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The Ordinary vs Paula's Choice

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

The Ordinary and Paula's Choice are two prominent skincare lines offering serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The Canadian brand centers its formulas on squalane, suiting dry and sensitive skin best, while the American brand relies on vitamin C to care primarily for oily and acne-prone skin. Both labels differ in their targeted approaches, with the former featuring specific acids for blemishes, dark spots, and aging, and the latter employing specialized treatments like a pore-reducing toner, a retinol treatment, and a BHA liquid exfoliant.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Paula's Choice products

People Say

The OrdinaryPaula's Choice
  • Smoothes skin texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
  • Clears acne and blemishes Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
  • Great value and affordability Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften 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”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “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”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “leaves my skin radiant and clear — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “skin looks plumper — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
  • High price point Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Breakouts and purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “gave me cystic acne — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Small tube size and packaging Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Wish it came in a pump — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”

The Ordinary vs Paula's Choice routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Paula's Choice: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, but The Ordinary offers better affordability and value, while Paula's Choice provides lightweight absorption for the products on this page. Lovi rates both brands as having Superior routine fit for combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Paula's Choice?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly skincare with great value serums, while Paula's Choice tends to have a higher price point and provides lightweight absorption across the products on this page. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or Paula's Choice for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and Paula's Choice as High. The products on this page from The Ordinary provide great value and help clear acne, while niacinamide may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Paula's Choice: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer solid options, but the products on this page show that The Ordinary fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin with a Superior level, while Paula's Choice achieves a High level for those types. Reviewers find that The Ordinary provides better value and affordability.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Paula's Choice?

The Ordinary offers better affordability and greater value for money across the products on this page compared to Paula's Choice.

Which brand has more affordable serums, The Ordinary or Paula's Choice?

The Ordinary has more affordable serums, as reviewers often note its affordable and great value serums among the products on this page.

How do the founding years and current ownership of The Ordinary and Paula's Choice compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021. Paula's Choice was founded in the United States in 1995 and has been owned by Unilever since 2021.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin and skin with dark spots?

For mature skin and skin with dark spots, both brands offer products on this page that are a Superior fit for those skin types. Lovi finds that The Ordinary delivers great value and affordability, while Paula's Choice is often noted for lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or Paula's Choice for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Paula's Choice fit oily skin equally well, as Lovi rates both brands as Superior for this skin type. Niacinamide helps control skin aging and pigmentation.

Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or Paula's Choice: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page for The Ordinary offer superior routine fit levels for dry and dry sensitive skin compared to Paula's Choice. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Paula's Choice fit sensitive skin, with Lovi fit levels of Superior for both brands. Niacinamide helps control skin pigmentation, while sodium hyaluronate helps provide anti-aging effects and skin quality benefits.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or Paula's Choice for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Paula's Choice achieve a superior routine fit level for acne-prone skin. The products on this page help clear blemishes, and topical niacinamide may regulate sebum production and reduce inflammation to support clear skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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