Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser Detailed comparison of CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser US versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser. This mild cream cleanser is made to cleanse w

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser Detailed comparison of CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser US versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser. This mild cream cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry. No key ingredients Water Glycerin Cetearyl Alcohol PEG-40 Stearate Stearyl Alcohol Potassium Phosphate Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Carbomer Glyceryl Stearate Behentrimonium Methosulfate Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Sodium Hyaluronate Cholesterol Phenoxyethanol Disodium EDTA Dipotassium Phosphate Tocopherol Phytosphingosine Xanthan Gum Cetyl Alcohol Polysorbate 20 Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin Hydrogenated Polydecene Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate Glycine Soja Oil C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Polysorbate 80 Laureth-4 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Cocamidopropyl Betaine Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Beta-Glucan Paraffinum Liquidum PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate Butylene Glycol Sodium Hydroxide Hexylene Glycol Caprylyl Glycol Chlorphenesin Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycine Soja Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 80, Laureth-4, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Beta-Glucan, Paraffinum Liquidum, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air. This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with: On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it. One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin). Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption. You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure. Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product. So why is it so popular? Water most o