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 Niacinamide, for barrier repair and hydration.
Brand price
USD 28.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
INR 799.00 · checked 28 Sept 2026 · 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.
Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Centella asiatica (Cica)1
Centella asiatica (cica), used to calm irritation.
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
Barrier Repair5
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Centella Asiatica Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Niacinamide
Redness Reducing2
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
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 Dermatitis4
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris2
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
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
Cetyl Alcohol (in both products)
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (in both products)
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ethylhexylglycerin (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cleansing
- Centella asiatica (Cica)
- Barrier Repair
- Redness Reducing
- Reduces Irritation
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aqua
Solvent
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing, Hair Conditioning, Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate →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 →Cetyl Alcohol
Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emollient, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling
Cetyl Alcohol isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetyl Alcohol →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling
2-Propenoic acid, polymer with 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol 2-propenyl ether
Learn more about Carbomer →Sodium Citrate
Buffering, Chelating, Fragrance
Trisodium citrate
Learn more about Sodium Citrate →Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →
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