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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 offering moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, formulated with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The former suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best, while the latter fits combination skin and oily skin best. Ultimately, the brands differ in their standout solutions and target skin types, though both utilize ingredients that improve hydration and restore barrier function.

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

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which is better?

Both brands perform well, as CeraVe is better for gentle hydration while Paula's Choice is better for acne and skin texture improvement.

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

CeraVe focuses on fragrance-free and gentle formulas that provide deep hydration and barrier repair, while Paula's Choice specializes in targeted treatments for acne, oil control, and skin texture improvement. Both brands offer high routine fit across various skin types, but CeraVe tends to be more budget-friendly whereas Paula's Choice frequently faces higher price points and packaging issues.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice achieve a High routine fit for dry skin on this page. CeraVe does better for hydration and moisture, while Paula's Choice stands out for price and packaging concerns.

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

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice offer cleansers that fit oily skin and acne-prone skin at a Superior level. CeraVe does better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas and hydration and moisture, while Paula's Choice does better for acne and oil control.

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

CeraVe is more affordable, whereas Paula's Choice frequently receives reviewer concerns regarding its high price point.

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

Paula's Choice is better for improving skin texture, as the products on this page do better with skin texture improvement.

How do the corporate ownership and founding dates compare between CeraVe and Paula's Choice?

CeraVe was founded in the United States in 2005 and has been owned by L'Oréal since 2017. Paula's Choice was founded in the United States earlier in 1995 and has been owned by Unilever since 2021.

Which brand performs better regarding acne and oil control according to reviewers?

Paula's Choice performs better regarding acne and oil control according to reviewers.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for oily skin?

Both brands have a High routine fit for oily skin, but CeraVe does better for hydration and moisture while Paula's Choice is better for acne and oil control. The products on this page for both brands are fragrance-free.

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

CeraVe offers better hydration and moisture for the products on this page, while Paula's Choice provides higher prices and packaging issues.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin, but CeraVe does better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

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

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice offer sunscreens that fit mature and dry skin at a Superior level on the products on this page. CeraVe also provides sunscreens featuring hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which help maintain skin hydration and barrier repair.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

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

Both brands offer products on this page that are a High fit for acne-prone skin, with CeraVe doing better for gentle, fragrance-free hydration and Paula's Choice doing better for acne and oil control.

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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