Paula's Choice
Perfectly Balanced Foaming CleanserA face cleanser built around Hyaluronic acid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A face cleanser built around Benzoyl peroxide and Ceramide, for barrier repair and hydration.
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 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.
Ceramide3
Skin-identical lipids that hold the barrier together.
Benefits
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
Hydrating7
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Glycerin, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Barrier Repair8
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phytosphingosine, Propylene Glycol
Concerns
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.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis6
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
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
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
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
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
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 →Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate is a hyaluronic acid.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate →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 →Phytosphingosine
Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Phytosphingosine →Cholesterol
Light Stabilizer, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Cholesterol may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Cholesterol →Sodium Chloride
Bulking, Fragrance, Oral Care, Viscosity Controlling
Sodium chloride
Learn more about Sodium Chloride →Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering, Denaturant
Sodium hydroxide
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide →Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate →
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