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Paula's Choice vs Simple

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

Paula's Choice and Simple are distinct skincare lines founded respectively in America and Britain. The American brand offers targeted serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c that suit oily and combination skin best. Meanwhile, the British brand is deeply loved for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners incorporating niacinamide and glycerin to suit oily and acne-prone skin. Both differ primarily through specific formulations addressing unique concerns like dark spots, acne, and aging using ingredients that restore barrier function and improve hydration.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Simple products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceSimple
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Lightweight and fast absorbing texture Mostly MentionedOften 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 — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Smoothes skin texture and fades dark spots Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
  • Gentle, non-stripping daily cleansing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
  • Convenient and affordable value Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “No need to rinse... perfect for traveling or lazy nights. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Effective hydration and non-greasy feel Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “cleared up my dry patches — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs super fast — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • High price and small bottle size Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “I have to use 4-5 cotton pads to get clean. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Causes purging, breakouts or irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Gave me tiny red spots — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
  • Sticky residue or unpleasant scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels slimy on skin — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Smells like chemicals — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,244.08 · 85% fitBuy Simple routine · AED 455.14 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,660.65 · 89% fitBuy Simple routine · AED 790.31 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · AED 1,512.70 · 89% fitBuy Simple routine · AED 644.67 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Simple: which is better?

Both Paula's Choice and Simple offer an equal High fit across all skin types on this page. Paula's Choice tends to be better for smoothing texture and fading dark spots, while Simple provides convenient and affordable value.

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

Paula's Choice and Simple both achieve High routine fit across all skin types, but Paula's Choice helps smooth skin texture and fade dark spots better, while Simple offers more convenient and affordable value.

Paula's Choice or Simple for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Simple achieve a High routine fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Paula's Choice may help dry skin with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which studies show benefit skin quality and provide antioxidant and anti-aging effects.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice is better for overall targeted treatment cleansers, while Simple is better for gentle, non-stripping daily cleansing. Lovi rates the Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser as a Superior fit for oily acne-prone, oily, acne-prone, and combination skin on this page.

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

Simple is more affordable, offering convenient and budget-friendly values across the products on this page compared to Paula's Choice, which often comes with a high price.

What are the key ingredients found across Paula's Choice products compared to Simple?

Paula's Choice features a broader selection of active ingredients across the products on this page, including hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin C, licorice root, niacinamide, salicylic acid, green tea, and vitamin E. In contrast, Simple offers a more limited range, with key ingredients across its products consisting only of niacinamide and glycerin.

Drug Delivery, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

When were Paula's Choice and Simple founded and who owns them now?

Paula's Choice was founded in 1995 in the United States and is owned by Unilever since 2021. Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

What do reviewers say about the price and packaging of Paula's Choice products?

Reviewers mostly note that Paula's Choice products have a high price and packaging issues. The products on this page help improve skin texture and offer anti-aging serums.

Paula's Choice or Simple for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Simple have a High routine fit for oily skin. Paula's Choice helps smooth skin texture and offers lightweight, fast-absorbing products on this page.

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

Paula's Choice is better for a lightweight texture that helps absorb quickly, while Simple is better for an affordable value with a non-greasy feel. Paula's Choice and Simple both have a High routine fit for dry skin, oily skin, and combination skin.

Paula's Choice or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Simple achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin on Lovi. Paula's Choice helps smooth skin texture with a lightweight feel, whereas Simple is noted for gentle, non-stripping daily cleansing.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Both Paula's Choice and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Paula's Choice helps with targeted exfoliation using salicylic acid, while Simple provides gentle daily cleansing.

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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