🇺🇸United States

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice

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

CeraVe and Paula's Choice are American skincare brands founded in 2005 and 1995, respectively. CeraVe offers dependable moisturizers, gentle cleansers, targeted serums, and protective sunscreens featuring hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while its counterpart provides serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c. The former suits mature skin and dry skin best, whereas both the latter fit oily skin and combination skin best. The brands differ primarily in their product types, key ingredients, and targeted skin types.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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 CeraVe and Paula's Choice products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs Paula's Choice products

People Say

CeraVePaula's Choice
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Acne and Oil Control Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “smoother complexion — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Skin Tone and Mark Correction Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “spots barely visible — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Price Point Concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “caused cystic acne — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for dry skin

Buy CeraVe routine · $120.97 · 90% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · $198.70 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · $384.42 · 89% fitBuy CeraVe routine · $272.57 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · $353.90 · 89% fitBuy CeraVe routine · $237.98 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which is better?

CeraVe achieves a Superior routine fit for dry and mature skin, whereas Paula's Choice achieves a High fit for those same skin types. Both brands are fragrance-free and offer effective options across various skin concerns, though Paula's Choice specializes in advanced exfoliants and serums while CeraVe focuses heavily on barrier-repairing ceramides.

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

CeraVe fits best for mature skin, dry skin, and acne-prone skin with a Superior routine fit for dry and mature skin, while Paula's Choice fits best for oily skin, combination skin, and acne-prone skin with a High routine fit for dry skin. CeraVe does better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas and hydration and moisture, whereas Paula's Choice does better for acne and oil control, skin texture improvement, and skin tone and mark correction.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice achieve a High routine fit level for oily skin. The products on this page for both brands feature oil-controlling and acne-targeting formulations, though Paula's Choice is specifically noted for doing better on acne and oil control overall.

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

CeraVe offers better everyday comfort and moisture retention with gentle, non-stripping cleansers that are widely rated as superior for sensitive and dry skin. Paula's Choice is often preferred for acne-prone or oily skin, particularly through specialized formulas like the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser.

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

CeraVe is generally more affordable, while high price is frequently noted as a drawback for Paula's Choice.

Which brand has fewer packaging issues according to reviewers?

CeraVe has fewer packaging issues than Paula's Choice, as packaging problems are sometimes noted for Paula's Choice while CeraVe is better in this review theme.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for acne and oil control?

Paula's Choice is better for acne and oil control, as the products on this page excel in that theme. CeraVe also offers effective cleansers for acne and oil.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

CeraVe and Paula's Choice achieve an equal High routine fit level for sensitive skin. CeraVe features gentle, non-stripping cleansers and fragrance-free moisturizers, while every product across both brands lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

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

CeraVe is better for moisturizers on this page, as reviewers note it provides superior healing and texture with deep hydration. Lovi rates CeraVe's routine fit for dry skin as Superior and mature skin as Superior, while Paula's Choice rates them as High.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Both brands are a High fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. CeraVe offers gentle, non-stripping cleansers alongside fragrance-free moisturizers, while Paula's Choice excels particularly in acne and oil control with active treatments.

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

CeraVe provides a Superior fit for mature and dry sensitive skin with the products on this page, whereas Paula's Choice offers a High fit for dry skin. Both brands formulate their sunscreens completely without fragrance.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for mature skin?

CeraVe fits mature skin with a Superior routine level, whereas Paula's Choice reaches a High fit level for this skin type.

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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