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Paula's Choice vs MAC

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

Paula's Choice and MAC are established beauty brands offering thoughtful skincare ranges for daily maintenance. The American line, founded in 1995, features serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily and combination skin best. Conversely, the Canadian brand established in 1984 is beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. While both provide targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, they differ in their foundational ingredients and ideal skin types.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs MAC products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Mostly MentionedSometimes 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”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Lightweight Formula 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”
    • “watery consistency — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Makeup Primer and Base Benefits Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Gentle and Non-irritating 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”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • 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”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Price and Value Mostly 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”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Unpleasant 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”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Skin Irritation and Breakouts Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Stings if it accidentally gets into the eyes. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or MAC: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for skin texture improvement and lightweight formulas, whereas MAC is better for hydration, moisture, makeup primers, and base benefits. The products on this page from Paula's Choice fit oily, combination, and acne-prone skin best, and every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

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

Paula's Choice performs better for skin texture improvement and lightweight formulas, while MAC excels in hydration and moisture as well as makeup primer and base benefits. Additionally, every product on the Paula's Choice page lists no fragrance, whereas all MAC products on this page include fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice offers a wider range of moisturizers with specialized options like the Replenishing Moisturizer achieving a High fit for dry skin, whereas MAC features choices like the Mineralize Timecheck Lotion that also provides a High fit for dry skin but contains fragrance. Lovi rates the overall hydration performance of MAC as better, while Paula's Choice excels in lightweight formulas.

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

Both Paula's Choice and MAC share a high price point among the products on this page.

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

Paula's Choice is better for avoiding breakouts, as skin irritation and breakouts are more commonly reported with MAC according to reviewer themes.

Which brand has a wider variety of cleansers and toners, Paula's Choice or MAC?

Paula's Choice offers a wider variety of cleansers and toners, with multiple options for different skin types on this page, whereas MAC features only one cleansing oil and no toners.

Do Paula's Choice products contain fragrance, and how does that compare to MAC skincare?

Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas all of MAC's skincare products on this page contain fragrance.

Which brand offers better options for mature skin and skin with dark spots?

Paula's Choice offers a Superior fit for mature skin and skin with dark spots across multiple products on this page, whereas MAC products on this page only reach an Average fit for those concerns.

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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