🇺🇸United States

Paula's Choice vs No7

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

Paula's Choice and No7 are two established skincare brands, founded in 1995 and 1935 respectively. The American brand is known for serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, while the British brand offers serums, eye products, moisturizers, and sunscreens built around vitamin c, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid. Paula's Choice fits oily skin and combination skin best, whereas No7 suits mature skin and dry skin best. They differ primarily in their formulation focus, as glycerin significantly increased skin hydration and restored barrier function in the former, while shea butter protects diapered skin and mitigates erythema in the latter.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

No7 is a British skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by Sycamore Partners since 2025.

cosmeticsbusiness.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular Paula's Choice and No7 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Paula's Choice vs No7 products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceNo7
  • Absorption and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “rich but not heavy — No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — No7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Eye Cream”
  • Pores and Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin feels so soft — No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator”
    • “skin feels velvety — No7 Pure Retinol”
  • Glow, Brightening and Anti-Aging Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Softened fine lines — No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate”
    • “healthier glow — No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator”
    • “lines on forehead diminished — No7 Pure Retinol”
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “heals blemishes faster — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Removes all my makeup easily — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “Lightened sun spots — No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate”
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “zero irritation — No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream”
    • “soothing on skin — No7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Eye Cream”
  • Deep Hydration and General Feel Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Skin feels softer — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
    • “Skin feels moisturized — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — No7 Pure Retinol”
  • Packaging and Size Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Runs out quickly (2-3 weeks) — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
    • “Pump breaks — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
    • “instructions were in larger font — No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • High Price Point and Value Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Expensive for amount provided — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Lack of Visible Results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Did not notice any difference in my pores. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “did nothing — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “No change in wrinkles/spots — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum”
  • Unpleasant Scent or Fragrance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Too much fragrance — No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream”
    • “overpowering — No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream”
    • “Scent is overpowering — No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Day Cream”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs No7 routines for dry skin

Buy No7 routine · $145.63 · 90% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · $198.70 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs No7 routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · $384.42 · 89% fitBuy No7 routine · $322.94 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Paula's Choice vs No7 routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · $353.90 · 89% fitBuy No7 routine · $326.55 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or No7: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for acne and blemish control, while No7 performs better for glow, brightening, anti-aging, and deep hydration. Paula's Choice focuses heavily on oily, combination, and acne-prone skin, whereas No7 is best suited for mature, dry, and sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Paula's Choice and No7?

Paula's Choice is best suited for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin with fragrance-free formulas, whereas No7 excels with mature, dry, and sensitive skin. Reviewers find that No7 provides better deep hydration and anti-aging benefits, while Paula's Choice is more effective for acne and blemish control.

Paula's Choice or No7 for dry skin?

No7 offers a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Paula's Choice provides a High routine fit. No7 may help deliver deeper hydration and moisture for dry skin types.

Paula's Choice or No7: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer effective moisturizers, but No7 tends to do better for deep hydration and general feel. Paula's Choice focuses more on acne and blemish control across the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, Paula's Choice or No7?

No7 has a high price point and value issue noted by reviewers.

How do the founding years and current ownership of Paula's Choice and No7 compare?

Paula's Choice was founded in 1995 in the United States and has been owned by Unilever since 2021, whereas No7 was founded in 1935 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Sycamore Partners as of 2025.

Which brand performs better for glow, brightening, and anti-aging according to review themes?

No7 performs better for glow, brightening, and anti-aging according to the review themes on this page.

Do any products from Paula's Choice or No7 contain fragrance in their ingredients?

Every product from Paula's Choice on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while No7 has fragrance in 3 of its 13 products.

Paula's Choice or No7 for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and No7 achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Paula's Choice is notably better for acne and blemish control across the products on this page.

Paula's Choice or No7: which sunscreen is better?

Paula's Choice offers the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, while No7 features the Lift & Luminate Day Cream and Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Day Cream. Lovi rates the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 as High for dry skin, combination skin, and dry sensitive skin, and Average for acne-prone skin, oily skin, oily acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, sensitive skin, and mature skin.

Paula's Choice or No7 for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and No7 achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance, whereas 3 of 13 No7 products include fragrance.

Paula's Choice or No7 for acne-prone skin?

Both Paula's Choice and No7 achieve a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, but Paula's Choice does better for acne and blemish control across the products on this page.

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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