Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser

Paula's Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleans

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

Paula's Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming 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. Water Sodium Lauroamphoacetate Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Stearic Acid Glycerin Glycol Distearate Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Acrylates Copolymer Cetearyl Alcohol Sodium Hyaluronate Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Phytosphingosine Phospholipids Sphingolipids Lecithin Arginine Cholesterol Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Disodium EDTA Sodium Chloride Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Xanthan Gum Carbomer Hexylene Glycol Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Lecithin, Arginine, Cholesterol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Cocamidopropyl Betaine Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate Decyl Glucoside Pentylene Glycol Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate Lauric Acid Lactic Acid Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids Sorbitan Laurate Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cocoyl Proline Sodium Citrate Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Sodium PCA Sodium Lactate Glycine Soja Sterols Linoleic Acid Aspartic Acid PCA Glycine Alanine Serine Valine Isoleucine Proline Threonine Potassium Citrate Lactoperoxidase Histidine Phenylalanine Glucose Oxidase Citric Acid 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 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. 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%. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum. Topically, glycerin does several things at once: Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3. Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin. This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products. Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity. Glycerin is the name for