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Paula's Choice vs Biore

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

Paula's Choice and Biore are well-established skincare lines founded respectively in 1995 and 1980. The American brand is known for serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, while the Japanese brand is beloved for thoughtful sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers. Both fit oily skin best, though the former also suits combination skin, and the latter sensitive skin. They differ primarily in their specific targeted treatments, where the former uses glycerin to increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, and the latter relies on gentle and clarifying formulations for a refreshed complexion.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

biore.comkao.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Biore products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceBiore
  • Lightweight and fast absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “watery consistency — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “melts into skin — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Pore cleansing and clarity Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “Helped clear my blackheads — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Skin texture smoothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin never been this silky — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “Leaves skin feeling clean — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
  • Non-irritating and gentle Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “no stinging — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin soft, doesn't dry out face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Excellent makeup base and removal Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “primer-like — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Glow, radiance and brightening Often MentionedNot noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Unpleasant smell and strong scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “smells like alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Smells like chemicals — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • High price and small size Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Dryness, flaking and irritation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “dryness and scaliness — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “burnt skin off — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Purging and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Caused breakouts, closed comedones, cystic acne. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for dry skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,244.08 · 85% fitBuy Biore routine · AED 483.12 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,660.65 · 89% fitBuy Biore routine · AED 822.19 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,512.70 · 89% fitBuy Biore routine · AED 803.83 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Biore: which is better?

Both Paula's Choice and Biore offer products on this page that perform well across multiple skin types, though Paula's Choice is better for non-irritating and gentle care, while Biore excels at pore cleansing and clarity. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice provides smooth textures and anti-aging serums, whereas Biore offers an excellent makeup base and removal.

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

Paula's Choice and Biore offer wide ranges of skincare products, with Paula's Choice providing extensive specialized serums and exfoliants while Biore focuses heavily on cleansers, sunscreens, and pore strips. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice excels in smooth texture and anti-aging serums, whereas Biore performs better in pore cleansing and makeup removal. Lovi gives both brands equal high routine fits across most skin types, though Biore achieves a superior fit level specifically for sensitive skin.

Paula's Choice or Biore for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Biore offer a High routine fit level for dry skin. Paula's Choice helps with targeted hydration using key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin across the products on this page.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice offers a wider range of cleansers with varying Lovi fit levels suited to specific skin types, such as oily and acne-prone skin. Reviewers note that the products on this page help provide non-irritating and gentle cleansing.

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

Biore has a higher price and small size mentioned as a negative review theme, whereas Paula's Choice has high price noted among reviewers for the products on this page.

Between Paula's Choice and Biore, which brand does better for skin texture smoothing?

Paula's Choice does better for skin texture smoothing. The products on this page help improve overall skin texture.

Which brand was founded in the United States and owned by Unilever since 2021?

Paula's Choice was founded in the United States in 1995 and has been owned by Unilever since 2021.

Do Paula's Choice and Biore list fragrance in their products on this page?

Both Paula's Choice and Biore do not list fragrance in any of the products on this page.

Paula's Choice or Biore for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Biore offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Paula's Choice features lightweight, fast-absorbing serums and exfoliants on this page, while Biore provides strong pore cleansing and clarity.

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

Paula's Choice offers a high fit level for dry skin with the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, whereas Biore UV Aqua Rich has a caution rating for dry skin. Reviewers indicate that Biore provides an excellent makeup base, while Paula's Choice is known for lightweight absorption.

Paula's Choice or Biore for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Paula's Choice and Biore both have a High routine fit level on Lovi. Paula's Choice is noted for being non-irritating and gentle.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Biore offer a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page.

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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