Ultra Gentle Cleanser.

Cleansers

About this product

A mild cushioning cleanser from Paula's Choice designed to remove makeup and impurities gently without stripping the skin.

Full ingredients

Water⁠, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate⁠, Glycerin⁠, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride⁠, Cocamidopropyl Betaine⁠, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate⁠, Cellulose Gum⁠, Coco Caprylate/Caprate⁠, Hydroxyacetophenone⁠, Inulin⁠, Xanthan Gum⁠, Ethylhexylglycerin⁠, Sodium Phytate⁠, Cellulose⁠, Fructose⁠, Glucose⁠, Phenoxyethanol

Guru Score

65%

Mixed

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

2Gurus

1Yay

0Mixed

1Nay

What they liked

Doesn't irritate skin

What they flagged

Clumpy texture
Weak lathering
Needs a pre-cleanse

What the gurus are saying

This pudding-like cleanser becomes a milky lather rather than foam, creating a divide among reviewers. Some praise it as comforting and hydrating with no eye sting, while others find it clumps and spreads unevenly without a pre-cleanse. It may work better as a second cleanser, where it rinses clean without dryness; the heavy glycerin content makes it less suitable for cleansing on its own.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take January 2023

Best for

Dry skin Sensitive skin

Type

CleansersLiquid

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr Dray

2.68M subs

~Nay

"The Ultra Gentle Cleanser was an epic fail for me. It's described as a cushioning cleanser, but I think they put too much glycerin in it because the lathering is completely off, it clumps up and doesn't distribute over the surface of the skin well, which is exactly what a cleanser is supposed to do. That said, when you rinse it off the skin does not feel dry or irritated, it does feel soft and clean, but if you don't already do a pre-cleanse you're going to have a difficult time adequately cleansing your face with this. Honestly I think the whole formulation is completely out of whack, and they completely ruined this from Paula."

Gothamista

684k subs

~Yay

"I want my second cleanse to gently caress my skin, so I'm using Paula's Choice Ultra Gentle Cleanser. This isn't so much foamy as it is milky and it feels almost moisturizing."

Sponsored

All 3 takes from Gothamista

2022 Skincare Faves!

"I prefer a second cleanser that is comforting, gentle caress on my skin, and my new favorite for that is the Ultra Gentle Cleanser from Paula's Choice from their new Calm collection. I feel so grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to be involved and lend my voice during the development of this brand and to see it come to life has been really beyond my expectations. This is my new boo now. It's a really simple formula and that lush thick pudding-like texture just makes cleansing a pleasure. I even spend a lot of time massaging around my eyes using this and it doesn't sting at all. If there's anything residual, this will remove it, and it does not feel stripped or tight or dry even in drier circumstances."

Paulas Choice New Calm Collection | Review

"I've always said Paula's Choice has some of the best cleansers, they are so underrated, but if you know you know. A new favorite and spoiler alert this is in my evening skincare routine, the Ultra Gentle Cleanser. I'm really loving this right now as the weather transitions to become drier. So I use this as a second cleanser but this also works really well as a morning cleanser for those of you who use one. It's just so gentle but it gets it done. This formula is simple, super mild surfactant and very hydrating. You can see from the texture this has this pudding-like bouncy cushion texture, which I love. And when you apply it, it just becomes this thick comforting hydrating gel. It turns into a milk rather than a foamy lather. I even massage this over my eyes, no stinging, no irritation. It completely rinses off clean and leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated."

Winter Tretinoin Routine | 2023

"I want my second cleanse to gently caress my skin, so I'm using Paula's Choice Ultra Gentle Cleanser. This isn't so much foamy as it is milky and it feels almost moisturizing."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Frequently asked.

What is Paula's Choice Ultra Gentle Cleanser?

A mild cushioning cleanser from Paula's Choice designed to remove makeup and impurities gently without stripping the skin.

Is Paula's Choice Ultra Gentle Cleanser worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 65%.

What is Paula's Choice Ultra Gentle Cleanser's Guru Score?

Paula's Choice Ultra Gentle Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 65%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.