Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash versus Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on March 14, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or silicones
What's Inside
They both contain sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
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
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).
Price
Ingredient Info
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash 17 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser 18 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash 17 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser 18 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash 17 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser 18 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate • Coco-Betaine • Sodium Laureth Sulfate • Polysorbate 20 • Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate • Citric Acid • Cocamide Mea • Peg-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate • Polyquaternium-11 • Ppg-5-Ceteth-20 • Propylene Glycol • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Hydroxide • Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Salicylic Acid • Water • Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate • Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer • Glycerin • Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate • Sodium Laureth Sulfate • Arginine • Butylene Glycol • Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate • Panthenol • Disodium EDTA • Citric Acid • Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Sodium Citrate • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGarnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 GlycerinGarnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.
Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate isn't fungal acne safe.
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 3.
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateGarnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 5.
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.
Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate is created from polyethylene glycol and fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is a synthetic polymer with emulsifying and cleansing properties.
As an emulsifier, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate prevents ingredients such as oils and water from separating. It also helps rinse away oils, dirt, and pollutants from skin.
Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate may not be fungal acne safe. It can also dry out skin.
Learn more about Peg-7 Glyceryl CocoateGarnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 AcidGarnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash contains this as ingredient number 8.
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash 17 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser 18 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash 17 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser 18 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash 17 ingredients
i wanted something like an oil cleanser from cvs, but this was the closest i could get. made my face bright red as soon as i put it on
i wanted something like an oil cleanser from cvs, but this was the closest i could get. made my face bright red as soon as i put it on
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser.
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