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Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader

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

Paula's Choice and Augustinus Bader are distinguished skincare brands offering distinct approaches to complexion health. The American brand, founded in 1995, features cleansers, toners, serums, and moisturizers built around glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C that suit combination and oily skin best. Conversely, the German brand, founded in 2018, is loved for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and soothing eye products powered by sophisticated formulas that suit dry and dry sensitive skin best. While both brands address mature, acne-prone, and dark-spot concerns with specialized options, they differ primarily through 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

Augustinus Bader is a German skincare brand founded in 2018.

augustinusbader.combeautymatter.compitchbook.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceAugustinus Bader
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing formula Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “light but nourishing — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
    • “sinks in instantly — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
    • “light gel texture — Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
  • Smoothes skin texture and refines Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “Softens fine lines — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “skin is smoother — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
  • Glow, radiance and brightening Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instant youthful glow — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “Instantly hydrated — Augustinus Bader The Face Oil”
    • “healthy glow — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Deep hydration Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Extremely dry skin saved — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “instantly refreshing — Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream”
  • Anti-aging and firming results Sometimes NotedRarely 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”
    • “crow's feet softened — Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream”
  • Unclogs pores and clears acne Often MentionedNot noted
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “heals blemishes faster — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • High price and expensive for size 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”
  • Skin purging, breakouts and irritation Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “burnt skin off — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Caused cystic acne — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “bumps on forehead — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
  • Packaging issues and leaks Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “excessive packaging — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
  • Unpleasant smell or scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like old crayons — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “Smells like vegetable oil — Augustinus Bader The Face Oil”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader: which is better?

Augustinus Bader provides superior results for deep hydration, radiance, and mature skin, while Paula's Choice is better for anti-aging and clearing acne. Both brands offer fragrance-free formulations on this page.

What is the difference between Paula's Choice and Augustinus Bader?

Paula's Choice delivers better anti-aging and acne-clearing results with ingredients like salicylic acid and retinol, whereas Augustinus Bader excels in deep hydration, radiance, and lightweight moisturizers powered by TFC8. Paula's Choice is owned by Unilever and founded in the United States, while Augustinus Bader is an independent brand founded in Germany.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for dry skin?

For dry skin, Augustinus Bader fits best with a Lovi fit level of Superior, while Paula's Choice reaches a High level. Augustinus Bader delivers deep hydration and radiance, whereas Paula's Choice helps with anti-aging results and smoothing skin texture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader: which moisturizer is better?

Augustinus Bader provides superior moisturizers like The Rich Cream for deep hydration and dry skin, while Paula's Choice offers high options like the Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer and Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader?

Paula's Choice is generally more affordable than Augustinus Bader, although high price and expensive sizing are noted drawbacks for the products on this page.

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for anti-aging and firming results?

Paula's Choice does better for anti-aging and firming results compared to Augustinus Bader. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Which brand does better for deep hydration and radiance?

Augustinus Bader does better for deep hydration and radiance, outperforming Paula's Choice in those areas. Both brands offer fragrance-free products, but Augustinus Bader is known for providing deep moisture and glow.

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for oily skin?

For oily skin, both brands work well because Lovi rates Paula's Choice as High and Augustinus Bader as Superior for this skin type. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice is better for unclogging pores and clearing acne, while Augustinus Bader offers better lightweight moisturizers.

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both brands offer products on this page that are a High Lovi fit. Paula's Choice features popular anti-aging ingredients like retinol that may help improve skin texture, while Augustinus Bader is often noted for deep hydration and radiance.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for acne-prone skin?

Paula's Choice fits best for acne-prone skin with a high routine fit level, and reviewers note it does better at unclogging pores and clearing acne. Augustinus Bader also fits acne-prone skin at a high level, helping provide deep hydration and radiance.

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for mature skin?

For mature skin, Augustinus Bader fits best with a Superior routine level, while Paula's Choice reaches a High routine fit. Augustinus Bader also offers better glow and deep hydration, whereas Paula's Choice provides stronger anti-aging and firming results.

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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