Embryolisse Foaming Cream Milk Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser
Updated on February 22, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 7 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, parabens or silicones
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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
Embryolisse Foaming Cream Milk 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Embryolisse Foaming Cream Milk 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycolipids, Citric Acid, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycine Soja Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 80, Laureth-4, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Beta-Glucan, Paraffinum Liquidum, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineAcrylates/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.
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.
Glycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.
Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.
Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.
Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilSodium 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 HydroxideEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Embryolisse Foaming Cream Milk 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Embryolisse Foaming Cream Milk 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
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
Really gentle but effective, doesn't break me out like most cleansers do
