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Paula's Choice vs Olay

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

Paula's Choice and Olay are two skincare brands offering serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners. Paula's Choice relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily and acne-prone skin best. Olay pairs niacinamide and glycerin to suit acne-prone and mature skin best. While both brands use glycerin, the American brand founded in 1995 differs through its specific formulation approaches and targeted product selections.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Olay products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceOlay
  • Improves Skin Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “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 quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Glow, Brightening and Even Tone Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula 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”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
  • Intense and Deep Hydration Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “My skin feels so hydrated and plump. — Olay Regenerist Regenerating 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”
    • “clears up puffiness — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Helps my skin and eye wrinkles — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “small quantity (0.5 oz) — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Packaging Issues and Flaws Sometimes NotedOften 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”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
  • Unpleasant Smell and Scent Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Smells like plastic — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “too perfumey — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$343.82 · 86% fitBuy Olay routine · A$153.30 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$561.22 · 92% fitBuy Olay routine · A$412.86 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$437.74 · 89% fitBuy Olay routine · A$324.71 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Olay: which is better?

Paula's Choice and Olay are both great, with Paula's Choice being better for oily and sensitive skin and Olay offering better prices. The products on this page help improve skin texture and hydration using key ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice offers a Superior fit for oily skin and sensitive skin, while Olay provides a High fit for those skin types. For intense and deep hydration, Olay does better, whereas Paula's Choice performs better for glow, brightening, and even tone.

Paula's Choice or Olay for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer a High routine fit for dry skin, though Paula's Choice relies strictly on fragrance-free formulations while Olay offers intense hydration.

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

Paula's Choice cleansers have a Superior fit for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Olay cleansers on this page show an Average fit for those skin types. Olay cleansers may present a caution for dry or sensitive skin types.

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

Olay is more affordable, as Paula's Choice has a high price point.

Paula's Choice or Olay: which brand has better packaging?

Olay is better for packaging because Paula's Choice has more packaging issues and flaws.

Which brand offers better results for intense hydration, Paula's Choice or Olay?

Olay offers better results for intense hydration on this page, as it outperforms Paula's Choice in providing deep moisture. Both brands feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin across the products on this page, which help support skin moisture barriers.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or Olay: which products contain fragrance?

Olay includes products with fragrance, specifically the Oil Minimizing Clean Toner listed on this page, whereas all the products on this page for Paula's Choice list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Paula's Choice or Olay for oily skin?

Paula's Choice fits oily skin better, with a superior routine level compared to Olay's high level. The products on this page feature key ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid, which help control oil and clear pores.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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

When it comes to moisturizers, Olay helps deliver more intense and deep hydration than Paula's Choice. Both brands feature fragrance-free options and key ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin across their products on this page.

Paula's Choice or Olay for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Olay's High level. Both brands provide fragrance-free options across nearly all of the products on this page to help reduce irritation.

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

Paula's Choice offers a high fit for dry skin, combination skin, dry sensitive skin, and mature skin with its Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50. Olay offers similar high fit levels for those same skin types with products like Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25, though Olay may present scent issues for some users.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin. The products on this page from both brands feature key ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid that help manage breakouts.

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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