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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 skincare brands that offer serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more. Paula's Choice is an American line founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021, known for hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, while the Spanish brand ISDIN, founded in 1975 and owned by Puig, is loved for its elegant moisturizers, advanced sunscreens, restorative serums, and targeted eye products. The first brand fits oily skin and mature skin best, with key ingredients like glycerin significantly increasing skin hydration and restoring barrier function, whereas its counterpart suits dry skin and sensitive skin best, providing gentle daily comfort and dependable protection. Both differ in their origins and target skin types, yet deliver reliable daily support that maintains a healthy and balanced complexion through thoughtfully balanced formulas.

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 · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs ISDIN routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or ISDIN: which is better?

Paula's Choice and ISDIN both offer strong options, but ISDIN has a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin compared to Paula's Choice at High.

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

Paula's Choice fits best for oily, mature, and oily acne-prone skin with fragrance-free formulas, whereas ISDIN is a better fit for dry, sensitive, and mature skin types.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for dry skin?

For dry skin, ISDIN is a superior choice compared to Paula's Choice, offering a superior routine fit. ISDIN provides lightweight moisturizers and ultralight sunscreens that help nourish dry skin, whereas Paula's Choice has a high routine fit for this skin type.

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 skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for ISDIN as Superior for dry and sensitive skin, compared to High for Paula's Choice.

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

Both brands are noted by reviewers for having a high price point, so neither stands out as clearly more affordable than the other.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Paula's Choice or ISDIN?

Paula's Choice has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients compared to only some ISDIN products.

How do Paula's Choice and ISDIN compare for reducing dark spots?

For reducing dark spots, ISDIN provides a Superior routine fit, whereas Paula's Choice offers a High routine fit across the products on this page.

Which brand performs better for skin texture smoothing and pores according to reviewers?

Paula's Choice performs better for skin texture smoothing and pores. Reviewers note that the brand excels in skin texture smoothing and pores compared to ISDIN.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN fit oily skin at a Superior level with the products on this page. Paula's Choice also features acne and blemish control as a notable strength for oily skin.

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

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN offer great sunscreens on this page, with ISDIN particularly praised by reviewers for its ultralight feel and makeup compatibility. Paula's Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 has a High fit level for dry and combination skin, while ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica achieves a Superior fit level for sensitive skin and skin with dark spots.

Paula's Choice or ISDIN for sensitive skin?

ISDIN is the better choice for sensitive skin, whereas Lovi rates ISDIN as Superior and Paula's Choice as High for this skin type. Reviewers note that ISDIN does better for sensitive skin and gentle care.

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

Both Paula's Choice and ISDIN offer superior routine fit levels for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Paula's Choice is often noted for better acne and blemish control, while ISDIN provides lighter formulas and 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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