Cetaphil
Hydrating Foaming Cream CleanserPaula's Choice
Pore Normalizing CleanserA face cleanser built around Niacinamide and Panthenol, for barrier repair and hydration.
A face cleanser built around BHA and Salicylic acid, for hydration and barrier repair.
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 Sulfate-free and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.

Benefits

Hydrating4
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier Repair6
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol
Barrier Repair3
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.

Concerns

May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis7
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis6
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (in both products)
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (in both products)
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
Viscosity Controlling
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cleansing
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- Sulfate surfactants (SLS/SLES)
- May Worsen Dryness
- May Worsen Eczema
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- 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.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →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 Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Antistatic, Cleansing, Foaming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate →Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →Arginine
Antistatic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
L-Arginine
Learn more about Arginine →Panthenol
Antistatic, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Panthenol is panthenol (provitamin B5).
Learn more about Panthenol →Citric Acid
Buffering, Chelating, Fragrance
Citric Acid is an AHA.
Learn more about Citric Acid →
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