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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 skincare brands from America and Japan, respectively. The first brand offers serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, while the second brand is beloved for its thoughtful sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers, all driven by effective formulas. Both brands suit oily skin best, though the American line also fits acne-prone skin best, and the Japanese line fits sensitive skin best. They differ in their founding years, ownership, and targeted skin concerns, where glycerin significantly increased skin hydration and restored barrier function for the American offering, and each Japanese offering works steadily to support a balanced and refreshed complexion.

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 · 98% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% 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 is a better fit overall, offering Superior Lovi fit levels for oily, combination, acne-prone, mature, and oily acne-prone skin, whereas Biore provides High Lovi fit levels for those same skin types. Reviewers note that the products on this page help with lightweight absorption and skin texture smoothing, though they may come with a high price.

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

Paula's Choice offers a much wider range of targeted serums and exfoliants that achieve superior Lovi fit levels for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Biore focuses on simpler cleansers and sunscreens with high fit for sensitive skin.

Paula's Choice or Biore for dry skin?

Paula's Choice and Biore offer an equal High routine fit level for dry skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that help hydrate the skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice is a better option for most skin types because Lovi rates its cleansers as Superior for oily, acne-prone, and combination skin, whereas Biore cleansers generally achieve average or low fit levels across those same skin types.

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

Biore is noted for high price and small size as a negative review theme, whereas Paula's Choice features high price and packaging issues among its mostly mentioned drawbacks.

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

Biore does better for pore cleansing and clarity on this page. Lovi rates Paula's Choice as Superior for oily acne-prone skin and acne-prone skin, while Biore is rated Average for those skin types.

Which brand is owned by Unilever, Paula's Choice or Biore?

Paula's Choice is owned by Unilever, having been acquired by the company in 2021, whereas Biore is owned by the Kao Corporation.

How do Paula's Choice and Biore compare when it comes to non-irritating and gentle skincare?

Paula's Choice does better than Biore for non-irritating and gentle skincare according to the review themes on this page.

Paula's Choice or Biore for oily skin?

For oily skin, Paula's Choice is a better fit than Biore, earning a Superior routine fit compared to Biore's High rating.

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

Paula's Choice offers a better sunscreen option on this page, as the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 achieves a High fit level for dry, combination, and dry sensitive skin, whereas Biore's UV Aqua Rich ranges from Average to Caution for those skin types.

Paula's Choice or Biore for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice and Biore offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin on this page. Paula's Choice helps deliver non-irritating and gentle care with fragrance-free formulations.

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

Paula's Choice is a better fit for acne-prone skin, where Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Biore's High. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice helps with skin texture smoothing and provides non-irritating care.

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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