Paula's Choice
Perfectly Balanced Foaming CleanserA face cleanser built around Ceramide and BHA, for barrier repair and hydration.
A face cleanser built around Hyaluronic acid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
Not recorded · brand's site
Brand price
USD 28.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
They come out differently on Silicone-free; that row is shaded. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Ceramide3
Skin-identical lipids that hold the barrier together.
Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Ceramide3
Skin-identical lipids that hold the barrier together.
Hyaluronic acid1
Hyaluronic acid and its salts; a humectant that binds water to the skin.
Benefits
Hydrating11
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Petrolatum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair15
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Coconut Acid, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Petrolatum, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Hydrating10
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair21
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cetyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lauryl Alcohol, Lecithin, Myristyl Alcohol, Phytosphingosine, Sphingolipids, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Smoothing13
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lauryl Alcohol, Lecithin, Myristyl Alcohol, Sphingolipids, Stearyl Alcohol
Concerns
May Trigger Acne5
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis14
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Coconut Acid, Jojoba Esters, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Stearic Acid
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Trigger Acne7
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis20
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lauryl Alcohol, Lecithin, Myristyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sphingolipids, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris7
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
May Worsen Oily Skin2
May increase shine or excess oil.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (in both products)
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Stearic Acid (in both products)
Cleansing
2-3 / 0
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sodium Isethionate (in both products)
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ceramide NP (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
- Ceramide
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ceramide AP (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
- Ceramide
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (in both products)
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cleansing
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Stearic Acid (in both products)
Cleansing
2-3 / 0
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
0 / 0
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Skin Conditioning
4 / 0
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- Barrier Repair
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Film Forming
Cetyl Alcohol (in both products)
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing, Hair Conditioning, Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate →Stearic Acid
Cleansing, Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Refatting, Cleansing, Emulsifying
Stearic Acid may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Stearic Acid →Aqua
Solvent
Sodium Isethionate
Antistatic, Cleansing, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Sodium 2-hydroxyethanesulphonate
Learn more about Sodium Isethionate →Ceramide NP
Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Ceramide NP →Ceramide AP
Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Ceramide AP →Ceramide EOP
Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Ceramide EOP →Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling
2-Propenoic acid, polymer with 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol 2-propenyl ether
Learn more about Carbomer →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Sodium Chloride
Bulking, Fragrance, Oral Care, Viscosity Controlling
Sodium chloride
Learn more about Sodium Chloride →
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