🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

Paula's Choice vs ISDIN

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

Paula's Choice and ISDIN are well-regarded skincare brands that offer thoughtfully formulated serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens. The American line, founded in 1995, builds its cleansers, toners, and treatments around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily skin and combination skin best. Meanwhile, the Spanish brand, founded in 1975, is beloved for sophisticated sunscreens and eye products that nurture the complexion with reliable efficacy for acne-prone skin and combination skin. While both labels feature distinct standout treatments for dark spots, mature skin, and breakouts, the first relies on barrier-restoring glycerin, whereas the second achieves gentle results through carefully crafted blends.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

ISDIN is a Spanish skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by Puig.

puig.combeautymatter.comuploads.puig.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs ISDIN products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceISDIN
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “ultra-light fluid product, which makes it super easy to apply — ISDIN Fusion Water”
  • Brightness, Tone and Anti-Aging Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “skin looks plumper — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “helps reduce swelling in the area of my under-eye bags — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
    • “Skin feels intensely hydrated — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
  • Skin Texture Smoothing and Pores Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “skin was much smoother — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
  • Sensitive Skin and Gentle Care Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sensitive/reactive skin tolerates — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
    • “no excessive exfoliation — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “doesn't sting eyes — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “heals blemishes faster — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Removes all my makeup easily — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Finish Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave you white as a ghost — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “acts like a primer — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “dries down matte — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “very expensive — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “My only wish is that ISDIN would make this product in a bigger size bottle. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
  • Unpleasant Smell or Scent Concerns Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “smell is overpowering — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “lingering headache inducing effect — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
  • Packaging and Size Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Pump stopped working — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “I like the actual product, but the packaging is awful, I've already lost three bottles the applicator pops off. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Product Formula and Stability Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “turned orange in weeks — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Did not notice any difference in my pores. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “did nothing — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “don't see result — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”

Paula's Choice vs ISDIN routines for dry skin

Buy ISDIN routine · AED 739.63 · 88% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,244.08 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs ISDIN routines for oily skin

Buy ISDIN routine · AED 1,222.86 · 91% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,660.65 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs ISDIN routines for combination skin

Buy ISDIN routine · AED 1,204.50 · 92% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,512.70 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or ISDIN: which is better?

ISDIN does better for sensitive skin and makeup compatibility, while Paula's Choice does better for acne, pores, and skin texture smoothing. Both brands are equal for texture, anti-aging, and value.

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

Paula's Choice and ISDIN both offer targeted skincare routines, but ISDIN is rated superior for most skin types while Paula's Choice is rated high across the board. Paula's Choice is better for acne control and smoothing pores, whereas ISDIN stands out for its ultralight, makeup-friendly sunscreens.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN offer a high routine fit for dry skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin across the products on this page.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

When comparing moisturizers, ISDIN may offer lighter textures with its popular hyaluronic concentrate, while the products on this page for Paula's Choice tend to focus on targeted ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide. Both brands provide options with hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin hydration and reduce signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

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

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN share the same level for high price and value issues.

Which brand is better for reducing dark spots, Paula's Choice or ISDIN?

Both brands are a strong choice for reducing dark spots, but ISDIN has a Superior routine fit while Paula's Choice has a High routine fit for skin with dark spots. Both brands offer targeted serums and treatments with active ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids that help address hyperpigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Do Paula's Choice products contain fragrance compared to ISDIN?

Every product on the Paula's Choice page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas 3 of the 8 ISDIN products on this page contain fragrance.

Which brand is better for anti-aging and mature skin, Paula's Choice or ISDIN?

Both brands are well-suited for mature skin, with ISDIN achieving a Superior routine fit and Paula's Choice reaching a High routine fit on the products on this page. Review themes show that both brands perform equally well for brightness, tone, and anti-aging. Topical retinoids help stimulate collagen and improve the appearance of naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for oily skin?

ISDIN is the better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Paula's Choice's High routine fit.

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

ISDIN may be better for lightweight sun protection, as the products on this page are mostly noted for their ultralight feel and makeup compatibility. Paula's Choice also offers fragrance-free options like the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for sensitive skin?

ISDIN is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit from Paula's Choice. The products on this page for ISDIN may also provide more makeup-friendly and ultralight sunscreens, while Paula's Choice lists no fragrance across its items.

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

ISDIN offers a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Paula's Choice is rated High for this skin type. Both brands feature acne-prone skin among their best-fit routines.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play