Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel Versus Dermatica Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser
Updated on July 28, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel 18 ingredients
Dermatica Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser 11 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel 18 ingredients
Dermatica Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser 11 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlucose
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Carrageenan
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Coco-Glucoside, Glucose, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Glyceryl Oleate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carrageenan, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Sodium Cocoamphoacetate yet.
Lauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
Lauryl Glucoside makes it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other polluants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumWe don't have a description for Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate yet.
Citric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (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.
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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel 18 ingredients
Dermatica Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser 11 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel 18 ingredients
Dermatica Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser 11 ingredients
I’ve only recently bought this product and have used it for about a a month and a half and I already LOVE it so much.
It works so well for my dry sensitive fungal acne prone skin. I use this in the evening for my double cleanse, it doesn’t dry or irritate my skin at all. I really recommend this product.
I only managed to find this on amazon but the price is good for the amount that you get.
An actually fantastic cleanser for the price point. Quite liquidy so you don't have to use a lot of product. In comparison to the Dr Sam's cleanser I was using before, this feels a lot easier to move across the face, causing less friction and irritation. It has never dried out my skin at all and doesn't have any problematic ingredients for me.
