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Paula's Choice vs ISDIN

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

Paula's Choice and ISDIN are esteemed skincare brands offering serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, sunscreens, and eye products designed for diverse complexions. The American line, founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021, centers its creations on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c to best suit oily and acne-prone skin. Conversely, the Spanish house, established in 1975 and owned by Puig, crafts gentle yet effective formulas featuring reliable results that suit sensitive and acne-prone skin best. While both brands support healthy complexions through targeted solutions like specific toners, retinols, exfoliants, sunscreens, and eye treatments, they differ in their foundational ingredients and regional heritage.

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

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ISDIN is a Spanish skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by Puig.

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs ISDIN products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceISDIN
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “ultra-light fluid product, which makes it super easy to apply — ISDIN Fusion Water”
  • Brightness, Tone and Anti-Aging Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “skin looks plumper — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “helps reduce swelling in the area of my under-eye bags — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
    • “Skin feels intensely hydrated — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
  • Skin Texture Smoothing and Pores Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “skin was much smoother — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
  • Sensitive Skin and Gentle Care Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sensitive/reactive skin tolerates — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
    • “no excessive exfoliation — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “doesn't sting eyes — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “heals blemishes faster — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Removes all my makeup easily — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Finish Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave you white as a ghost — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “acts like a primer — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “dries down matte — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “very expensive — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “My only wish is that ISDIN would make this product in a bigger size bottle. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
  • Unpleasant Smell or Scent Concerns Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “smell is overpowering — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “lingering headache inducing effect — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
  • Packaging and Size Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Pump stopped working — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “I like the actual product, but the packaging is awful, I've already lost three bottles the applicator pops off. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Product Formula and Stability Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “turned orange in weeks — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Did not notice any difference in my pores. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “did nothing — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “don't see result — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”

Paula's Choice vs ISDIN routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Paula's Choice vs ISDIN routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs ISDIN routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or ISDIN: which is better?

Paula's Choice works better for acne and pores, whereas ISDIN is better for sensitive skin and makeup compatibility.

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

Paula's Choice offers fragrance-free formulas with particular strength in smoothing skin texture and controlling acne, while ISDIN stands out for its ultralight sunscreens and gentle care for sensitive skin.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for dry skin?

ISDIN is the better fit for dry skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Paula's Choice, which achieves a High fit.

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

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN offer effective moisturizers, but ISDIN may suit sensitive skin better while Paula's Choice works well for oily and acne-prone skin.

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

Reviewers frequently note a high price for the products on this page from both Paula's Choice and ISDIN, meaning neither brand stands out as more affordable.

Which brand has better fragrance-free options?

Paula's Choice has better fragrance-free options because every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas several ISDIN products contain fragrance.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for oily skin. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free products on this page and does better for acne and blemish control, while ISDIN is mostly noted for ultralight sunscreens.

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

ISDIN offers ultralight, makeup-friendly, and skin-friendly sunscreens that fit sensitive skin at a Superior level and combination, oily, acne-prone, and dry skin at a High level, whereas Paula's Choice provides the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 which fits dry and combination skin at a High level and oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin at an Average level.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN offer a Superior Lovi fit level for sensitive skin. ISDIN does better for sensitive skin and gentle care, while Paula's Choice has no fragrance across the products on this page.

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

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN achieve a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, with Paula's Choice standing out specifically for acne and blemish control. Paula's Choice also features fragrance-free formulas across all products on this page.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for dry sensitive skin?

ISDIN is a better fit for dry sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit level of Paula's Choice.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for mature skin?

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN fit mature skin well, as Lovi rates their routines as Superior. Paula's Choice offers numerous options with no fragrance, whereas ISDIN is particularly noted for ultralight sunscreens.

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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