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Paula's Choice vs RoC

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

Paula's Choice and RoC are established skincare brands offering expertly formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. The American line relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c to suit combination and oily skin best, whereas the French brand utilizes glycerin and retinol to cater to mature skin and skin with dark spots. While both brands feature key ingredients like glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, the latter also employs retinol to significantly reduce fine wrinkles and increase collagen. Choosing between them depends on whether one prefers the former's diverse targeted treatments or the latter's specialized anti-aging solutions.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

RoC is a French skincare brand founded in 1957 and owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2024.

en.wikipedia.orgprnewswire.combeautymatter.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs RoC products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceRoC
  • Skin texture improvement and smoothing 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”
    • “diminished my forehead lines — RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum”
    • “face looked smoother — RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas 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 instantly — RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum”
  • Anti-aging and wrinkle reduction Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “wrinkles look less deep — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Fine lines definitely softer — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “crow's feet are fading — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”
    • “softens lines and wrinkles — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
  • Non-irritating and gentle formulas 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 leave my skin feeling tight — RoC BARRIER RENEW® GEL-TO-FOAM CLEANSER”
    • “No irritation for me — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Deep hydration Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin is no longer dry — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “Areas stay hydrated all day — RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream”
    • “My skin looks smoother and hydrated. — RoC Derm Correxion Contour Cream”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Non-greasy formulas Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs nicely — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Absorbs easily and quickly — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly without residue — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
  • Unpleasant smell or strong fragrance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like perfume — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “smell is too strong — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”
    • “perfume smell is too strong — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Skin irritation and burning Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “burnt skin off — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “caused cystic acne — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “ruined my skin barrier — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “caused redness and stinging — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
  • High price and value concerns Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “small bottle — RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs RoC routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs RoC routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs RoC routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or RoC: which is better?

Both brands are great choices depending on your specific skincare goals, as Paula's Choice is formulated to fit combination, oily, and acne-prone skin best, while RoC is designed for mature skin, skin with dark spots, and dry skin. For example, retinol helps improve aging skin by stimulating collagen accumulation.

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

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

Paula's Choice fits best for combination, oily, and acne-prone skin with fragrance-free formulas, while RoC is best for mature skin, skin with dark spots, and dry skin. RoC may offer better anti-aging and deep hydration results, but some of its products contain fragrance and may cause skin irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Paula's Choice or RoC for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and RoC offer a high routine fit for dry skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while RoC provides effective hydration and anti-aging benefits.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Both brands offer solid cleanser options, with Paula's Choice featuring fragrance-free formulas tailored for blemish-prone and oily types while RoC provides gentle barrier-renewing options. RoC helps support moisture retention effectively, and retinol derivatives in some broader lines may assist with texture.

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

RoC offers better value according to reviewer feedback on the products on this page, whereas Paula's Choice is mostly mentioned for high prices. Reviewers sometimes note RoC for good value, while high price is a frequent concern for Paula's Choice.

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

Paula's Choice has more fragrance-free products, as every product on the page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas 10 of the 12 RoC products on this page are fragrance-free.

Paula's Choice or RoC for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and RoC fit oily skin at a High level. Paula's Choice is formulated to help control oil with key ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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

When choosing a moisturizer, both Paula's Choice and RoC offer effective options depending on your specific skin concerns. RoC is well-regarded for providing deep hydration and anti-aging benefits, while Paula's Choice focuses on targeted formulas with no fragrance across the products on this page.

Paula's Choice or RoC for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and RoC fit sensitive skin at a High level. Paula's Choice is formulated without fragrance across the products on this page, while some RoC products contain fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice offers the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, which helps protect the skin and fits dry, combination, and dry sensitive skin at a High level and acne-prone, oily, oily acne-prone, skin with dark spots, sensitive, and mature skin at an Average level. RoC offers the BARRIER RENEW AM MOISTURIZER SPF 30, which helps protect the skin and fits dry sensitive, dry, mature, sensitive, skin with dark spots, combination, oily, and acne-prone skin at a High level and oily acne-prone skin at an Average level.

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

Both Paula's Choice and RoC fit acne-prone skin at a High level. Paula's Choice includes fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Paula's Choice or RoC for mature skin?

RoC fits mature skin better than Paula's Choice, with a Lovi fit level of Superior compared to High, because its products on this page are specially formulated for anti-aging and wrinkle reduction. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

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

Paula's Choice or RoC for skin with dark spots?

RoC is a better choice for skin with dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a Superior level for that concern. Paula's Choice is also a strong option with a High level, and its formulations help manage pigmentation using key ingredients like niacinamide.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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