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CeraVe vs Paula's Choice

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

CeraVe and Paula's Choice are American skincare brands known for offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, serums, sunscreens, and toners. While both brands harness hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin, CeraVe suits acne-prone skin and dry skin best, whereas Paula's Choice fits acne-prone skin and oily skin best. Ultimately, these brands differ in their formulations and key ingredients, as the latter also features vitamin c.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

Popular CeraVe vs Paula's Choice products

People Say

CeraVePaula's Choice
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Acne and Oil Control Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “smoother complexion — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Skin Tone and Mark Correction Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “spots barely visible — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
  • Price Point Concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “caused cystic acne — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

CeraVe vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Paula's Choice: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, but CeraVe is superior for acne-prone skin while Paula's Choice is often preferred for skin texture and dark spot correction.

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

CeraVe and Paula's Choice both offer fragrance-free products, but CeraVe focuses on budget-friendly hydration and barrier repair with ceramides, whereas Paula's Choice specializes in targeted treatments like exfoliants and anti-aging serums. For specific skin types, CeraVe has a superior fit for acne-prone skin and a high fit for dry sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice has an average fit for dry sensitive skin.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice fit dry skin well, as Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for both brands. CeraVe offers deep hydration and fragrance-free moisturizers, while Paula's Choice provides targeted treatments like niacinamide which may help with skin barrier support.

Antioxidants, 2021

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

Both brands offer highly rated cleansers, but CeraVe achieves a Superior Lovi fit for acne-prone, oily, and dry sensitive skin types across the products on this page. Reviewers note that CeraVe provides gentle, non-stripping cleansers alongside effective options for acne and oil control.

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

CeraVe is more affordable, whereas price point concerns are commonly noted for Paula's Choice.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for oily skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for oily skin, but Paula's Choice is noted for doing better with acne and oil control. Reviewers also mention that CeraVe provides fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

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

CeraVe is better for moisturizers on this page, as reviewers note their superior healing and texture along with deep hydration. CeraVe offers fragrance-free moisturizers that help with dry skin, while Paula's Choice products on this page often face high price and packaging issues.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

CeraVe has a High routine fit for sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice also has a High routine fit. Reviewers note that CeraVe does better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

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

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice offer sunscreens on this page, but CeraVe achieves a superior fit level for mature skin, dry skin, and dry sensitive skin with products like the Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30.

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

For acne-prone skin, CeraVe fits best with a Superior routine level while Paula's Choice reaches a High fit level. Reviewers note that CeraVe offers effective cleansers for acne and oil, and Paula's Choice does better for acne and oil control.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for mature skin?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice fit mature skin at a High level. CeraVe offers fragrance-free moisturizers and deep hydration, while Paula's Choice is noted for smooth textures and anti-aging serums.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for skin with dark spots?

Both CeraVe and Paula's Choice fit skin with dark spots well, earning a High level. Paula's Choice stands out specifically for skin tone and mark correction.

CeraVe or Paula's Choice for dry sensitive skin?

CeraVe fits dry sensitive skin better than Paula's Choice, with a routine fit level of High compared to Paula's Choice's Average level. CeraVe offers superior options for this skin type, such as the Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser and Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30.

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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