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Paula's Choice vs Clarins

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

Paula's Choice and Clarins are distinct skincare brands representing American and French philosophies, respectively. Paula's Choice offers serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin C, suiting combination and oily skin best. Conversely, Clarins is loved for nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, delicate eye products, and refreshing toners harnessing soothing shea and replenishing squalane, which suit sensitive and mature skin best. Ultimately, both brands differ through their specific formulations and targeted ingredients designed to address unique complexion needs.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Clarins products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceClarins
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing 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”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Glow and radiance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “skin looks brighter immediately — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
  • Texture smoothing and refinement 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”
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • Deep hydration and softness Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “woke up with baby soft skin — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
    • “no more dry patches — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
  • Anti-aging and firming results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
    • “plumped my fine lines — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “softened crow's feet — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “skin looks plumper — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
  • Pore cleansing and clarity 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”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
  • High price and small size Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Unpleasant smell or scent issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “weird glue-like smell — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Packaging and pump issues 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”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Dryness, flaking, and irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “not moisturizing enough — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “made my face burn — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”

Paula's Choice vs Clarins routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Clarins routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Clarins routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Clarins: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for oily and acne-prone skin types because the products on this page help with pore cleansing and clarity, whereas Clarins is better suited for deep hydration and softness. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

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

Paula's Choice offers lightweight, fragrance-free products that excel in pore cleansing and texture smoothing, whereas Clarins features luxurious, heavily fragranced formulas known for deep hydration and anti-aging results. Both brands provide high routine fits for most skin types, but Paula's Choice is better suited for oily skin.

Paula's Choice or Clarins for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Clarins achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin. Paula's Choice offers fragrance-free options like its Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner, whereas Clarins formulas frequently contain added fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice is better for cleansers, as the products on this page achieve superior fit levels for oily and acne-prone skin while containing no fragrance.

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

Reviewers note a high price point for both Paula's Choice and Clarins, with no clear price advantage between them on the page.

Between Paula's Choice and Clarins, which brand has better anti-aging and firming results?

Clarins does better for anti-aging and firming results. Retinol, found in products on this page, helps support natural collagen levels in mature skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Paula's Choice or Clarins?

Paula's Choice has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, most products on the Clarins page contain fragrance.

Paula's Choice or Clarins: which provides deeper hydration and softness?

Clarins provides deeper hydration and softness. The brand features luxurious textures and focuses heavily on deep moisture.

Paula's Choice or Clarins for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is better suited for oily skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clarins's Average level. The products on this page for Paula's Choice frequently feature lightweight, fragrance-free formulas that help manage oil and clarity.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Clarins offer quality moisturizers, but Paula's Choice is often favored for lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas, while Clarins is recognized for deep hydration and softness. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice features fragrance-free options across the products on this page, whereas Clarins formulas frequently contain added fragrance.

Paula's Choice or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Clarins offer a high routine fit for sensitive skin. Paula's Choice helps avoid potential irritation since every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Clarins formulas frequently include fragrance.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Clarins achieve a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, though Paula's Choice features fragrance-free products on this page and emphasizes pore cleansing and clarity. Its formulations include ingredients like niacinamide, which may help regulate oil and pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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