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Paula's Choice vs Simple

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

Paula's Choice and Simple are skincare brands owned by Unilever, with the former founded in 1995 and the latter in 1960. Paula's Choice offers serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily skin and acne-prone skin best. Conversely, Simple is beloved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners that thoughtfully incorporate niacinamide and glycerin, suiting acne-prone skin and mature skin best. While both brands feature glycerin to improve skin hydration and barrier function, they differ in their specific formulations and targeted concerns.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Simple products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceSimple
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Lightweight and fast absorbing texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “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 instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Smoothes skin texture and fades dark spots Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
  • Gentle, non-stripping daily cleansing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
  • Convenient and affordable value Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “No need to rinse... perfect for traveling or lazy nights. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Effective hydration and non-greasy feel Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “cleared up my dry patches — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs super fast — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • High price and small bottle size Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “I have to use 4-5 cotton pads to get clean. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Causes purging, breakouts or irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Gave me tiny red spots — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
  • Sticky residue or unpleasant scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels slimy on skin — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Smells like chemicals — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Simple: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for most skin types, as Lovi rates its fit as Superior for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin, while Simple achieves a High fit for those same types. Paula's Choice also offers more active ingredients like retinol and vitamin C, which studies show help reduce signs of aging and pigmentation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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

Paula's Choice offers a wide range of specialized active-driven serums and exfoliants with a Superior Lovi fit for oily, acne-prone, and mature skin, while Simple focuses on gentle, value-friendly cleansers and makeup removers.

Paula's Choice or Simple for dry skin?

Paula's Choice and Simple both offer a High routine fit for dry skin, making them equal choices for this skin type. Paula's Choice features products like the Advanced Replenishing Toner rated as Superior for dry skin, while Simple provides lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

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

Paula's Choice cleansers have a Superior Lovi fit for oily, acne-prone, and oily acne-prone skin, whereas Simple cleansers have an Average fit for those skin types. Paula's Choice is also noted for lightweight and fast-absorbing textures, while Simple is recognized for gentle, non-stripping daily cleansing and value-friendly options.

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

Simple is more affordable, as reviewers on the page note its convenient and affordable value, whereas Paula's Choice is mostly mentioned for its high price.

What are the founding years and parent companies of Paula's Choice and Simple?

Paula's Choice was founded in 1995 in the United States and is owned by Unilever since 2021. Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

Which brand performs better for mature skin and skin with dark spots according to the routine fit ratings?

Paula's Choice performs better for mature skin with a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Simple has an Average fit level. For skin with dark spots, Paula's Choice reaches a High Lovi fit level, while Simple has an Average fit level.

What are the main key ingredients found across Paula's Choice products compared to Simple?

Paula's Choice features a broader selection of key ingredients across the products on this page, including hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin C, licorice root, niacinamide, salicylic acid, green tea, and vitamin E, while Simple focuses primarily on niacinamide and glycerin.

Paula's Choice or Simple for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a superior fit for oily skin, whereas Simple is a high fit. The products on this page from Paula's Choice provide specialized exfoliating and balancing options tailored for oil control.

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

Paula's Choice offers a better selection of targeted moisturizers with advanced anti-aging ingredients, whereas Simple provides more value-friendly and lightweight options for everyday use.

Paula's Choice or Simple for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice is a superior fit for sensitive skin on Lovi, whereas Simple reaches a high fit. Reviewers note that Simple is gentle on sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice offers lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas.

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

Paula's Choice is superior for acne-prone skin, whereas Simple has an average fit level. Paula's Choice features targeted products like salicylic acid exfoliants that help manage breakouts.

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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