🇮🇹Italy

Paula's Choice skincare

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

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Paula's Choice's products on this page cover serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c. Paula's Choice products fit oily skin and acne-prone skin best. For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates the Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner highest; for skin with dark spots, the 1% Retinol Treatment; and for mature skin, the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Its key ingredients: glycerin significantly increased skin hydration and restored barrier function.

This page covers some of the most popular Paula's Choice products; for the whole Paula's Choice range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.

Paula's Choice serums and treatments

Other Paula's Choice products

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 30.5k+ reviews

Reviewers most often praise Paula's Choice for improved skin texture, lightweight textures, and effective acne and breakout reduction. The most common complaints are skin irritation or dryness and high prices for small quantities.

Highlights

  • Smooth texture and anti-aging serums Sometimes Noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “softens lines and wrinkles — 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “acne scars faded — 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • High price and packaging issues Mostly Mentioned
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “tiny tube — 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “turned orange in weeks — C15 Super Booster”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, paulaschoice.com, paulaschoice.com.au, sephora.sg, and more

Questions and answers

Is Paula's Choice good for oily skin?

Yes, Paula's Choice is well-suited for oily skin. Lovi rates the Paula's Choice-focused routine Superior for oily skin, and the brand offers multiple exfoliating and cleansing options designed to manage oil effectively.

Is Paula's Choice worth it?

Paula's Choice may be worth it for shoppers seeking fragrance-free formulas with active ingredients like niacinamide and retinol. Lovi rates the brand-focused routines High for dry skin and Superior for oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin, though reviewers mostly mention high prices and packaging issues.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which Paula's Choice moisturizer is best for dry skin?

The Replenishing Moisturizer is best for dry skin, followed by the Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer and the Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer. Lovi rates the first High for dry skin and the others Average.

Does Paula's Choice cause breakouts?

Paula's Choice is unlikely to cause breakouts, as Lovi rates the brand's routines Superior for acne-prone skin and the Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance. Green tea extracts help improve acne by modulating intracellular targets and inhibiting bacteria.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013

Is Paula's Choice fragrance-free?

Yes, the Paula's Choice products on this page are fragrance-free, as every product lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

What are the key ingredients in Paula's Choice products?

The key ingredients across the Paula's Choice products on this page include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin C, licorice root, niacinamide, salicylic acid, green tea, and vitamin E. These components help support smooth and soft skin, while ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid may also assist with reducing dark spots and improving skin hydration.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Drug Delivery, 2017

How do I build a Paula's Choice skincare routine?

To build a Paula's Choice routine for dry skin, start your morning with the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser, Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner, Replenishing Moisturizer, and Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+. In the evening, cleanse with the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser, apply the RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum, and finish with the Replenishing Moisturizer. Once a week, add the Vita Essential Mask into your evening steps before moisturizing.

Where can I buy Paula's Choice, and how much does it cost?

Paula's Choice is available to buy on this public Lovi page featuring prices in Italy that range from €14.00 to €75.00, with most items priced between €39.00 and €59.90. Reviewers mostly mention high prices as a drawback alongside packaging issues.

What are good alternatives to Paula's Choice?

Good alternatives to Paula's Choice that also have pages on Lovi include CeraVe, Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Kiehl's, Dermalogica, and Good Molecules.

Paula's Choice vs CeraVe: which is better?

Paula's Choice and CeraVe offer comparable results, as Lovi rates both brands High for dry skin and Superior for oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin. The Paula's Choice products on this page are fragrance-free, though shoppers often note higher prices compared to other brands.

Who owns Paula's Choice, and where is it from?

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Is Paula's Choice cruelty-free?

Yes: Leaping Bunny lists Paula's Choice as cruelty-free.

Leaping Bunny

Is Paula's Choice good for dry skin?

Yes, Paula's Choice is generally good for dry skin. Lovi rates the Paula's Choice-focused routine for dry skin as High, and the brand features targeted products like the Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner and Replenishing Moisturizer that help nourish dry areas. Additionally, key ingredients like hyaluronic acid help hydrate the skin and improve overall skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which Paula's Choice cleanser is best for oily skin?

The CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser is the best Paula's Choice cleanser for oily skin, while the CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser and Hydrating Gel-To-Cream Cleanser are also available.

Is Paula's Choice good for sensitive skin?

Lovi rates the Paula's Choice routine Superior for sensitive skin. The Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance, which helps keep sensitive skin calm.

Which Paula's Choice sunscreen is best for sensitive skin?

Lovi rates Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 as Average for sensitive skin, making it the top sunscreen option for this skin type on the page. The Paula's Choice products on this page are fragrance-free.

Is Paula's Choice good for acne-prone skin?

Yes, Paula's Choice is well-suited for acne-prone skin. Lovi rates the Paula's Choice-focused routine Superior for acne-prone skin, and the Paula's Choice products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Is Paula's Choice good for skin with dark spots?

Yes, Paula's Choice is good for skin with dark spots, as Lovi rates multiple targeted serums and exfoliants on this page High or Superior for this skin concern. Key ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C help reduce pigmentation and brighten the skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Is Paula's Choice good for mature skin?

Yes, Paula's Choice is well-suited for mature skin, as Lovi rates the brand-focused routines High for this skin type and features many products with Superior and High fits. Topical retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation and reduce signs of aging in mature skin.

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

Research behind Paula's Choice's key ingredients

Behind these ratings

Lovi rates every product from its 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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