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cerave Acne Foaming… vs Paula's Choice Omega… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser vs Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 8.1/9.8 and Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer scores 8.3/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

cerave

Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

cleanser

8.1

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Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Paula's Choice

Omega+ Complex Moisturizer

moisturisermid-range

8.3

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.2 points apart.

cerave wins 1

Tied 2

9.0

cerave

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

46% overlap

27cerave

13Shared

28Paula's Choice

Only in cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

14 unique

Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water Propylene Glycol Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Potassium Hydroxide Niacinamide Glycolic Acid Sodium Chloride Sodium Citrate Propanediol+4 more

Shared ingredients

13 in common

Glycerin Xanthan Gum Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Carbomer Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Sodium Hydroxide Cholesterol+3 more

Only in Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer

15 unique

Aqua Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cetyl Alcohol Cetearyl Olivate Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil Sorbitan Olivate Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)Rosa Canina Fruit Oil Tocopherol Linoleic Acid+5 more

Why these two are neck and neck

These two moisturisers take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser scores 7.8 here versus 5.4 for Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer brings Tocopherol, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap as actives, while cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser relies on Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Benzoyl Peroxide 4%. Water does the heavy lifting
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer comes in at mid-range pricing with a 8.3 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

8.1cerave

8.3Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer?

Based on ingredient analysis, Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser and Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser and Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser→Full analysis: Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer→

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