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Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser

Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser

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

Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser. This mild cream cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry. This mild gel cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry. No key ingredients Water Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Decyl Glucoside Glycerin PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether Methyl Gluceth-20 Glyceryl Stearate Stearyl Alcohol Polyacrylamide Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate C13-14 Isoparaffin Laureth-7 Xanthan Gum Disodium EDTA Citric Acid Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium Lauroamphoacetate Cocamidopropyl Betaine Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate Pentylene Glycol Sodium Chloride Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate Lauric Acid Lactic Acid Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids Sorbitan Laurate Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder 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 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 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. 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. Decyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. 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