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Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice

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

Cetaphil and Paula's Choice are American skincare brands that offer thoughtful selections of cleansers, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, and toners. The first brand is widely loved for compositions featuring glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol that suit combination skin and acne-prone skin best, while the second brand builds its products around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c to fit oily skin and acne-prone skin. Both rely on glycerin to increase hydration and restore barrier function, but differ as the older brand uniquely incorporates niacinamide and panthenol to decrease hyperpigmentation, improve aging signs, and accelerate wound healing.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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 Cetaphil and Paula's Choice products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice products

People Say

CetaphilPaula's Choice
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin smoothing and texture Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Oil control and acne reduction Rarely 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”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “Removes excess oil without drying. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
  • Brightening and complexion Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “immediate glow — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “skin looks more radiant — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
  • Unpleasant smells Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
    • “smells like masking fragrance — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Caused breakouts and purging Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused whiteheads — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Broke me out bad — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
    • “caused small bumps — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Paula's Choice: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for oil control, acne reduction, and skin smoothing, while Cetaphil is better for being gentle on sensitive skin and providing hydration and moisture.

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

Paula's Choice does better for skin smoothing, oil control, acne reduction, and brightening, while Cetaphil is superior for being gentle on sensitive skin and providing hydration and moisture. The products on this page for Paula's Choice list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas Cetaphil has fragrance in only one product, the Oily Skin Cleanser.

Cetaphil or Paula's Choice for dry skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for dry skin, but Cetaphil is generally better for hydration and moisture while Paula's Choice is often noted for a higher price point. Cetaphil features products like the Rich Hydrating Night Cream with a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Paula's Choice includes options like the Advanced Replenishing Toner.

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

For cleansers on this page, Cetaphil is better for sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice is superior for oily skin and acne-prone skin.

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

Cetaphil is more affordable than Paula's Choice, as high price point is a noted review issue for Paula's Choice while Cetaphil is recognized for lower cost.

Between Cetaphil and Paula's Choice, which brand is better for managing skin with dark spots?

Both Cetaphil and Paula's Choice achieve a High Lovi fit level for managing skin with dark spots. Paula's Choice provides targeted options featuring ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do Cetaphil and Paula's Choice compare when it comes to fragrance-free product options?

Cetaphil offers 26 out of 27 products on this page without fragrance, while Paula's Choice has every product on this page listing no fragrance. Both brands provide extensive fragrance-free options for shoppers.

Which brand performs better for skin smoothing and texture according to review themes?

Paula's Choice performs better for skin smoothing and texture according to review themes. Its products on this page often feature exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid that help improve skin texture.

Cetaphil or Paula's Choice for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Cetaphil's High level. Paula's Choice features specialized treatments like niacinamide and salicylic acid that help control oil production.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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

Both Cetaphil and Paula's Choice offer moisturizers with a High routine fit for dry skin, but Cetaphil is generally better for hydration and moisture while Paula's Choice is better for skin smoothing and texture.

Cetaphil or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both brands do well, with Cetaphil having a High routine fit and Paula's Choice having a Superior routine fit on this page. Cetaphil is noted for being gentle on sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page.

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

Both Cetaphil and Paula's Choice offer sunscreens on this page with High fit levels for various skin types. Cetaphil features options like Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 that is rated Superior for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, combination skin, and sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice provides alternatives such as Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 with High fit levels for dry skin and combination skin.

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

Both brands fit acne-prone skin well, though Paula's Choice reaches a superior routine fit compared to Cetaphil's high level. Paula's Choice is noted for doing better with oil control and acne reduction across the products on this page.

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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