Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser versus Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser .
Published on October 19, 2021
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 sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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.
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
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser 23 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 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
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 🎉
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 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
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 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser 23 ingredients
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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:
Concerns
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.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser 23 ingredients
Water • Hydrogenated Polydecene • Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate • Glycine Soja Oil • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Polysorbate 80 • Laureth-4 • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Chamomilla Recutita Extract • Beta-Glucan • Paraffinum Liquidum • Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate • Butylene Glycol • Disodium EDTA • Sodium Hydroxide • Hexylene Glycol • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol • Chlorphenesin
Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Decyl Glucoside • Glycerin • Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate • Ppg-20 Methyl Glucose Ether • Methyl Gluceth-20 • Glyceryl Stearate • Stearyl Alcohol • Polyacrylamide • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract • Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Laureth-7 • Xanthan Gum • Disodium EDTA • Citric Acid • Caprylyl Glycol • Hexylene Glycol • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin
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 WaterPaula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 EDTAPaula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 18.
Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.
As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.
Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolPaula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.
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 GlycolPaula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 18.
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 20.
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.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 23.
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 Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 20.
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 22.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser 23 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser 23 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser 21 ingredients
I have very dry, sensitive, mature skin and have been using this creamy cleanser for many years. It is gentle and non drying but still removes my makeup well. I use a separate remover for mascara and use an oil cleanser as a first...
I have very dry, sensitive, mature skin and have been using this creamy cleanser for many years. It is gentle and non drying but still removes my makeup well. I use a separate remover for mascara and use an oil cleanser as a first cleanse if I have on waterproof sunscreen. But for many years I just used this cleanser and it removed everything well, so an oil cleanser probably is unnecessary TBH. I highly recommend this cleanser for dry, sensitive skin.
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 17 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser.
See 17 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 16 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser.
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