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Paula's Choice vs Lancôme

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

Paula's Choice and Lancôme are two established skincare brands, with the former founded in America in 1995 and the latter originating in France in 1935. The American brand offers serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, while the French brand is beloved for sophisticated moisturizers, eye products, serums, toners, and more thoughtfully formulated with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and adenosine. Paula's Choice fits oily skin and acne-prone skin best, whereas Lancôme suits sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best. The brands differ primarily in their heritage and targeted formulations, as both utilize 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

Lancôme is a French skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 1964.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Lancôme products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceLancôme
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
    • “absorbs almost instantly — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “absorbs instantly — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement 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 cushiony soft — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives my skin an instant dewy glow — Lancôme Tonique Confort”
    • “keeps the skin soft and hydrated — Lancôme HYDRA ZEN”
    • “The product provides deep hydration and visible rejuvenation. — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Night Cream”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Brightening, Radiance, and Tone Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Skin looks lit from within — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “instantly soothed my skin — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
  • Acne Clearing and Pores Mostly MentionedNot 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”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
  • 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”
    • “super expensive — Lancôme Absolue Precious Oil”
    • “expensive as hell — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
  • Irritation, Dryness, and Breakouts Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't notice much change in wrinkles — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Leaves a greasy film — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
  • Scent, Residue, and Texture Flaws Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “My only issue with it is the fragrance. — Lancôme Hydra Zen Gel Cream”
    • “scent is too strong — Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing Eye Cream”

Paula's Choice vs Lancôme routines for dry skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$343.82 · 86% fitBuy Lancôme routine · A$633.08 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Lancôme routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$561.22 · 92% fitBuy Lancôme routine · A$1,051.88 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Lancôme routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$437.74 · 89% fitBuy Lancôme routine · A$779.02 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Lancôme: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for acne-prone, oily, and mature skin, while Lancôme is great for deep hydration and sensitive skin care. Paula's Choice helps smooth texture and brighten skin, whereas Lancôme may soothe sensitive skin with a pleasant scent.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

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

Paula's Choice is a US-based brand founded in 1995 that focuses on oily, acne-prone, and oily acne-prone skin, while Lancôme is a French brand founded in 1935 that excels in sensitive, acne-prone, and dry sensitive skin. Paula's Choice helps with acne clearing, pores, and brightening, whereas Lancôme provides deep hydration and fast-absorbing moisturizers. Niacinamide in these products helps suppress melanosome transfer to reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Lancôme reach a High routine fit for dry skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while Lancôme provides deep hydration with ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice is better for cleansers, as the products on this page achieve a Superior fit for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Lancôme cleansers receive a Warning fit level.

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

Both brands are noted by reviewers for having a high price point. The products on this page do not clearly indicate which brand is more affordable.

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a better fit for oily skin, offering a superior routine compared to Lancôme's high level. Paula's Choice products on this page help control oil and clear pores effectively.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Lancôme offer good moisturizers on this page, but Paula's Choice may suit acne-prone and oily skin better while Lancôme helps provide deep hydration. Every product on the Paula's Choice page lists no fragrance, whereas many Lancôme products contain fragrance.

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Lancôme achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for sensitive skin. The products on this page for both brands help soothe sensitive skin, though Paula's Choice lists no fragrance across its range while most Lancôme products include fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice is a better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Lancôme. The products on this page help clear acne and pores effectively.

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for mature skin?

Paula's Choice offers a Superior routine fit for mature skin, whereas Lancôme provides a High fit. Paula's Choice features anti-aging serums that help smooth texture, while Lancôme is noted for deep hydration.

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

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for skin with dark spots?

Paula's Choice is a better fit for skin with dark spots, achieving a High overall Lovi fit across its products on this page compared to Lancôme's mix of High and lower ratings. Paula's Choice features proven brightening ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C that help improve skin tone and reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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