Paula's Choice
Oil-Reducing CleanserVanicream
Liquid CleanserA face cleanser, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A face cleanser built around AHA, for hydration and barrier repair.
Brand price
USD 28.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
Not recorded · brand's site

At a Glance

They come out differently on Pore-clogger-free and Oil-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.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Stearic Acid
Barrier Repair7
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Stearic Acid
Smoothing5
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Hydrating2
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier Repair2
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.

Concerns

May Trigger Acne3
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis6
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Stearic Acid
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis4
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Laurate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate (in both products)
Cleansing
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
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
Film Forming
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate (in both products)
Cleansing
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
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
Cleansing
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Preservative
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 →Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
Cleansing, Foaming, Hair Conditioning, Cleansing, Foam Boosting
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroamphoacetate →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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