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Paula's Choice vs BYOMA

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

Paula's Choice and BYOMA are distinct skincare brands offering diverse selections of cleansers, toners, serums, and moisturizers. The American brand Paula's Choice is built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily skin and acne-prone skin best, whereas the British brand BYOMA incorporates a proprietary tri-ceramide complex and squalane to suit acne-prone skin and mature skin. Both lines differ through their specific formulations, as the former utilizes glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, while the latter relies on its tri-ceramide complex and squalane to improve barrier integrity and fight oxidative stress.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

BYOMA is a British skincare brand founded in 2022 and owned by Bansk Group since 2025.

cosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs BYOMA products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceBYOMA
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing 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”
    • “Absorbs instantly — BYOMA Moisturizing Gel-Cream”
    • “sinks in quickly — BYOMA Brightening Serum”
  • Improves skin texture 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”
    • “Keeps my face soft and not oily — BYOMA Brightening Toner”
  • Non-irritating and gentle Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't strip skin — BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser”
    • “no irritation at all — BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Oil”
    • “great for sensitive skin — BYOMA Balancing Face Mist”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Reduces redness and soothes Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “healed my skin barrier — BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner”
    • “skin feels soft — BYOMA Brightening Serum”
    • “calming and soothing ingredients — BYOMA Balancing Face Mist”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Deep hydration Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels so hydrated — BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner”
    • “feels refreshing on the skin — BYOMA Balancing Face Mist”
    • “Skin feels soft — BYOMA Moisturizing Rich Cream”
  • Unclogs pores and clears acne Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “breakouts are nearly non existent — BYOMA Clarifying Serum”
  • Packaging issues Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “Opening is huge — BYOMA Brightening Toner”
  • High price and value issues Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Unpleasant smell or scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “has a weird chemically smell — BYOMA Milky Moisture Cleanser”
    • “smell is annoying — BYOMA Milky Oil Cleanser”
    • “smells like plastic — BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs BYOMA routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs BYOMA routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs BYOMA routines for acne-prone skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or BYOMA: which is better?

Paula's Choice and BYOMA offer an equal routine fit for oily, combination, acne-prone, mature, and oily acne-prone skin, while BYOMA provides a Superior routine fit for skin with dark spots compared to a High fit for Paula's Choice. BYOMA does better for non-irritating and gentle care, deep hydration, and reducing redness, whereas Paula's Choice excels at improving skin texture and unclogging pores.

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

Paula's Choice and BYOMA both offer excellent routines for oily, combination, acne-prone, and mature skin, but BYOMA performs better for skin with dark spots. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice excels at improving skin texture and unclogging pores, while BYOMA is better for deep hydration, reducing redness, and providing non-irritating care.

Paula's Choice or BYOMA for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and BYOMA offer a Superior routine fit for oily skin. BYOMA helps provide non-irritating deep hydration, while Paula's Choice is better suited to unclog pores and clear acne on the products on this page.

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

Both Paula's Choice and BYOMA offer cleansers with strong performance, but BYOMA is superior for dry skin with options like the Milky Moisture Cleanser rated Superior, while Paula's Choice excels for oily and acne-prone skin with the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser rated Superior.

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

BYOMA does better for high price and value issues, suggesting it is the more affordable option between the two brands.

Paula's Choice or BYOMA: which brand is better suited for skin with dark spots?

BYOMA is better suited for skin with dark spots, as Lovi rates its overall routine as Superior compared to the High fit level for Paula's Choice. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand uses fragrance in its products, Paula's Choice or BYOMA?

BYOMA uses fragrance in its products, specifically in the Smoothing Body Serum, while Paula's Choice lists no fragrance in the ingredients of any product on this page.

Paula's Choice or BYOMA: which is better at unclogging pores and clearing acne?

Paula's Choice is better at unclogging pores and clearing acne. Lovi rates the routine fit for acne-prone skin as Superior for Paula's Choice and Superior for BYOMA.

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

Both Paula's Choice and BYOMA fit acne-prone skin at a Superior level. Paula's Choice relies on salicylic acid and retinoids, while BYOMA focuses on barrier-strengthening ceramides.

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

Both Paula's Choice and BYOMA offer effective moisturizers depending on your specific skin needs, as the products on this page feature key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid that help strengthen the skin barrier and deliver deep hydration. BYOMA tends to do better for deep hydration and non-irritating care, while Paula's Choice excels in improving skin texture and clearing acne.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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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