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Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica

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

Paula's Choice and Dermalogica are respected American skincare brands that offer diverse cleansers, serums, and moisturizers built around key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and salicylic acid. Both brands suit oily skin and combination skin best by balancing excess oil and hydration. Paula's Choice is known for treatments featuring vitamin c and BHA, while the other brand is celebrated for nourishing formulas and gentle exfoliants. They differ in their specific product lines and targeted solutions for acne-prone, mature skin, and dark spots.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Dermalogica is an American skincare brand founded in 1986 and owned by Unilever since 2015.

en.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

This page compares some of the most popular Paula's Choice and Dermalogica products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceDermalogica
  • Improving skin texture and smoothness Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “skin feels smooth as silk — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Fast absorption and lightweight feel Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “watery consistency — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “blends seamlessly — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
    • “feels like nothing — Dermalogica Active Moist”
  • Glow, radiance and brightening Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “spots barely visible — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “immediately brighter looking — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Unclogging pores and clearing acne Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “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”
    • “Brings out all the gunk — Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry skin — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “super hydrating — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
    • “skin feels hydrated — Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance”
  • Reduces redness and soothes skin Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “helps calm and nourish my skin — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “The redness is better — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “Calms redness — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • High price and expensive size Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “expensive for body lotion — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “hefty price tag — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Unpleasant smell or scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “smells like puke — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “smells like medicine — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
  • Purging, breakouts and skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Cystic acne flare-ups — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “Caused cystic acne — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “gave me acne — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Packaging issues and leaks Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dropper leaks — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “dropper can be unpredictable — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “Leaky pump — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “pump dispenses too much — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”

Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica routines for dry skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · $424.99 · 87% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · $198.70 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica routines for oily skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · $501.02 · 92% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · $384.42 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica routines for combination skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · $560.50 · 91% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · $353.90 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica: which is better?

Dermalogica is better for oily and combination skin with a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Paula's Choice is better for brightening and clearing acne. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration, and niacinamide may reduce skin pigmentation.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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

Dermalogica achieves a Superior Lovi routine fit for oily, combination, and oily acne-prone skin, while Paula's Choice reaches a High Lovi fit for those skin types. Reviewers note that Dermalogica delivers better deep hydration and soothing benefits, whereas Paula's Choice excels at brightening, unclogging pores, and smoothing skin texture.

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica for dry skin?

Both brands are a High fit for dry skin on Lovi. Paula's Choice helps with texture and brightening, while Dermalogica helps with deep hydration and soothing.

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

Both brands offer effective cleansers, but Paula's Choice is a better fit for oily and acne-prone skin types on this page, while Dermalogica provides a superior routine for oily acne-prone skin. Paula's Choice cleansers help manage oil and clear pores, whereas Dermalogica focuses on deep hydration and soothing benefits.

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

Both brands are noted for a high price point among the products on this page, and Paula's Choice is specifically mentioned for high price and expensive size. Therefore, neither brand stands out as more affordable.

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica: which brand is better for reducing redness and soothing skin?

Dermalogica does better for reducing redness and soothing skin, as shown by its strong focus on calming and soothing moisturizers across the products on this page. Ingredients like oat and panthenol found in Dermalogica formulas may help calm irritated skin and improve comfort.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica: which is superior for improving skin texture and smoothness?

Paula's Choice does better for improving skin texture and smoothness among the products on this page.

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica: which performs better for glow, radiance, and brightening?

Paula's Choice performs better for glow, radiance, and brightening among the products on this page. Topical niacinamide helps suppress melanosome transfer to reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica for oily skin?

Dermalogica is better for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Paula's Choice. Dermalogica's products on this page help provide deep hydration and soothing moisturization.

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

Dermalogica is better for deep hydration and moisturization among the products on this page, while Paula's Choice is better for improving skin texture and smoothness. Both brands offer moisturizers that help maintain skin quality and signs of aging with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Dermalogica are a High fit for sensitive skin on Lovi. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice delivers smoother texture while Dermalogica provides soothing moisturizers, and every product on this page for both brands lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

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

Dermalogica is better for oily and combination skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Paula's Choice's High fit, while both brands offer a High fit for dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin. Both brands list no fragrance across the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid, found in the products on this page, helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Both brands are a High fit for acne-prone skin, but Paula's Choice does better at unclogging pores and clearing acne. Niacinamide helps control skin aging and pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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