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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 established American skincare options offering reliable lines of serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more. Paula's Choice is known for formulations built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c that suit combination skin and oily skin best, while the brand features standout treatments for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. Conversely, Olay is universally loved for gentle yet effective options formulated with niacinamide and glycerin that suit sensitive skin and oily skin best, along with targeted standouts for particular concerns. Ultimately, both brands differ through their foundational ingredient profiles and specialized treatments, though glycerin benefits skin hydration and barrier function across each.

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 · CA$301.97 · 84% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$156.85 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · CA$357.38 · 87% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$298.41 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · CA$383.47 · 88% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$250.43 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Olay: which is better?

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer high routine fit levels across all skin types, with Paula's Choice focusing best on combination, oily, and acne-prone skin, while Olay fits sensitive, oily, and mature skin best. Reviewers note that the products on this page help improve skin texture and hydration, though Paula's Choice may have packaging issues and Olay may involve scent issues.

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

Paula's Choice and Olay offer equal routine fits across all skin types, but Paula's Choice does better for glow, brightening, and even tone, while Olay does better for intense and deep hydration. Paula's Choice has higher prices, and Olay may have strong fragrance and scent issues.

Paula's Choice or Olay for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free products on this page, while Olay is often noted by reviewers for intense hydration.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer cleansers with a Superior Lovi fit level for specific skin types, such as oily and acne-prone skin. Paula's Choice cleansers on this page are entirely fragrance-free, whereas Olay includes fragrance in one of its toners.

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

Olay is more affordable, as the products on this page suffer from high price points for Paula's Choice.

Between Paula's Choice and Olay, which brand provides better results for improving skin texture?

Both Paula's Choice and Olay provide equal results for improving skin texture, as reviewers note that both brands help smooth the skin and improve texture equally.

How do the fragrance options differ between Paula's Choice and Olay products?

Paula's Choice offers entirely fragrance-free products on this page, whereas Olay includes fragrance in one product while keeping the rest fragrance-free.

Which brand performs better when it comes to intense and deep hydration according to review themes?

Olay performs better when it comes to intense and deep hydration. Both brands offer high routine fit levels for dry skin, but Olay stands out for providing more intense hydration according to review themes.

Paula's Choice or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free options across the products on this page, while Olay is noted for intense hydration.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer moisturizers with a High routine fit for dry skin, oily skin, and other skin types. Olay tends to do better for intense and deep hydration, while Paula's Choice provides options entirely free of added fragrance across the products on this page.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin. Paula's Choice features the products on this page with no fragrance across all formulas, while Olay is noted for intense hydration.

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

Paula's Choice offers Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, which helps protect the products on this page for dry skin with a High Lovi fit level. Olay provides Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25 and Complete All Day Moisturizer SPF 15.

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

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