PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA’S CHOICE CALM REDNESS RELIEF REDNESS RELIEF TONER - BEST TONER FOR SENSITIVE SKIN, BEST HYDRATING TONER FOR REDNESS
PAULA’S CHOICE | CALM REDNESS RELIEF REDNESS RELIEF TONER
This product review was originally part of my blog article titled, Products I'm into: Paula’s Choice Calm Collection - Best Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, Best Face Cream for Redness. You can catch the full piece here.
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I’m always seeking out gentle, effective skincare for sensitive skin. Not because I have sensitive skin necessarily, but because I know many people who believe they do.
It always makes me kinda sad when I recommend (or give!) a skincare product to someone and they say they’re afraid to use it because their skin reacts adversely to so many products that they avoid using anything new on their face. That sucks!
It’s hardly a way to maintain your skin health. And, sensitive skin isn’t healthy skin. It’s imbalanced skin. The solution isn’t to avoid skincare entirely. Rather, it’s to understand what’s throwing your skin out of whack and find a skincare routine comprised of products that work to calm and eliminate skin sensitivity.
So while I may not have sensitive skin per se, I get it. And I’ve been there. I test out so many products that it’s not uncommon for me to sensitize my skin. Glycolic Acid is often the culprit.
From time to time, my skin can become red, reactive and inflamed for a day or two. When it does, I put the brakes on anything harsh or overly aggressive. I remember one incident where even water aggravated my skin! As I recall, that time was retinol-induced.
SKINCARE HACKS: GLYCOLIC ACID IS THE NATURAL DEODORANT THAT WORKS!
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I have a love-hate relationship with Glycolic Acid, the most potent of the class of alpha hydroxy acids, and would really prefer to just use it in my underarms as a daily deodorant.
Glycolic Acid is such a popular and effective ingredient that I can’t avoid it. There are so many really well-formulated treatment toners with high concentrations of Glycolic Acid and I feel compelled to try them all! Even the 20% Glycolic Acid toners come across my desk — and my bathroom sink. So yeah, I can overdo it as easily as anyone.
I’ve also made no secret of the fact that I trust Paula’s Choice for all skin types, even sensitive skins. I have so many of the brand’s products in my regular daily skincare routines. Among them, of course, is the the Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster — hand’s down the best anti-aging serum on Earth. I’ve spoken of it multiple times on the blog and even recently promoted it on my TikTok channel. Psst…you can catch it here!
PAULA’S CHOICE 10% NIACINAMIDE BOOSTER – BEST NIACINAMIDE SERUM FOR CLOGGED PORES
In addition to the 10% Niacinamide Booster, I’m also a big fan of the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. I use the silky refining toner twice daily in conjunction with Paula’s Niacinamide serum to clear out my pores and keep my skin functioning optimally. In fact, I consider both products to be skin health essentials and rarely, if ever, go without them.
I’ve long had my eye on the Paula’s Choice Calm collection — formulated specifically for calming redness and irritation. Calm comprises a full range of skincare for sensitive skin — from cleansers to sunscreen and everything in between. I’ve just begun to explore it and am excited to share my initial thoughts.
Each Calm Redness Relief product is formulated with skin-replenishing plant oils, anti-aging actives and antioxidant-rich extracts “that research has shown to be among the most soothing for temperamental skin.”
My first foray into the Paula’s Choice Calm range includes the Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Toner, the brand’s Redness Relief Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin and the two sunscreen in the collection — one for normal to dry skin, the other for oily and combination skin.
It’s no surprise to me that I’ve found each of the products I’ve tried quite well-formulated, effective and pleasurable. The Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Toner is superbly hydrating and soothing and has become one of my favorite hydrating toners.
Additionally, the Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin is very likely one of the best mineral sunscreens for oily skin. It has one of the lightest textures for a mineral sunscreen that I’ve ever come across. I still can’t believe it’s a 100% mineral facial sunscreen. I suspect alien technology may be at play.
With that, let’s take a look at what I consider one of the best toners for sensitive skin, the Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Toner…
Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Redness Relief Toner for Normal to Dry Skin
I love talking about toners with people. It all usually goes over their heads because we — and by that I mean we Americans — have been conditioned to believe that toners aren’t a necessary skincare step. If your skincare routine is too complicated or too expensive, just skip the toner. That’s such a mistake. Why? Because toners hydrate the skin more effectively than just about any other skincare product. And hydrated skin is healthy skin.
The whole concept of a toner has been complicated by skincare marketers who push what are now referred to as “treatment toners.” They’re formulated with exfoliating acids like Glycolic Acid and intended to resurface the skin and instantly brighten the complexion. And they shouldn’t be (but are!) confused with classic hydrating toners — the ones that should be the next step in every serious pro-skin health regimen after cleansing.
One of my favorite hydrating toners also happens to be one of the best toners for sensitive skin — the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner. With its velvety texture and skin-soothing properties, FAB’s Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner is an excellent option for both dry and sensitive skin types. Catch my review of it on the blog here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: FIRST AID BEAUTY ULTRA REPAIR WILD OAT HYDRATING TONER – BEST TONER FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
With my experience of the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner in mind, I’ve been using the Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Toner for several weeks. I have to admit, it’s equally pleasurable and pro-skin health.
While I love its hydrating properties, what stands out most to me about the Redness Relief Toner formula is its powerful complex of soothing botanical extracts that combine for a high concentration of skin soothers to calm irritated skin. Among these, and all in the top ten of the INCI, are Allantoin, Genistein, Carnosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, and Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) — a component extracted from green tea with powerful antioxidant and soothing properties.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the Redness Relief Toner is the most skin-soothing of the entire Calm collection. All the more reason not to skip the toner!
The Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Toner has a slightly pulpy, milky texture, though it’s not at all heavy on the skin. It absorbs as quickly as a lighter, more watery toner.
In additon to its cocktail of soothing actives, there are a handful of humectants, brightening botanicals and even, curiously, phospholipids. It seems so random in a toner, but I love the inclusion of these bio-compatible fats.
According to the Paula’s Choice Research Team, phospholipids are among the best ingredients used in skincare. They’re defined this way:
Phospholipids are types of lipids (fats) composed of glycerol, fatty acids, and phosphate (a salt made from the non-metallic element phosphorus). They occur naturally within the human body and can be derived from plant and animal sources, such as soybeans, egg yolks, and milk. Phospholipids can also be synthetically derived. Lecithin is an example of a phospholipid.
Phospholipids in skin care have value for numerous reasons– chief among them is that they are hygroscopic, meaning they pull in water from surrounding air and hold it where more hydration is needed. That means they have excellent moisturizing capabilities without being occlusive. Applying phospholipids to skin can help replace phospholipids that are depleted either through cleansing or from environmental factors. Research also shows that phospholipids can have antioxidant properties and be effective in helping deliver other ingredients more effective to skin in cosmetics. As skin-natural ingredients, phospholipids are considered safe as used in skin care in concentrations up to 50%; however, they are most often used as part of a blend with glycerin, lecithin (itself a source of phospholipids as stated above) and ceramides.
The Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Toner is an excellent option for all skin types, but especially sensitive and sensitized skin. Adding just one product like a well-formulated hydrating facial toner to your daily skincare routine can really up your game — and your skin health.
What I like about it: The Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Toner is among the best hydrating toners I’ve come across. I really love its powerful cocktail of skin-soothing actives that make it ideal for both sensitive and sensitized skin. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the Redness Relief Toner is the best product in the brand’s Calm collection.
What I don’t like about it: I like everything about this hydrating toner.
Who it’s for: All skin types, but especially sensitive and sensitized skin.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Toner for Normal to Dry Skin for $22 here.
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The Ingredient List of the Paula’s Choice Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin:
so 0 0, Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria Flower Extract (Skin-Soothing) so|aox 0 0, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea Extract/Skin-Soothing) aox|so, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract (Licorice Extract/Skin-Soothing) 
so|sb, Alumina (Stabilizer) vc|abrasive/scrub, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Hydration/Skin-Soothing) so|h, Glycerin (Hydration) sii|h 0 0, Panthenol (Skin Replenishing) so|h 0 0, Algae Extract (Skin Replenishing) emo|h, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone emu|surf, Polyhydroxystearic Acid (Texture-Enhancing) emu, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone (Texture-Enhancing), Caprylyl Glycol (Preservative) h|emo, Butylene Glycol (Hydration) h|solv|vc 0 1, Diethylhexyl Carbonate (Stabilizer) emo, Triethoxycaprylylsilane (Texture-Enhancing), Disodium EDTA (Stabilizer) chel, Phenoxyethanol (Preservative) pres, Chlorphenesin (Preservative) pres|amicThe Ingredient List of the Paula’s Choice Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin:
emo 0 1-2, Cyclopentasiloxane (Hydration) emo|solv, Glyceryl Stearate (Emollient) emo|emu 0 1-2, PEG-100 Stearate (Texture-Enhancing) surf|emu 0 0, Butylene Glycol (Hydration) h|solv|vc 0 1, Pentylene Glycol (Hydration) solv|h, Cetearyl Alcohol (Emollient) emo|vc|emu|surf 1 2, Dimethicone (Hydration) emo 0 1, Glycine Soja Sterols (Soybean/Emollient) emo, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer (Texture-Enhancing) vc, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract (Oat Extract/Skin-Soothing) aox|so|emo|abrasive/scrub, Glycerin (Hydration/Skin Replenishing) sii|h 0 0, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hydration) sii|h 0 0, Allantoin (Skin-Soothing) so 0 0, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E/Antioxidant) aox 0 0, Hydrogenated Lecithin (Skin Replenishing) emo|emu, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C/Antioxidant) aox|sb, Superoxide Dismutase (Antioxidant) aox, Ubiquinone (Antioxidant) aox, Ceramide NG (Hydration/Skin Replenishing) sii, Methicone (Hydration) emo, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 (Texture-Enhancing) cci, PEG-10 Dimethicone (Texture-Enhancing) emu, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract (Cucumber Extract/Skin-Soothing) so|emo, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient) emo, Tribehenin (Emollient) emo, PEG-10 Phytosterol (Texture-Enhancing/Emollient) emu, Sorbitan Stearate (Texture-Enhancing) emu 1 0, Polyhydroxystearic Acid (Texture-Enhancing) emu, Alumina (Stabilizer) vc|abrasive/scrub, Polysorbate 20 (Stabilizer) emu|surf 0 0, Aluminum Stearate (Texture-Enhancing) col|vc, Xanthan Gum (Texture-Enhancing) vc, Caprylyl Glycol (Preservative) h|emo, Disodium EDTA (Stabilizer) chel, Ethylhexylglycerin (Preservative) pres, Phenoxyethanol (Preservative) pres, Chlorphenesin (Preservative) pres|amicThe Ingredient List of the Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Redness Relief Toner for Normal to Dry Skin:
sii|h 0 0, Cyclopentasiloxane emo|solv, Glycereth-26 h|emo|vc 0 0, Allantoin so 0 0, Genistein aox, Carnosine aox|cci, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate so|h, Epigallocatechin Gallate aox|so, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract so|sb, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Dimethiconol emo|h, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Oleic Acid emo|emu, Linolenic Acid sii|emo|surf|perf, Palmitic Acid sii|emo|emu 0 2, Linoleic Acid sii|emo|surf, Phospholipids sii|emo, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Polysorbate 20 emu|surf 0 0, Hydrogenated Lecithin emo|emu, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer vc, Xanthan Gum vc, Laureth-4 emu|surf 4 5, Laureth-23 emu|surf 0 3, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Butylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 1, Disodium EDTA chel, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Phenoxyethanol presThe Ingredient List of the Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin:
emo 0 0-2, Butylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 1, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Petrolatum emo, Cetearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 1 2, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate emo|emu|vc, Tridecyl Trimellitate emo, Phenyl Trimethicone emo, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Ceramide NP sii, Cholesterol sii|emo 0 0, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate sb|aox, Dimethicone emo 0 1, Polysorbate 60 emu|surf, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein h, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract aox|so|emo|abrasive/scrub, Hydrogenated Lecithin emo|emu, Whey Protein cci, Tridecyl Stearate emo, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate emo, Myristyl Myristate emo 2 0-5, Linoleic Acid sii|emo|surf, Linolenic Acid sii|emo|surf|perf, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer vc, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer vc, Cetearyl Glucoside emu|surf, Cetyl Alcohol emo|vc 2 2, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax emu, Aminomethyl Propanol buff, Disodium EDTA chel, Phenoxyethanol pres, Benzoic Acid pres, Chlorphenesin pres|amic, Sorbic Acid pres
