Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser Versus Tula Skincare The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser
Updated on July 18, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, 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
Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser 48 ingredients
Tula Skincare The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser 42 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser 48 ingredients
Tula Skincare The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser 42 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
Masking
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCocoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingArginine
Masking
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingPCA
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Alanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Potassium Citrate
BufferingLactoperoxidase
StabilisingHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
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 Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocoyl Proline, Sodium Citrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, 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
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lactose
HumectantLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningYogurt Powder
Olus Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Polyquaternium-10
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-7 Caprylate/Caprate
EmulsifyingInulin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisteareth-75 Ipdi
Parfum
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Lactose, Lactis Proteinum, Yogurt Powder, Olus Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-7 Caprylate/Caprate, Inulin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disteareth-75 Ipdi, Parfum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol
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 BetaineGlycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolCamellia 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.
This ingredient has many skin benefits:
This ingredient contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off molecules that damage skin cells.
On top of that, 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. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.
Other compounds found in tea include: Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.
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 ExtractCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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 even out skin tone.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser 48 ingredients
Tula Skincare The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser 42 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Defense Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser 48 ingredients
Another great cleanser from Paula's Choice. I tend to favour this cleanser in the summer as it is very foamy and could worsen my dryness in the winter but if I need a deep clean I know I can count on this product. It has no scent and you only need a tiny amount so the value for money is great. I've repurchased this several times and absolutely love it.
Tula Skincare The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser 42 ingredients
So fragranced, I’m not a fan of smells so this was too much for me.
