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Paula's Choice vs Biore

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

Paula's Choice and Biore are two respected skincare names offering distinct approaches to daily care. The American pioneer focuses on targeted serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin C, making it well-suited for oily and acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand is beloved for accessible sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers that naturally suit sensitive and mature skin. While both rely on thoughtfully crafted formulas to care for the complexion, they ultimately differ in their foundational ingredients and targeted skin types.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

biore.comkao.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Biore products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceBiore
  • Lightweight and fast absorption 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”
    • “melts into skin — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Pore cleansing and clarity Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “Helped clear my blackheads — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Skin texture smoothing 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”
    • “Leaves skin feeling clean — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
  • Non-irritating and gentle Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin soft, doesn't dry out face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Excellent makeup base and removal Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “primer-like — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Glow, radiance and brightening Often MentionedNot noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Unpleasant smell and strong 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”
    • “smells like alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Smells like chemicals — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • High price and small size Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Dryness, flaking and irritation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “dryness and scaliness — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “burnt skin off — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Purging and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Caused breakouts, closed comedones, cystic acne. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Biore: which is better?

Paula's Choice is generally better for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin, where Lovi rates its fit as Superior compared to Biore's High. For dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots, both brands perform equally well with a High Lovi fit level.

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

Paula's Choice and Biore offer products on this page with different strengths, where Paula's Choice features a Superior fit for oily, acne-prone, sensitive, and mature skin, while Biore achieves a High fit across those same skin types.

Paula's Choice or Biore for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Biore offer a High routine fit level for dry skin. Paula's Choice features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin across the products on this page, which helps maintain moisture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice cleansers have a Superior Lovi fit level for oily acne-prone skin on this page, while Biore cleansers show an Average fit level for the same skin type.

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

Biore is noted for high price and small size among its review themes, whereas Paula's Choice mentions high price and packaging issues.

Where and when were Paula's Choice and Biore founded, and who owns them?

Paula's Choice was founded in the United States in 1995 and is owned by Unilever, while Biore was founded in Japan in 1980 and is owned by Kao Corporation.

Which brand performs better for pore cleansing and clarity according to review themes?

Biore does better for pore cleansing and clarity according to the review themes on this page.

Do Paula's Choice and Biore products contain fragrance?

Paula's Choice and Biore products on this page are formulated without any added fragrance, as every product lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Paula's Choice or Biore for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a better option for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Biore's High fit level. The products on this page help provide a lightweight feel and effective pore cleansing without adding heavy oils.

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

Paula's Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 is better for dry, dry sensitive, and combination skin with a High Lovi fit, while Biore UV Aqua Rich has a High fit specifically for combination skin. Both brands offer sunscreens featuring no fragrance in their ingredients.

Paula's Choice or Biore for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Paula's Choice is a better fit with a Superior routine fit compared to Biore's High fit level.

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

Paula's Choice is a better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates the routine fit for this skin type as Superior compared to Biore's High. The products on this page help provide effective pore cleansing and clarity.

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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