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Paula's Choice vs Biore

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

Paula's Choice and Biore are two established skincare lines founded in America in 1995 and Japan in 1980, respectively. Paula's Choice features serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, while the Japanese brand is beloved for effective sunscreens, gentle cleansers, purifying masks, and efficient makeup removers. Both companies suit combination skin best, though the first also targets oily skin and the second accommodates mature complexions. They differ primarily in their regional heritage, parent companies, and specific active formulations tailored for distinct skincare goals.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

biore.comkao.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Biore products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceBiore
  • Lightweight and fast absorption 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”
    • “melts into skin — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Pore cleansing and clarity Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “Helped clear my blackheads — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Skin texture smoothing 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”
    • “Leaves skin feeling clean — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
  • Non-irritating and gentle Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin soft, doesn't dry out face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Excellent makeup base and removal Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “primer-like — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Glow, radiance and brightening Often MentionedNot noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Unpleasant smell and strong 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 alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Smells like chemicals — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • High price and small size Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Dryness, flaking and irritation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “dryness and scaliness — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “burnt skin off — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Purging and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Caused breakouts, closed comedones, cystic acne. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Biore: which is better?

Paula's Choice and Biore both achieve a high routine fit across all skin types on this page. Paula's Choice tends to do better for non-irritating and gentle care, while Biore excels in pore cleansing and clarity.

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

Paula's Choice offers a wider range of targeted serums and exfoliants with fragrance-free formulas, whereas Biore focuses more on cleansing products like pore strips and cleansers. Both brands achieve a High routine fit across all major skin types on this page.

Paula's Choice or Biore for dry skin?

Paula's Choice and Biore offer an equal High routine fit for dry skin. Paula's Choice provides multiple products tailored for this skin type, such as Advanced Replenishing Toner.

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

Paula's Choice offers a much wider selection of cleansers tailored to different skin types, with options like the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser achieving a Superior fit for oily and acne-prone skin on Lovi. In contrast, Biore features only one cleanser on this page, the Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, which receives an Average fit across those same skin types.

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

When comparing price, Biore is noted by reviewers for a high price and small size, whereas Paula's Choice is noted for high price and packaging issues.

Between Paula's Choice and Biore, which brand is better for pore cleansing and clarity according to review themes?

According to review themes, Biore does better for pore cleansing and clarity.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Paula's Choice and Biore compare?

Paula's Choice was founded in the United States in 1995 and is owned by Unilever, whereas Biore was founded in Japan in 1980 and is owned by Kao Corporation.

Which brand performs better for skin texture smoothing based on the provided review themes?

Paula's Choice performs better for skin texture smoothing based on the review themes on this page.

Paula's Choice or Biore for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Biore offer an equal High routine fit for oily skin. Paula's Choice helps with lightweight absorption and skin texture smoothing, while Biore is known for pore cleansing and clarity.

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

Paula's Choice offers Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, which has a High fit level for dry and combination skin, while Biore offers UV Aqua Rich, which has a High fit level for combination skin.

Paula's Choice or Biore for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Biore have a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Paula's Choice helps provide non-irritating and gentle care with fragrance-free options across the products on this page.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Biore offer an equal High routine fit for acne-prone skin. Paula's Choice has a larger selection of fragrance-free products on this page that help with pore clearing.

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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