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Paula's Choice vs Elemis

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

Paula's Choice and Elemis are skincare brands, founded in 1995 and 1989 respectively, that offer varied products such as serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners. Paula's Choice relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin C to best suit oily and combination skin, while the British brand utilizes glycerin and shea to suit dry and mature skin. Both feature formulations where glycerin significantly increases skin hydration and restores barrier function, yet they differ in their targeted approaches and underlying textures.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Elemis products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceElemis
  • Improving Skin Texture and Smoothness Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Fast Absorption and Lightweight Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “weightless serum — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
  • Instant and Deep Hydration Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • 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”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “instantly fresh glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Pleasant Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “Doesn't smell at all — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical 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”
    • “improved neck texture — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “very expensive — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • Packaging Issues and Small Size Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Unpleasant Smell or Scent Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smell is overpowering — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy Elemis routine · $557.99 · 88% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · $198.70 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · $384.42 · 89% fitBuy Elemis routine · $535.50 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · $353.90 · 89% fitBuy Elemis routine · $524.50 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Elemis: which is better?

Both brands perform well, as Paula's Choice does better for improving skin texture and anti-aging, whereas Elemis does better for instant and deep hydration. The products on this page for Paula's Choice list no fragrance, while many Elemis products contain fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice focuses on targeted ingredient treatments that improve skin texture and firmness, while Elemis emphasizes luxurious textures and deep hydration with mostly fragranced products.

Paula's Choice or Elemis for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Elemis achieve a High routine fit for dry skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, whereas Elemis offers deeply hydrating moisturizers that may include fragrance.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice is better for fragrance-sensitive shoppers because every cleanser on the page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Elemis has cleansers with added fragrance.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Elemis are on equal footing regarding high price and value issues.

Between Paula's Choice and Elemis, which brand is better for improving skin texture and smoothness?

Paula's Choice does better for improving skin texture and smoothness. Reviewers note that its products help smooth skin texture and provide anti-aging serums.

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

Paula's Choice lists no fragrance for every product on this page, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance with only a few exceptions.

Which brand performs better for anti-aging and firming according to review themes?

Paula's Choice performs better for anti-aging and firming according to review themes. Retinol helps reduce signs of aging by stimulating collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Paula's Choice or Elemis for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Elemis offer options that fit oily skin at a High level. Paula's Choice stands out with fragrance-free formulations and key ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide that help control excess oil, whereas Elemis provides luxurious hydrating textures that may include added fragrance.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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

Both Paula's Choice and Elemis offer effective moisturizers, with Paula's Choice focusing on targeted treatments and Elemis standing out for its deeply hydrating and luxurious formulas. Paula's Choice moisturizers are fragrance-free and best suited for oily and combination skin, whereas most Elemis moisturizers contain fragrance and are ideal for dry and mature skin.

Paula's Choice or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Elemis achieve a High routine fit level for sensitive skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas across all products on this page, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in several items and sometimes notes skin irritation.

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

Both brands achieve a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Paula's Choice is formulated completely without fragrance across its range, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in several of its products and sometimes notes skin irritation.

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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