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CeraVe vs Paula's Choice

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

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

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

Popular CeraVe vs Paula's Choice products

People Say

CeraVePaula's Choice
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Acne and Oil Control Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “smoother complexion — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Skin Tone and Mark Correction Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “spots barely visible — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Price Point Concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “caused cystic acne — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which is better?

CeraVe is better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas as well as hydration and moisture, while Paula's Choice is better for acne and oil control, skin texture improvement, and skin tone and mark correction.

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

CeraVe is owned by L'Oréal and focuses on budget-friendly, barrier-repairing hydration with key ingredients like ceramides, while Paula's Choice is owned by Unilever and targets advanced skin concerns like acne and texture with targeted exfoliants and boosters.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for oily skin?

For oily skin, Paula's Choice is superior, whereas CeraVe has a high routine fit.

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

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice offer effective, fragrance-free cleansers on this page, with CeraVe performing better for gentle hydration and Paula's Choice doing better for acne and oil control.

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

CeraVe is generally more affordable, while high price point concerns are frequently noted as a drawback for Paula's Choice.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which brand is better for anti-aging and skin texture improvement?

Paula's Choice is better for skin texture improvement, while both brands offer a Superior routine fit for mature skin. Retinol and various acids help smooth the skin and reduce the signs of aging.

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

Which brand has more fragrance-free options, CeraVe or Paula's Choice?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice offer fragrance-free options, as every product on this page for both brands lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which is better for treating dark spots and skin tone correction?

Paula's Choice is better for treating dark spots and skin tone correction. Lovi shows that Paula's Choice does better in skin tone and mark correction.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice achieve a High Lovi fit level for sensitive skin. Every product on both brand pages lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

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

CeraVe is better for lightweight, budget-friendly hydration, while Paula's Choice is better for targeted anti-aging and acne-fighting moisturizers. Ceramides help repair the skin barrier, and hyaluronic acid helps lock in deep moisture.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

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

Paula's Choice has a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page, while CeraVe has a High routine fit. Reviewers say Paula's Choice does better for acne and oil control.

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

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice offer sunscreens with high fit levels for various skin types on the products on this page, but CeraVe focuses heavily on hydration with ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

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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