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CeraVe vs Paula's Choice

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

CeraVe and Paula's Choice are American skincare brands known for offering cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and more, formulated with supportive ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The former suits acne-prone skin and combination skin best, while the latter fits oily skin and combination skin best. Both brands differ in their founding years, ownership, and specific targeted treatments for dark spots, acne, and mature skin.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

Paula's Choice is an American skincare brand founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021.

unilever.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular CeraVe and Paula's Choice products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs Paula's Choice products

People Say

CeraVePaula's Choice
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Acne and Oil Control Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “smoother complexion — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Skin Tone and Mark Correction Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “spots barely visible — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Price Point Concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “dropper leaks — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “dropper can be unpredictable — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “Cap broke immediately — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “caused cystic acne — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for dry skin

Buy CeraVe routine · AED 400.41 · 89% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,244.08 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,660.65 · 89% fitBuy CeraVe routine · AED 864.04 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

Buy CeraVe routine · AED 850.34 · 93% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,512.70 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which is better?

CeraVe has a Superior fit for combination skin, acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots, whereas Paula's Choice has a High fit for those same skin types. Reviewers note that CeraVe does better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas and hydration, while Paula's Choice does better for acne and oil control, skin texture improvement, and skin tone correction.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Paula's Choice?

CeraVe is owned by L'Oréal and focuses on fragrance-free hydration and barrier repair with ingredients like ceramides, while Paula's Choice is owned by Unilever and offers targeted exfoliants and serums for acne and skin texture. CeraVe offers superior routine fit for combination skin, acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots compared to Paula's Choice.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice fit dry skin well, offering a High routine fit level on the products on this page. CeraVe offers deep hydration and fragrance-free moisturizers, while Paula's Choice provides advanced treatments containing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which cleanser is better?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice offer effective cleansers, with CeraVe providing a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, oily skin, combination skin, and sensitive skin through the products on this page. Paula's Choice also provides a Superior fit for oily skin, oily acne-prone skin, acne-prone skin, and combination skin.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Paula's Choice?

CeraVe is more affordable, whereas price point concerns are frequently noted for Paula's Choice.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which brand is better for reducing skin texture issues?

Paula's Choice is better for reducing skin texture issues, as it does better for skin texture improvement among the products on this page.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which one performs better for combination skin?

CeraVe performs better for combination skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit of Paula's Choice.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which brand is better for correcting skin tone and dark spots?

For correcting skin tone and dark spots, CeraVe is better as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for skin with dark spots, while Paula's Choice reaches a High fit. Niacinamide, an ingredient shared by both brands, helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, CeraVe achieves a High routine fit and Paula's Choice achieves a High routine fit on the products on this page. CeraVe does better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe provides superior healing and texture in its moisturizers compared to Paula's Choice, and the products on this page offer fragrance-free formulas that are gentle and less costly. Paula's Choice features the products on this page with anti-aging serums and smooth textures, though reviewers note high price and packaging issues.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, CeraVe achieves a Superior routine fit, while Paula's Choice reaches a High fit. CeraVe offers fragrance-free and gentle formulas, whereas Paula's Choice is noted for effective acne and oil control.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which sunscreen is better?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice offer sunscreens with strong ratings on this page, with options like CeraVe's Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen achieving a Superior fit for mature and dry skin. Reviewers indicate that CeraVe is particularly noted for its fragrance-free and gentle formulas across its products.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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