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Paula's Choice vs MAC

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

Paula's Choice and MAC are established beauty brands offering thoughtful products for diverse routines. Paula's Choice is an American line founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021, known for serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, while Canadian-born MAC, owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994, is beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas. The former brand fits oily and mature skin best through key ingredients like glycerin, which significantly increases skin hydration and restores barrier function, whereas the latter line suits balanced skin best with gentle and effective ingredients. Ultimately, the two differ in their primary ingredient focus and ideal skin types, offering distinct foundations for daily maintenance.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs MAC products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin never been this silky — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Lightweight Formula 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”
    • “watery consistency — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Makeup Primer and Base Benefits Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Gentle and Non-irritating Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “no stinging — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • 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”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “expensive for body lotion — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Unpleasant Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Skin Irritation and Breakouts Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Stings if it accidentally gets into the eyes. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or MAC: which is better?

Paula's Choice delivers superior skin texture improvement and lightweight formulas across the products on this page, while MAC works better for hydration and moisture. Vitamin A helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

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

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

Paula's Choice products on this page focus on skin texture improvement and lightweight formulas, whereas MAC offers better hydration and moisture. Paula's Choice is fragrance-free across all products on this page, while MAC products contain fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice offers a wider range of moisturizers with fragrance-free formulas, while MAC products on this page are noted for hydration and moisture but contain fragrance.

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

Reviewers note that high prices are a drawback for both Paula's Choice and MAC products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Paula's Choice or MAC?

Paula's Choice helps cause fewer breakouts because the products on this page are generally fragrance-free and better for skin texture improvement, whereas MAC often features strong fragrance and sensitivity issues that can lead to skin irritation and breakouts.

How do Paula's Choice and MAC compare regarding fragrance in their skincare products?

Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas all of the MAC products on this page contain fragrance. Reviewers often note strong fragrance and sensitivity issues with MAC.

Which brand offers better skin texture improvement, Paula's Choice or MAC?

Paula's Choice does better for skin texture improvement. The products on this page list no fragrance, whereas all MAC products on the page contain fragrance.

When was each company founded and who owns them today?

Paula's Choice was founded in 1995 in the United States and is owned by Unilever. MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

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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