Paula's Choice
Perfectly Balanced Foaming CleanserPaula's Choice
Oil-Reducing CleanserA face cleanser built around Hyaluronic acid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A face cleanser, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 28.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 28.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
Every check both products could be assessed on comes out the same. 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.
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
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
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
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 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.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (in both products)
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
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
Glycol Distearate (in both products)
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil (in both products)
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
Acrylates Copolymer (in both products)
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
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (in both products)
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
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
Glycol Distearate (in both products)
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil (in both products)
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
Acrylates Copolymer (in both products)
Film Forming
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (in both products)
Emollient
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 →Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
Cleansing, Foaming, Hair Conditioning, Cleansing, Foam Boosting
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroamphoacetate →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 →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 →Glycol Distearate
Opacifying, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol Distearate →Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Occlusive, Solvent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil →Acrylates Copolymer
Antistatic, Binding, Film Forming
2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, polymer with ethyl 2-propenoate and methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate
Learn more about Acrylates Copolymer →Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Humectant, Oral Care, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract →Sodium Chloride
Bulking, Fragrance, Oral Care, Viscosity Controlling
Sodium chloride
Learn more about Sodium Chloride →Disodium EDTA
Chelating, Viscosity Controlling
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
Learn more about Disodium EDTA →
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