First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser versus Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on June 28, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

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

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

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First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser

Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Price

Shop

Buy Pure Skin Face Cleanser

Starts at $21.99

Shop

Buy Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser

Starts at $19.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser 27 ingredients

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser 48 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

ph level

5.5

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser 27 ingredients

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser 48 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Irritating

Rosacea

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)

Acne Trigger (3)

Irritating

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser 27 ingredients

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser 48 ingredients

Water • Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate • Glycerin • Stearic Acid • Hydrogenated Coconut Acid • Sodium Isethionate • Stearyl Alcohol • Allantoin • Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Tocopherol • Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate • Phenoxyethanol • Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate • Sodium PCA • Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose • Coco-Glucoside • Glyceryl Oleate • Sodium Chloride • Disodium EDTA • Citric Acid • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Benzoate • Maltodextrin • Tetrasodium EDTA

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 • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cocoyl Proline • Sodium Citrate • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • 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

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

What it does: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic

Community Rating: Loved

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract has many benefits. It contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules that damage skin cells. The antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.

Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. L-theanine is an amino acid that makes up most of the amino acids found in tea leaves. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also contains Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also has antimicrobial properties.

Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.

Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 22.

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

What it does: Bleaching, Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing

Community Rating: Liked

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.

One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.

Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.

Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.

Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.

Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 11.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 23.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.

Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.

It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.

Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 18.

Phenoxyethanol

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 45.

Sodium PCA

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid and is naturally occurring on human skin.

The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.

Sodium PCA is a has conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.

Learn more about Sodium PCA

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 24.

Sodium Chloride

What it does: Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

Disodium EDTA

What it does:

Community Rating: Disliked

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

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 22.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.

Citric Acid

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 23.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 44.

Potassium Sorbate

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Disliked

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.

Learn more about Potassium Sorbate

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 24.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 47.

Sodium Benzoate

What it does: Masking, Preservative

Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 25.

Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-to-Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 48.

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