Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser Versus Environ Skin Care Mild Cleansing Lotion

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser Versus Environ Skin Care Mild Cleansing Lotion Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser versus Environ Skin Care Mild Cleansing Lotion. This mild cream cleanser is made to cl

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

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser Versus Environ Skin Care Mild Cleansing Lotion Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser versus Environ Skin Care Mild Cleansing Lotion. This mild cream cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry. No key ingredients Water Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Sodium Lauroamphoacetate Stearic Acid Glycerin Glycol Distearate Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Acrylates Copolymer Cetearyl Alcohol Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Sodium Chloride Sodium Hydroxide Xanthan Gum Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Disodium EDTA Phenoxyethanol Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol Dicaprylyl Carbonate Hydrogenated Polydecene Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Sorbitol Cetearyl Olivate Sorbitan Olivate Pentylene Glycol Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters Lauryl Betaine Polysorbate 60 Parfum Benzyl Salicylate Tocopherol Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Sodium Hydroxide, Lauryl Betaine, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products. Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people. However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers. Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy. Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans. Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients. This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize. A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe. 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%. Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator. You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating. You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogen