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Paula's Choice vs BYOMA

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

Paula's Choice and BYOMA are distinct skincare brands designed to address diverse complexions. Paula's Choice relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c within serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners that suit oily skin and acne-prone skin best. Conversely, BYOMA harnesses the power of tri-ceramide and squalane across its moisturizers, toners, cleansers, and serums to support dry skin and sensitive skin best. While both brands offer targeted solutions for concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging, they differ fundamentally in their foundational ingredients and ideal skin types.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

BYOMA is a British skincare brand founded in 2022 and owned by Bansk Group since 2025.

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs BYOMA products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceBYOMA
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing 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”
    • “Absorbs instantly — BYOMA Moisturizing Gel-Cream”
    • “sinks in quickly — BYOMA Brightening Serum”
  • Improves skin texture 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”
    • “Keeps my face soft and not oily — BYOMA Brightening Toner”
  • Non-irritating and gentle Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't strip skin — BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser”
    • “no irritation at all — BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Oil”
    • “great for sensitive skin — BYOMA Balancing Face Mist”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Reduces redness and soothes Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “healed my skin barrier — BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner”
    • “skin feels soft — BYOMA Brightening Serum”
    • “calming and soothing ingredients — BYOMA Balancing Face Mist”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Deep hydration Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels so hydrated — BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner”
    • “feels refreshing on the skin — BYOMA Balancing Face Mist”
    • “Skin feels soft — BYOMA Moisturizing Rich Cream”
  • Unclogs pores and clears acne Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “heals blemishes faster — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “breakouts are nearly non existent — BYOMA Clarifying Serum”
  • Packaging issues Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Opening is huge — BYOMA Brightening Toner”
  • High price and value issues Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Unpleasant smell or scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “has a weird chemically smell — BYOMA Milky Moisture Cleanser”
    • “smell is annoying — BYOMA Milky Oil Cleanser”
    • “smells like plastic — BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs BYOMA routines for dry skin

Buy BYOMA routine · A$219.85 · 95% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · A$343.82 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs BYOMA routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$561.22 · 92% fitBuy BYOMA routine · A$429.99 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs BYOMA routines for combination skin

Buy BYOMA routine · A$366.13 · 91% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · A$437.74 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or BYOMA: which is better?

Both brands are great, with BYOMA offering a superior routine fit for dry, combination, skin with dark spots, and dry sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice excels at unclogging pores and clearing acne. BYOMA helps provide deep hydration and strengthens the skin barrier, whereas Paula's Choice improves skin texture and reduces signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice is a US brand known for smoothing skin texture and unclogging pores, while BYOMA is a UK brand recognized for deep hydration and soothing sensitive skin. Both brands offer fragrance-free options across the products on this page, with Paula's Choice focusing on ingredients like salicylic acid and BYOMA utilizing ceramide complexes.

Paula's Choice or BYOMA for dry skin?

BYOMA offers a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Paula's Choice provides a High routine fit. BYOMA features ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids that help alleviate dry skin conditions.

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

BYOMA is often preferred for cleansers because its formulas are known for being hydrating and non-stripping, whereas Paula's Choice leans more toward unclogging pores and clearing acne. Ceramides in BYOMA cleansers help support the skin barrier.

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

BYOMA may tend to have price and value issues as noted by reviewers, while Paula's Choice faces frequent mentions of high price.

Which brand is better for improving skin texture, Paula's Choice or BYOMA?

Paula's Choice does better for improving skin texture than BYOMA. Reviewers note that the products on this page from Paula's Choice help smooth skin texture and provide anti-aging serums.

How do the founding years and corporate owners of Paula's Choice and BYOMA compare?

Paula's Choice was founded in the United States in 1995 and has been owned by Unilever since 2021, whereas BYOMA was founded in the United Kingdom in 2022 and is owned by Bansk Group as of 2025.

Which brand has better performance for unclogging pores and clearing acne?

Paula's Choice performs better for unclogging pores and clearing acne. Lovi finds that the products on this page for Paula's Choice fit oily and acne-prone skin best.

Paula's Choice or BYOMA for oily skin?

Both brands offer a Superior routine fit for oily skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulations with key ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide.

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

Both Paula's Choice and BYOMA offer effective moisturizers, with BYOMA helping to strengthen the skin barrier and providing deep hydration. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as Superior for BYOMA and High for Paula's Choice, while both brands achieve a Superior fit for oily skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or BYOMA for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and BYOMA fit sensitive skin at a Superior level on this page. Reviewers report that BYOMA does better at being non-irritating and gentle, and its products on this page list no fragrance except the Smoothing Body Serum.

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

Both brands are a great match for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates Paula's Choice as Superior and BYOMA as Superior. Paula's Choice stands out for unclogging pores and clearing acne, while BYOMA is better for being non-irritating and gentle.

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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