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Paula's Choice vs Galderma

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

Paula's Choice and Galderma are skincare brands offering targeted solutions for various skin types and concerns. The American brand features serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily and combination skin best. Conversely, the Swiss brand focuses exclusively on serums. While both brands address acne-prone, dark spot, and mature skin, they differ in product variety and formulation approaches, with the American brand utilizing glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Galderma products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceGalderma
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up my skin — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
    • “cystic acne gone — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
    • “stops new pimples — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “skin feels smooth — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Hydration and Glow Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Anti-Aging and Skin Tone Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks plumper — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “softens lines and wrinkles — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “scars are fading — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
    • “angry redness tones down — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
  • Cleansing and Gentle Care 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”
    • “didn't burn my face — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
  • Pores and Oil Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
  • Dryness, Flaking, and Irritation Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Not hydrating enough for winter. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “dryness and scaliness — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Packaging and Scent Issues Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “turned orange in weeks — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
    • “bleached my towels — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Purging and Breakouts Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “caused cystic acne — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “causing red acne — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “got worse first — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Galderma serums and treatments

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Galderma: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for hydration, texture, pores, and gentle care, while Galderma takes the lead for acne and blemish control as well as price and value. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice helps smooth skin and boost hydration, though it may come with a high price and packaging issues. Meanwhile, Galderma offers effective acne-clearing serums, but severe dryness, flaking, irritation, and discomfort are mostly mentioned.

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

Paula's Choice excels in hydration, skin smoothing, pores, and gentle care with fragrance-free products on this page, whereas Galderma is preferred for acne and blemish control. Reviewers note that Galderma may cause severe dryness and irritation.

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

Galderma does better for price and value compared to Paula's Choice.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Paula's Choice or Galderma?

Galderma does better for acne and blemish control across the products on this page, making it less likely to cause breakouts.

Between Paula's Choice and Galderma, which brand is better suited for hydration and glow according to the review themes?

Paula's Choice is better suited for hydration and glow. The products on this page help improve moisture and radiance.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Paula's Choice and Galderma?

Paula's Choice was founded in the United States in 1995, while Galderma was founded in Switzerland in 1981.

Which brand performs better for cleansing and gentle care based on the review themes?

Paula's Choice performs better for cleansing and gentle care.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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