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Paula's Choice vs Simple

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

Paula's Choice and Simple are well-regarded Unilever-owned skincare brands offering thoughtfully crafted products for diverse skin needs. Paula's Choice features targeted serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, Simple provides gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners formulated with niacinamide and glycerin, which suit acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots. Ultimately, they differ through their specific ingredient combinations and the range of targeted treatments available for particular concerns like dark spots, acne, and aging.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Simple products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceSimple
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Lightweight and fast absorbing texture Mostly MentionedOften 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 — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Smoothes skin texture and fades dark spots Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
  • Gentle, non-stripping daily cleansing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
  • Convenient and affordable value Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “No need to rinse... perfect for traveling or lazy nights. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Effective hydration and non-greasy feel Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “cleared up my dry patches — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs super fast — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • High price and small bottle size Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “I have to use 4-5 cotton pads to get clean. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Causes purging, breakouts or irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Gave me tiny red spots — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
  • Sticky residue or unpleasant scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels slimy on skin — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Smells like chemicals — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Simple: which is better?

Paula's Choice is rated superior for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin, while Simple offers good everyday value and gentle cleansers. Paula's Choice helps smooth skin texture and fade dark spots, whereas Simple focuses on lightweight moisturizers.

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

Paula's Choice offers a wide range of specialized serums and exfoliants with a Lovi fit level of Superior for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Simple focuses on gentle, value-friendly cleansers and makeup removers that achieve a Lovi fit level of High for sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice provides smooth textures and anti-aging treatments at a higher price, while Simple is valued for its lightweight, budget-friendly moisturizers.

Paula's Choice or Simple for dry skin?

For dry skin, Paula's Choice and Simple both achieve a High routine fit on Lovi. Paula's Choice features products like the Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner with a Superior fit for dry skin, while Simple offers hydrating options such as the Replenishing Rich Moisturiser.

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

Paula's Choice offers a better cleanser option on this page, with its CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser rated as a Superior fit for oily skin, acne-prone skin, and oily acne-prone skin. Simple also features cleansers on this page, but they generally show lower fit levels, such as a Low fit for dry skin with its Refreshing Facial Wash.

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

Simple is more affordable, offering convenient and budget-friendly values on the products on this page, whereas Paula's Choice is mostly mentioned for high prices.

What are the key ingredients found across Paula's Choice and Simple products?

Paula's Choice features key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin C, licorice root, niacinamide, salicylic acid, green tea, and vitamin E. Simple includes niacinamide and glycerin as its key ingredients across the products on this page.

When were Paula's Choice and Simple founded and who currently owns them?

Paula's Choice was founded in 1995 in the United States and is currently owned by Unilever. Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is currently owned by Unilever PLC.

Which brand performs better for smoothing skin texture and fading dark spots?

Paula's Choice performs better for smoothing skin texture and fading dark spots. The products on this page feature key ingredients like niacinamide and retinol, which help improve skin appearance and fade pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Paula's Choice or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates Paula's Choice as Superior and Simple as High. Paula's Choice offers advanced formulations containing salicylic acid and niacinamide that help control excess oil and soothe blemishes.

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

Paula's Choice offers a better moisturizer selection, as its products on this page achieve higher Lovi fit levels for oily skin and specific concerns compared to Simple's range.

Paula's Choice or Simple for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi rates Paula's Choice as Superior and Simple as High. Reviewers note that Simple is gentle on sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice helps deliver lightweight and fast absorbing texture.

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

Paula's Choice is a Superior fit for acne-prone skin on Lovi, whereas Simple is a High fit. Ingredients like salicylic acid help unclog pores and reduce breakouts.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013

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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