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Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser For Sensitive Skin - US Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser

Face Cleanser
Face Cleanser
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on July 18, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken and improve the texture of products. Due to its properties, it can prevent water and oil ingredients from separating.

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA
Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Buffering

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

When to use

1,042 Routines
44% use in am
56% use in pm
95% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
23 Routines
43% use in am
57% use in pm
100% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser For Sensitive Skin 16 ingredients

4.2 /5
from 28 ratings
Works Well (11) Light (11) Great Value (10)
mfodorova's avatar

Marketa Fodorova

6 months ago
Review

Great for my broken skin barrier. I have dehydrated skin, clog prone (acne prone) with oily T-zone. This one is gentle, non striping and did NOT cause me acne.

#hydrating
#light
#light scent
#works well
honimoli's avatar

honimoli

4 months ago
Review

It's even gentler than LRP Toleriane Hydrating cleanser, and doesn't sting my eyes compared to that one! I love it so much! It has a creamy gel, slightly sticky consistency, very soft, with a slight oat smell that I have fallen in love with. It is non-foaming, and while it's not hydrating or moisturizing, it doesn't strip your face at all.

It is now my holy grail cleanser, especially when my Show more

#great value
#light
#sticky
#light scent

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Hydrating (2) No Scent (2) Works Well (2)
Rosy123's avatar

Rosy123

1 year ago
Review

I have very dry, sensitive, mature skin and have been using this creamy cleanser for many years. It is gentle and non drying but still removes my makeup well. I use a separate remover for mascara and use an oil cleanser as a first cleanse if I have on waterproof sunscreen. But for many years I just used this cleanser and it removed everything well, so an oil cleanser probably is unnecessary TBH. I Show more

#hydrating
#no scent
#works well
hannahsmith2's avatar

Hannah Smith

7 months ago
Review

Really gentle but effective, doesn't break me out like most cleansers do

#expensive
#hydrating
#light
#no scent