Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser versus Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser. This mild gel cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry. This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores. Water Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium Lauroamphoacetate Cocamidopropyl Betaine Glycerin Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate Decyl Glucoside Pentylene Glycol Sodium Chloride Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate Lauric Acid Lactic Acid Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids Sorbitan Laurate Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate Disodium EDTA Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cocoyl Proline Sodium Citrate Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Sodium PCA Sodium Lactate Arginine Glycine Soja Sterols Linoleic Acid Phospholipids Aspartic Acid PCA Glycine Alanine Serine Valine Isoleucine Proline Threonine Potassium Citrate Lactoperoxidase Histidine Phenylalanine Glucose Oxidase Citric Acid Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Potassium Sorbate Sodium Benzoate Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Decyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauric Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocoyl Proline, Sodium Citrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Potassium Citrate, Lactoperoxidase, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glucose Oxidase, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate Salicylic Acid Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate Sodium Laureth Sulfate Butylene Glycol PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate Panthenol PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Caprylyl Glycol Chlorphenesin Salicylic Acid, Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Glycerin, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources. It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy. Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces. A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks. Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis. One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies. Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath. However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products. Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH. In skincare formulas, citric acid can: While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants. Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure. 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