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Paula's Choice vs Elemis

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

Paula's Choice and Elemis are established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily care through serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners. Paula's Choice relies on ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c to support oily and mature skin, whereas Elemis incorporates glycerin and shea to best suit dry and mature skin. While both brands feature targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and aging, the American brand was founded in 1995 and emphasizes barrier function, while the British brand, established in 1989, is celebrated for its deeply restorative, nourishing qualities.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Elemis products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceElemis
  • Improving Skin Texture and Smoothness Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Fast Absorption and Lightweight Texture 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”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “weightless serum — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
  • Instant and Deep Hydration Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • Glow, Radiance, and Brightening Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “instantly fresh glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Pleasant Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “Doesn't smell at all — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Anti-Aging and Firming Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin looks plumper — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “softens lines and wrinkles — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “improved neck texture — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “very expensive — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • Packaging Issues and Small Size Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Unpleasant Smell or Scent Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smell is overpowering — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Elemis: which is better?

Paula's Choice fits oily skin, mature skin, and oily acne-prone skin best with a Superior rating, whereas Elemis fits dry skin, mature skin, and dry sensitive skin best. Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance, while Elemis products often include fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice fits oily skin and oily acne-prone skin with a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Elemis fits them at a High level. Paula's Choice relies on fragrance-free formulations with key ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid, while Elemis incorporates scented products and ingredients like shea butter.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Paula's Choice or Elemis for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Elemis are great options for dry skin, matching with a High routine fit on this page. Paula's Choice relies on fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while Elemis offers hydrating moisturizers that may provide a radiant glow.

Drug Delivery, 2017

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

Paula's Choice fits oily skin, acne-prone skin, and oily acne-prone skin with a Superior level, while Elemis fits these skin types at a High level. Paula's Choice offers fragrance-free cleanser options on this page, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in several of its cleansers.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Elemis face customer feedback about high prices, making them equal in affordability on this page.

Between Paula's Choice and Elemis, which brand offers a better selection of fragrance-free products?

Paula's Choice offers a better selection of fragrance-free products, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only 4 of 22 Elemis products on this page are fragrance-free.

How do Paula's Choice and Elemis compare when it comes to anti-aging and firming results?

Paula's Choice does better than Elemis for anti-aging and firming results. The products on this page help improve mature skin with active ingredients like retinol and niacinamide, which may reduce signs of aging and stimulate collagen accumulation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand is better suited for mature skin, Paula's Choice or Elemis?

Paula's Choice is better suited for mature skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Elemis. Paula's Choice also does better in reviews for anti-aging and firming.

Paula's Choice or Elemis for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a superior fit for oily skin, whereas Elemis offers a high fit.

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

Paula's Choice offers better options for oily and acne-prone skin, while Elemis stands out for dry skin and hydrating moisturizers. Reviewers note that Elemis moisturizers provide a luxurious texture and a radiant glow, though Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page.

Paula's Choice or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Both brands achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin, but Paula's Choice has every product on this page listing no fragrance, whereas 18 of 22 Elemis products contain fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice fits acne-prone skin better, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis at a High level. The products on this page list no fragrance, which helps reduce the likelihood of irritation.

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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