerin for hydration, however it additionally helps different elements dissolve higher (although in a cleanser you’re rinsing off that doesn’t matter a lot). Makes the feel nicer and helps protect issues, tremendous widespread and most of the people’s pores and skin is okay with it.
- PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate: Gentle surfactant from coconut oil and glycerin. Helps clear your face gently and makes the entire thing really feel much less harsh in your pores and skin, simply a kind of elements that makes the expertise extra snug.
- Panthenol: Sure, love this. It’s pro-vitamin B5 and it’s nice – soothing, helps repair your pores and skin barrier, calms irritation. Regardless that you rinse it off it really works quick sufficient to make a distinction, leaves your pores and skin feeling softer and fewer offended.
- Disodium EDTA: Chelating agent that grabs onto metallic ions within the water in order that they don’t mess with how nicely the cleanser works. Principally makes certain exhausting water doesn’t screw issues up and helps maintain the system steady, completely regular ingredient.
- Citric Acid: pH adjuster, retains it on the proper stage to your pores and skin. Technically it’s an AHA however at these tiny quantities in a rinse-off product it’s actually simply there for pH, not exfoliation.
- PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: Emulsifier that retains issues that don’t like one another (oils and water) blended collectively. Makes the cleanser unfold properly and rinse off with out leaving a movie, comes from castor oil and it’s fairly light.
- Sodium Citrate: Works with the citric acid to maintain the pH steady and in addition acts as a chelating agent just like the disodium EDTA. Simply a kind of background elements that does its job quietly.
- Phenoxyethanol: Preservative that stops micro organism and mildew from rising in your cleanser, which you positively want. Fairly extensively used and most of the people tolerate it positive, although some delicate pores and skin varieties can react however that’s not tremendous widespread.
- Caprylyl Glycol: Preservative booster that works with the phenoxyethanol to maintain issues from getting gross. Additionally acts as a humectant and makes the product really feel nicer, so it’s doing double obligation.
- Chlorphenesin: One other preservative working with the others to maintain your cleanser from turning right into a petri dish. Typically secure and well-tolerated, simply doing preservation issues with out drama.
Texture
It’s a transparent gel that feels kinda slick and good whenever you pump it out. While you rub it on moist pores and skin it foams up a bit – not like loopy bubble tub foam, extra like a lightweight silky lather. Spreads simple, rinses off clear, no bizarre movie left behind. Your face simply feels clear after, not tight or something.
Perfume
There’s no perfume in any respect, which is strictly what you need in a product like this. No pretend recent scent, no botanical nonsense, nothing. In case you’re delicate to fragrances or simply hate when your skincare smells like a fragrance counter, you’ll admire this.
How To Use It
Moist your face, pump a small quantity of cleanser out (don’t go loopy, a little bit goes fairly far), therapeutic massage it round your face for like 30 seconds, rinse it off. That’s it. You are able to do this morning and night time in case your pores and skin can deal with it, or simply as soon as a day should you’re extra on the dry facet. It’s greatest to your morning routine. In case you’re sporting a full face of long-wearing make-up this isn’t gonna minimize it by itself – you’ll want to make use of an oil cleanser first after which comply with with this. It’ll deal with gentle make-up or simply basic face grime positive although.
Packaging
Mild blue plastic bottle with a pump. It’s primary, kinda medical wanting, however I do dig the vibe. I do like they use completely different colors to distinguish their product traces which is definitely useful whenever you’ve bought a number of merchandise from them. Its additionally travel-friendly sufficient, which is all the time a plus.
Efficiency & Private Opinion
Look, I’ve tried plenty of cleansers and this one simply works with out being annoying about it. It cleans my face correctly – will get the oil and dirt off, rinses clear, doesn’t depart any movie. But it surely additionally doesn’t depart my pores and skin feeling stripped or tight, which is the place most cleansers that declare to be for acne-prone pores and skin mess up. The froth is definitely good. Not aggressive, not drying, simply does its job. My pores and skin feels recent after utilizing it, not squeaky (which is sweet as a result of squeaky = broken barrier), simply clear. I can use it twice a day with out my face freaking out, which is saying one thing as a result of my pores and skin might be temperamental.
Right here’s what I admire about it: it’s not pretending to be one thing it’s not. Yeah there’s salicylic acid in there however everyone knows from the analysis that it’s not doing a lot in a rinse-off product. That is only a good, stable cleanser that will get out of the best way and lets your precise remedies (the leave-on ones) do the heavy lifting. I haven’t damaged out from it, it hasn’t irritated my pores and skin, and it performs good with the remainder of my routine. That’s truthfully all I want. It’s boring in one of the best ways – dependable, constant, does what it’s purported to do with out drama. Typically that’s precisely what you need as an alternative of some miracle cleanser that guarantees to alter your life after which strips your face to hell.
What I Like About Paula’s Selection Pore Normalizing Cleanser
- Cleans my face with out making it really feel like sandpaper
- Really light
- No annoying perfume
- The froth is sweet with out being aggressive
- Doesn’t depart residue
- My pores and skin doesn’t really feel tight after
- Hasn’t damaged me out
- Pump bottle is far more hygienic than a tube
What I DON’T Like About Paula’s Selection Pore Normalizing Cleanser
- Why is there sodium laureth sulfate in right here when there are gentler choices?!
- The salicylic acid is mainly for present because you rinse it off
- Gained’t take away heavy make-up
- Is perhaps drying in case your pores and skin is already dry
Who Ought to Use This?
- Get this in case you have mixture pores and skin or oily pores and skin and breakouts. It’s good should you want one thing that cleans correctly however received’t wreck your pores and skin whenever you’re utilizing stronger remedies at night time.
- Additionally an excellent choice in case you have delicate pores and skin that normally hates zits merchandise – that is light sufficient that it in all probability received’t make you get away in hives.
- Don’t get it in case you have dry pores and skin or dry areas as a result of regardless that it’s “light” the sulfates may nonetheless dry you out.
- And don’t get it should you want your cleanser to take off a full face of make-up as a result of it received’t.
Does Paula’s Selection Pore Normalizing Cleanser Stay Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| This light, acne-fighting salicylic acid cleanser removes extra oil, pore-clogging particles and make-up with out drying pores and skin or inflicting redness. | True, regardless that the best way it’s worded makes it sound like salicylic acid is doing far more than it does. It could take away pore-clogging particles earlier than they get into your pores, however it received’t penetrate inside to clear pore. |
| This cleaning gel truly has a silky really feel that works rapidly to take away extra oil and particles that may clog pores and result in breakouts. | True. |
Worth & Availability
$24.00 at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK
The Verdict: Ought to You Purchase It?
In case you have oily or acne-prone pores and skin and want a cleanser that received’t mess up your pores and skin barrier when you’re utilizing different zits remedies, yeah get it. It’s stable, does the job, received’t trigger drama. In case your pores and skin is dry or tremendous delicate possibly strive a pattern first as a result of the sulfates could be an excessive amount of. It’s not thrilling, it’s not gonna change your life, however it’s an excellent dependable cleanser that does its job with out being annoying about it. Typically that’s all you want.
