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Paula's Choice vs Olay

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

Paula's Choice and Olay are established skincare brands offering serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners. Paula's Choice relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c to suit oily and acne-prone skin best, while the brand is also known for its chemical exfoliants. Olay features nourishing niacinamide and glycerin to support mature and dry skin best through deep replenishment. Both manufacturers differ in their key ingredient focus and target skin types, providing distinct options for specific concerns.

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Olay products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceOlay
  • Improves Skin Texture 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”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorption 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”
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Glow, Brightening and Even Tone Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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 — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
  • Intense and Deep Hydration Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “My skin feels so hydrated and plump. — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
  • 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”
    • “clears up puffiness — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Helps my skin and eye wrinkles — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “small quantity (0.5 oz) — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Packaging Issues and Flaws 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”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
  • Unpleasant Smell and Scent Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Smells like plastic — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “too perfumey — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Olay: which is better?

Paula's Choice and Olay both suit sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin well, but Paula's Choice is superior for oily and combination skin, while Olay is better for dry skin and dark spots. Paula's Choice features fragrance-free products across its entire page, whereas Olay includes fragrance in one of its items.

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

Paula's Choice is a U.S. brand founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever, whereas Olay was founded in 1952 and is owned by Procter & Gamble. Paula's Choice helps oily and combination skin with a Superior routine fit, while Olay is better suited for dry skin with a Superior routine fit.

Paula's Choice or Olay for dry skin?

Olay is better suited for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Paula's Choice. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice offers a superior fit for oily and acne-prone skin with its cleansers, such as the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser, while Olay provides options like the Regenerating Cream Cleanser that also fit mature skin well.

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

Olay is more affordable, whereas Paula's Choice is noted for having a high price point.

Which brand has better packaging and fewer flaws, Paula's Choice or Olay?

Olay does better than Paula's Choice on packaging issues and flaws.

Paula's Choice or Olay: which is better for deep and intense hydration?

Olay does better for intense and deep hydration compared to Paula's Choice. Reviewers note that Olay products often provide intense hydration and the brand's routine fit for dry skin is rated Superior, whereas Paula's Choice is rated High.

Which brand offers better fragrance-free options across its products?

Paula's Choice offers better fragrance-free options across the products on this page, as every single item lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, Olay includes fragrance in one of its toners.

Paula's Choice or Olay for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a superior choice for oily skin compared to Olay. The routine fit for oily skin is Superior for Paula's Choice and High for Olay.

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

Olay delivers superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Paula's Choice, and the products on this page provide intense and deep hydration. Olay retinol moisturizers may help with mature skin, but some reviewers note scent issues.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Paula's Choice or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Olay offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. Paula's Choice provides fragrance-free products across its entire range, while Olay is noted by reviewers for delivering intense and deep hydration.

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

Paula's Choice offers Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, which has a High fit for dry and combination skin, while Olay offers Complete All Day Moisturizer SPF 15 and Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25. Olay's sunscreen options provide a High fit for mature skin and dry sensitive skin.

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

Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Paula's Choice helps address blemishes using fragrance-free options featuring salicylic acid and green tea, whereas Olay provides intense hydration and smoothing formulas.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013

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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