Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser Versus MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser versus MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on January 30, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily 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.

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Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser

Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser Italian Brand Italy

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

Ingredient Info

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

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser 18 ingredients

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser 22 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

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

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser 18 ingredients

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser 22 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin

Reduces Irritation

Reduces Large Pores

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (3)

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

AHA

BHA

PHA

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Large Pores (3)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying (2)

Irritating (2)

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser 18 ingredients

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser 22 ingredients

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

Water • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate • Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate • Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Lactobionic Acid • Mandelic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Salicylic Acid • Sodium Laureth Sulfate • Glyceryl Cocoate • Citric Acid • Lauryl Glucoside • Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate • 1,2-Hexanediol • Cocamide Mea • Laureth-10 • Tropolone

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.

Salicylic Acid

What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.

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

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying 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

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.

Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate

What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Solvent

Community Rating: Disliked

Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate isn't fungal acne safe.

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foaming

Community Rating: Very Disliked

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 Sulfate

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate

What it does: Emulsifying

Community Rating: Very Disliked

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 Cocoate

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.

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

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.

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.

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

Caprylyl Glycol

What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

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

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 11.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.