🇦🇺Australia

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 two Unilever-owned skincare lines offering targeted solutions for daily care. The American brand features serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, while the British brand is known for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners thoughtfully featuring niacinamide and glycerin. Both brands suit oily skin and acne-prone skin best, though they differ in their specific formulations and star ingredients for complexions with dark spots or mature needs.

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 · A$343.82 · 86% fitBuy Simple routine · A$208.81 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$561.22 · 92% fitBuy Simple routine · A$388.80 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · A$437.74 · 89% fitBuy Simple routine · A$322.10 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Simple: which is better?

Paula's Choice outperforms Simple for most users, offering Superior fit levels for oily, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin compared to Simple's High ratings. Paula's Choice is particularly effective for smoothing skin texture and fading dark spots, although it comes at a higher price.

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

Paula's Choice offers a wide range of targeted treatments with superior fit levels for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Simple focuses on gentle, value-friendly daily basics like cleansers and makeup removers. Niacinamide helps reduce skin pigmentation, and retinols stimulate collagen accumulation in aged skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Paula's Choice or Simple for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin. Paula's Choice offers products on this page featuring hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help improve hydration, which is supported by clinical findings.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice cleansers provide a Superior Lovi fit level for oily, acne-prone, and oily acne-prone skin, outperforming Simple cleansers which offer only an Average fit for those skin types. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice delivers a lightweight and fast-absorbing texture across the products on this page.

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

Simple is more affordable, offering convenient and affordable value as noted by reviewers. In contrast, Paula's Choice is often noted for its high price.

Between Paula's Choice and Simple, which brand is owned by Unilever?

Both Paula's Choice and Simple are owned by Unilever. Paula's Choice has been owned by Unilever since 2021, while Simple has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

What do reviewers say about the moisturizers from Paula's Choice compared to Simple?

Reviewers note that Paula's Choice moisturizers have a smooth texture, whereas Simple moisturizers are noted as being lightweight and value-friendly. However, reviewers mention that Simple can sometimes struggle with heavy hydration.

Which brand offers key ingredients like green tea and vitamin C across its products?

Paula's Choice offers key ingredients like green tea and vitamin C across the products on this page.

Paula's Choice or Simple for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a superior fit for oily skin, whereas Simple offers a high level of fit. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice provides a lightweight and fast-absorbing texture.

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

Paula's Choice is better for moisturizers on this page, as Lovi rates its formulas with a Superior fit for specific concerns like mature and dry skin. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice delivers lightweight and fast-absorbing textures, whereas Simple moisturizers sometimes lack sufficient hydration or cause breakouts.

Paula's Choice or Simple for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice fits sensitive skin with a Superior level, whereas Simple fits it at a High level.

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

For acne-prone skin, Paula's Choice is Superior while Simple reaches a High fit level. Paula's Choice helps target breakouts effectively with specialized formulations such as its BHA exfoliants.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play