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Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader

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

Paula's Choice and Augustinus Bader are distinguished skincare brands that offer targeted daily treatments for different complexions. The American brand, founded in 1995, focuses on serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily skin and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the German brand, founded in 2018, is loved for its moisturizers, serums, and eye products built around proprietary formulas that suit dry skin and mature skin best. Ultimately, the two differ in their core formulations, ingredient approaches, and ideal skin types.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Augustinus Bader is a German skincare brand founded in 2018.

augustinusbader.combeautymatter.compitchbook.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceAugustinus Bader
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing formula Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “light but nourishing — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
    • “sinks in instantly — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
    • “light gel texture — Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
  • Smoothes skin texture and refines Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “Softens fine lines — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “skin is smoother — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
  • Glow, radiance and brightening Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instant youthful glow — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “Instantly hydrated — Augustinus Bader The Face Oil”
    • “healthy glow — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Deep hydration Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Extremely dry skin saved — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “instantly refreshing — Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream”
  • Anti-aging and firming results Sometimes NotedRarely 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”
    • “crow's feet softened — Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream”
  • Unclogs pores and clears acne Often MentionedNot noted
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “heals blemishes faster — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • High price and expensive for size 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”
  • Skin purging, breakouts and irritation Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “burnt skin off — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Caused cystic acne — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “bumps on forehead — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
  • Packaging issues and leaks Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “dropper leaks — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “dropper can be unpredictable — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “Cap broke immediately — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “excessive packaging — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
  • Unpleasant smell or scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like old crayons — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “Smells like vegetable oil — Augustinus Bader The Face Oil”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Augustinus Bader routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for anti-aging and clearing acne, while Augustinus Bader is better for deep hydration and radiance. Both brands achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for most skin types, though Paula's Choice is often noted for a high price and packaging issues.

What is the difference between Paula's Choice and Augustinus Bader?

Paula's Choice fits best for oily, acne-prone, and mature skin with strong anti-aging and blemish-clearing results, while Augustinus Bader excels for dry and mature skin by delivering deep hydration, glow, and lightweight moisturizers. Both brands offer fragrance-free products on this page, but Paula's Choice is often noted for smooth texture serums and Augustinus Bader for texture improvement.

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for dry skin?

Augustinus Bader is a Superior fit for dry skin, while Paula's Choice is a High fit. Augustinus Bader may deliver deeper hydration, whereas Paula's Choice helps with anti-aging results.

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader: which moisturizer is better?

Paula's Choice and Augustinus Bader both offer quality moisturizers, with Paula's Choice providing better results for oily and acne-prone skin, while Augustinus Bader is superior for dry and mature skin. Paula's Choice helps clear pores and firm aging skin, whereas Augustinus Bader may deliver deep hydration and a radiant glow.

Which is more affordable, Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader?

Augustinus Bader is known for having an extreme price, while Paula's Choice is frequently noted for a high price and being expensive for its size.

Which brand provides better anti-aging and firming results?

Paula's Choice does better for anti-aging and firming results. Retinol, which is found in the products on this page, helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

What are the main key ingredients in Paula's Choice products compared to Augustinus Bader?

Paula's Choice uses a diverse range of active key ingredients across the products on this page, including hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin C, licorice root, niacinamide, salicylic acid, green tea, and vitamin E, whereas Augustinus Bader centers its formulations around its signature TFC8 complex.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Augustinus Bader fit sensitive skin at a Superior level. Paula's Choice is better for anti-aging and firming results as well as unclogging pores and clearing acne, while Augustinus Bader is better for glow, radiance, brightening, and deep hydration.

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for acne-prone skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Augustinus Bader fit acne-prone skin at a Superior level. Paula's Choice products on this page help unclog pores and clear acne, while Augustinus Bader products on this page may provide deep hydration and glow.

Paula's Choice or Augustinus Bader for mature skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Augustinus Bader fit mature skin with a Lovi level of Superior, so you can choose either depending on your goals. Paula's Choice stands out for anti-aging and firming results, whereas Augustinus Bader helps deliver deep hydration, radiance, and glow.

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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