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Paula's Choice vs Elemis

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

Paula's Choice and Elemis are established skincare brands that offer distinct approaches to complexion care. Paula's Choice is an American brand founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021, known for serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin C that suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Elemis is a British brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019, celebrated for nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and refining toners that weave together glycerin and shea to suit dry and mature skin best. Both brands differ significantly, as the former relies on glycerin to increase skin hydration and restore barrier function for oilier complexions, while the latter utilizes glycerin and shea butter to reduce inflammation and relieve skin pruritus for deeply restorative care.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Elemis products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceElemis
  • Improving Skin Texture and Smoothness Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Fast Absorption and Lightweight Texture 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 almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “weightless serum — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
  • Instant and Deep Hydration Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • Glow, Radiance, and Brightening Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “instantly fresh glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Pleasant Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “Doesn't smell at all — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Anti-Aging and Firming Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin looks plumper — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “softens lines and wrinkles — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “improved neck texture — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “very expensive — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • Packaging Issues and Small Size Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Unpleasant Smell or Scent Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smell is overpowering — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy Elemis routine · A$549.28 · 91% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · A$343.82 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$561.22 · 92% fitBuy Elemis routine · A$653.08 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$437.74 · 89% fitBuy Elemis routine · A$720.04 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Elemis: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for oily and acne-prone skin with a Superior routine fit, while Elemis is better for dry skin with a Superior routine fit. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in most products on this page.

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

Paula's Choice has a Superior routine fit for oily, sensitive, acne-prone, mature, and oily acne-prone skin types, while Elemis has a Superior routine fit for dry, mature, and dry sensitive skin. Paula's Choice is fragrance-free across the products on this page, whereas Elemis features added fragrance in most of its formulas. Retinol helps reduce signs of aging and stimulate collagen accumulation.

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

Paula's Choice or Elemis for dry skin?

Elemis has a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Paula's Choice has a High fit for dry skin. Elemis is noted for providing instant and deep hydration with its moisturizers, while the products on this page by Paula's Choice list no fragrance in their ingredients.

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

Paula's Choice fits oily, acne-prone, and oily acne-prone skin with a Superior Lovi level for its cleansers on this page, while Elemis cleansers reach a High Lovi level for these skin types. The products on this page for Paula's Choice list no fragrance, whereas most Elemis cleansers contain fragrance.

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

Both brands face similar reviewer feedback regarding high prices and value issues. Review themes on this page indicate that the high price and value issues are equal for both Paula's Choice and Elemis.

Between Paula's Choice and Elemis, which brand offers fragrance-free products?

Paula's Choice offers fragrance-free products, as every product on the page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products on this page contain fragrance.

How do Paula's Choice and Elemis compare for anti-aging and firming results according to review themes?

Paula's Choice does better than Elemis for anti-aging and firming results according to review themes. Retinol helps reduce signs of aging and stimulates collagen accumulation in aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Which brand is better suited for mature skin, Paula's Choice or Elemis?

Both Paula's Choice and Elemis have a Superior fit for mature skin on the products on this page. Paula's Choice relies on fragrance-free formulations with key ingredients like retinol, while Elemis often features luxurious textures with added fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice or Elemis for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Elemis, which has a High fit level.

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

Paula's Choice and Elemis both offer moisturizers that help hydrate the skin, though Paula's Choice has fragrance-free options across the products on this page while Elemis products frequently contain fragrance. Elemis provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Paula's Choice provides a Superior routine fit for oily skin.

Paula's Choice or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice has a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin on this page, while Elemis has a High routine fit. Paula's Choice features no fragrance across the products on this page, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Elemis at High. The products on this page for Paula's Choice contain key ingredients like salicylic acid which helps manage blemishes, and every product on this page lists no fragrance.

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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