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Paula's Choice skincare

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

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Paula's Choice's products on this page cover serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c. Paula's Choice products fit combination skin and oily skin best. For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates the Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner highest; for skin with dark spots, the 1% Retinol Treatment; and for mature skin, the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Its key ingredients: glycerin significantly increased skin hydration and restored barrier function.

This page covers some of the most popular Paula's Choice products; for the whole Paula's Choice range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.

Paula's Choice serums and treatments

Other Paula's Choice products

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 30.5k+ reviews

Reviewers most often praise Paula's Choice for improved skin texture, lightweight textures, and effective acne and breakout reduction. The most common complaints are skin irritation or dryness and high prices for small quantities.

Highlights

  • Smooth texture and anti-aging serums Sometimes Noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “softens lines and wrinkles — 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “acne scars faded — 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • High price and packaging issues Mostly Mentioned
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “tiny tube — 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “turned orange in weeks — C15 Super Booster”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, paulaschoice.com, paulaschoice.com.au, sephora.sg, and more

Questions and answers

Is Paula's Choice good for dry skin?

Lovi rates the Paula's Choice-focused routine High for dry skin. The Paula's Choice products on this page are fragrance-free, and key ingredients like hyaluronic acid help improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Is Paula's Choice worth it?

Paula's Choice may be worth it for shoppers seeking fragrance-free formulas, as Lovi rates the brand-focused routine High for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin. However, reviewers mostly mention high prices and packaging issues as drawbacks.

Which Paula's Choice moisturizer is best for dry skin?

The best moisturizer on this page for dry skin is the Replenishing Moisturizer, followed by the Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer and the Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer. Lovi rates the Replenishing Moisturizer High for dry skin, while the other two rate Average.

Does Paula's Choice cause breakouts?

Paula's Choice is unlikely to cause breakouts, as the Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance and feature ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide that help keep pores clear. Lovi rates acne-prone skin fit for the brand at High.

Is Paula's Choice fragrance-free?

Yes, the Paula's Choice products on this page are fragrance-free, as every product lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

What are the key ingredients in Paula's Choice products?

The key ingredients across the Paula's Choice products on this page include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin c, licorice root, niacinamide, salicylic acid, green tea, and vitamin e.

How do I build a Paula's Choice skincare routine?

To build a Paula's Choice routine for dry skin in the morning, start with the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser, follow with the Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner, apply the Replenishing Moisturizer, and finish with the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50. For your evening routine, use the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser, followed by the Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster and the Replenishing Moisturizer. Once a week, you may also add the Vita Essential Mask into your evening routine before applying your serum and moisturizer.

Where can I buy Paula's Choice, and how much does it cost?

Paula's Choice is available at stores in Canada, with prices ranging from CA$22.00 to CA$102.00 and most items falling between CA$52.00 and CA$84.00.

What are good alternatives to Paula's Choice?

Good alternatives to Paula's Choice that feature dedicated brand pages on Lovi include CeraVe, Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Kiehl's, Dermalogica, and Good Molecules.

Paula's Choice vs CeraVe: which is better?

Lovi rates CeraVe as Superior for dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, combination skin, and acne-prone skin, while Paula's Choice routines rate High for all these skin types.

Who owns Paula's Choice, and where is it from?

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Is Paula's Choice cruelty-free?

Yes: Leaping Bunny lists Paula's Choice as cruelty-free.

Leaping Bunny

Is Paula's Choice good for sensitive skin?

Yes, Paula's Choice is generally good for sensitive skin. Lovi rates the Paula's Choice-focused routine High for sensitive skin. The fragrance-free formulas help calm the skin without irritation.

Which Paula's Choice cleanser is best for oily skin?

The CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser is the best choice, as Lovi rates it Superior for oily skin, while the CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser and Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser both rate Average.

Is Paula's Choice good for acne-prone skin?

Yes, Paula's Choice is well-suited for acne-prone skin because Lovi rates the brand-focused routine High for this skin type. The Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Which Paula's Choice sunscreen is best for sensitive skin?

Lovi rates the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 as Average for sensitive skin.

Is Paula's Choice good for skin with dark spots?

Yes, Paula's Choice is well-suited for skin with dark spots because several of its targeted serums and exfoliants feature ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C that help fade pigmentation. Lovi rates the brand's overall fit for this skin concern as High. Furthermore, the Paula's Choice products on this page are entirely fragrance-free, which helps minimize irritation for sensitive complexions.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Is Paula's Choice good for mature skin?

Yes, Paula's Choice is generally good for mature skin, as Lovi rates the brand's routines High for this skin type. The Paula's Choice products on this page are fragrance-free and feature key ingredients like retinol and vitamin C that help smooth texture and improve signs of aging.

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

Research behind Paula's Choice's key ingredients

Behind these ratings

Lovi rates every product from its 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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