Dermalogica acne clearing skin wash vs Paula's Choice Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser

Dermalogica

acne clearing skin wash

Paula's Choice

Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser

A face cleanser built around BHA and Salicylic acid, for hydration and barrier repair.

A face cleanser built around Hyaluronic acid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and smoothing.

Face cleanser

54 ingredients

45 ingredients

Brand price

USD 49.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

USD 28.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

No retailer listed yet

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-free and Vegan; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Vitamin E1
Tocopherols — fat-soluble antioxidants.
Tocopherol
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)1
L-ascorbic acid, the unesterified form of vitamin C.
Ascorbic Acid
Zinc salt (sebum/soothing)1
Zinc salts, used for sebum control and soothing.
Zinc PCA
Astringent (witch hazel / tannin)1
Tannin-bearing astringents such as witch hazel.
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract

Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol
Ceramide3
Skin-identical lipids that hold the barrier together.
Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP
Vitamin E1
Tocopherols — fat-soluble antioxidants.
Tocopherol
Hyaluronic acid1
Hyaluronic acid and its salts; a humectant that binds water to the skin.
Sodium Hyaluronate

Benefits

Hydrating14
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride, PEG-8, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Zinc PCA
Barrier Repair7
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol
Reduces Irritation6
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Menthol, Zinc PCA
Redness Reducing4
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Menthol, Niacinamide

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
Antioxidant1
Shields skin from free radical damage.
Tocopherol

Concerns

May Trigger Acne1
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis10
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Isostearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Isostearic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Tocopherol
May Worsen Oily Skin1
May increase shine or excess oil.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

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.
Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

Salicylic Acid
Preservative
- BHA
- Salicylic acid
- Acne Fighting
- Exfoliating
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
Water
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
Emulsifying
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
0 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Propanediol
Viscosity Controlling
0-1 / —
- Hydrating
Sodium PCA
Humectant
0 / 0
- Hydrating

Aqua
Solvent
0 / —
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
Cleansing
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Stearic Acid
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
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
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
Cocos Nucifera Oil
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
Acrylates Copolymer
Film Forming
Cetyl Alcohol
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.

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 →
Tocopherol
Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Occlusive
Tocopherol is vitamin E.
Learn more about Tocopherol →
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
Learn more about Pentylene Glycol →
Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering, Denaturant
Sodium hydroxide
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide →