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Paula's Choice vs Eminence

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

Paula's Choice and Eminence are two distinct skincare lines offering serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more. The American brand founded in 1995 utilizes key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c to suit combination skin and oily skin best, whereas the second brand is widely beloved for its deeply nourishing moisturizers and the pure botanical potency of its formulas to suit dry, sensitive, and combination skin types best. Both lines provide targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, but differ in their formulation approach as glycerin significantly increased skin hydration and restored barrier function in the former while each carefully crafted treatment in the latter delivers visible renewal while maintaining a gentle, soothing touch.

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 Eminence products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Paula's Choice vs Eminence products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceEminence
  • Fast absorption and lightweight formula Mostly MentionedMostly 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”
    • “doesn't feel heavy — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
    • “buttery and great — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
  • Non-greasy feel and hydration Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “Not too thick — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
    • “hydrates without leaving me shiny — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs super fast — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Non-irritating and gentle 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”
    • “calms my irritation — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
  • 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”
    • “Skin feels soft — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
  • Pore clearance and acne reduction Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “cleared up my acne — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Skin texture smoothing Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin never been this silky — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • High price and expensive size Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “pricey but worth it — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “spent a lot of money — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
  • Unpleasant smell and scent dislike Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “fragrance is terrible — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “strong tea tree smell — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
  • Purging and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “caused cystic acne — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “irritated my skin horribly — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “Caused pimples — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Eminence: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for skin texture smoothing, while Eminence is better for non-greasy hydration and pore clearance.

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

Paula's Choice offers a much wider range of fragrance-free products that fit combination, oily, and acne-prone skin best, whereas Eminence features fewer options focused on moisturizers. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice excels at skin texture smoothing, while Eminence is well-liked for non-greasy hydration and pore clearance.

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

Paula's Choice offers a much wider variety of moisturizers with specialized Lovi fit levels for different skin types compared to Eminence. Reviewers note that Eminence provides hydrating and soothing moisturizers, though Paula's Choice is often better suited for targeted skincare routines.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Eminence share a downside regarding cost, as high prices and expensive sizes are mostly mentioned by reviewers for both brands.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Paula's Choice or Eminence?

Eminence does better for pore clearance and acne reduction compared to Paula's Choice.

Which brand has been around longer, Paula's Choice or Eminence?

Eminence has been around longer, having been founded in 1958 compared to Paula's Choice, which was founded in 1995.

Do products from Paula's Choice and Eminence contain fragrance?

No, every product on this page from both Paula's Choice and Eminence lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

How does the product selection for dry skin differ between Paula's Choice and Eminence?

Paula's Choice offers a wide selection of products with a Superior or High Lovi fit level for dry skin, including toners like the Advanced Replenishing Toner and serums like the Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster. In contrast, Eminence features a much smaller range for dry skin, highlighted by moisturizers such as the Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer with a Superior fit level.

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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