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Paula's Choice vs Neutrogena

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

Neutrogena is an American skincare brand founded in 1930 and owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026.

investor.kimberly-clark.comen.wikipedia.orginvestors.kenvue.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Neutrogena products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceNeutrogena
  • Lightweight and fast absorbing Mostly MentionedMostly 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 without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “absorbs instantly — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
  • Smoothes skin texture and pores Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “Skin is looking smoother — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
  • Glow, radiance, and brightening Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “spots barely visible — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “Spots have definitely lightened — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
  • Deeply hydrating Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Quenches dry skin instantly — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
  • Anti-aging and firming Sometimes NotedSometimes 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”
    • “Deep lines have softened — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
  • Fragrance-free formula Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “love that it has no scent — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “Perfect for sensitive eyes, no stinging — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream”
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
  • High price and value Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Jar is too small for the price — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Runs out quickly — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “Pricey for just one mask — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Unpleasant smell or strong fragrance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Smell is too overpowering and lingering — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Scent is so off-putting — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “has a weird plastic smell — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Drying and flaking Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Not hydrating enough for winter. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “Not moisturizing enough for winter months — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “balls up under foundation — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”
  • Skin irritation and burning Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “burnt skin off — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “ruined my skin barrier — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “stung my face — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “burns my eyes terribly — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”

Paula's Choice vs Neutrogena routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Neutrogena routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Neutrogena routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Neutrogena: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for anti-aging, firming, smoothing skin texture, and brightening, while Neutrogena is better for deep hydration. For most skin types, Lovi rates Paula's Choice as Superior and Neutrogena as High.

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

Paula's Choice achieves a Superior fit on Lovi for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin types, whereas Neutrogena reaches a High fit for those same categories. Paula's Choice performs better for smoothing skin texture and pores, radiance, and anti-aging, while Neutrogena leads in deep hydration and fragrance-free options.

Paula's Choice or Neutrogena for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Neutrogena offer a high routine fit for dry skin. Paula's Choice helps with targeted exfoliation and anti-aging serums, while Neutrogena is known for deeply hydrating moisturizers.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

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

Paula's Choice offers a Superior Lovi fit for oily, acne-prone, and combination skin types across the products on this page, while Neutrogena achieves a High fit for those same skin types. Neutrogena is better for fragrance-free options as 35 of its 39 products list no fragrance compared to Paula's Choice where every product lists no fragrance.

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

Neutrogena is more affordable than Paula's Choice. Reviewers frequently mention high prices as a drawback for Paula's Choice, while Neutrogena is better rated for value.

Which brand has better fragrance-free options, Paula's Choice or Neutrogena?

Neutrogena does better on fragrance-free formulas, as noted in the review themes on this page. However, every single product from Paula's Choice on this page also lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Paula's Choice or Neutrogena for dark spots?

Paula's Choice achieves a High fit level for skin with dark spots, while Neutrogena achieves a High fit level as well. The products on this page help brighten skin with key ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Paula's Choice or Neutrogena for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a better option for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Neutrogena's High level.

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

Neutrogena is better for deep hydration, while Paula's Choice is better for anti-aging and firming results. Neutrogena's moisturizers are widely noted for being deeply hydrating, lightweight, and non-greasy.

Paula's Choice or Neutrogena for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice is a superior fit for sensitive skin, while Neutrogena achieves a high fit on this page. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free formulas across all the products on this page and strong anti-aging benefits, whereas Neutrogena is frequently noted for deep hydration and lightweight moisturizers.

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

Paula's Choice and Neutrogena both offer strong sunscreens, though Neutrogena is particularly noted for lightweight and non-greasy options on this page. Lovi fit levels for the sunscreens vary from Superior to High depending on your specific skin type.

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

Paula's Choice is a superior fit for acne-prone skin, while Neutrogena achieves a high fit on the products on this page. Paula's Choice helps smooth texture and targets pores more effectively.

Paula's Choice or Neutrogena for mature skin?

Paula's Choice is a Superior fit for mature skin, whereas Neutrogena has a High fit for mature skin. Paula's Choice helps smooth skin texture and provides anti-aging serums for mature skin.

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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