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Paula's Choice vs Biore

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

Paula's Choice and Biore are two established skincare labels that offer distinct approaches to daily care. The American brand, founded in 1995, focuses on serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c to suit acne-prone and oily skin best. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand, established in 1980, is globally known for sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers that feature effective formulas for sensitive skin and skin with dark spots. While both brands support daily routines with reliable consistency, the first relies on barrier-restoring ingredients like glycerin, whereas the second offers gentle, targeted solutions.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

biore.comkao.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Biore products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceBiore
  • Lightweight and fast absorption Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “melts into skin — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Pore cleansing and clarity Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “Helped clear my blackheads — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Skin texture smoothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin never been this silky — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “Leaves skin feeling clean — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
  • Non-irritating and gentle Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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 — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin soft, doesn't dry out face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Excellent makeup base and removal Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “primer-like — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Glow, radiance and brightening Often MentionedNot noted
    • “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”
  • Unpleasant smell and strong scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “smells like alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Smells like chemicals — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • High price and small size Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Dryness, flaking and irritation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “dryness and scaliness — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “burnt skin off — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Purging and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Caused breakouts, closed comedones, cystic acne. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Biore routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Biore: which is better?

Paula's Choice and Biore are generally on par, as Lovi rates both brands with equal routine fit levels for almost all skin types. However, Biore does better for dry sensitive skin with a High routine fit level compared to Paula's Choice's Average.

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

Paula's Choice is best suited for acne-prone, oily, and combination skin, whereas Biore is best for sensitive skin, skin with dark spots, and mature skin. Paula's Choice tends to do better for lightweight absorption, skin smoothing, and brightening, while Biore excels at pore cleansing and makeup removal.

Paula's Choice or Biore for dry skin?

Paula's Choice and Biore offer an equal level of routine fit for dry skin, with both brands rated High. Paula's Choice helps with dry skin using products like the Advanced Replenishing Toner, which has a Lovi fit level of Superior for dry skin.

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

Paula's Choice offers cleansers that achieve a Superior fit for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Biore cleansers reach an Average fit. Paula's Choice is often noted as non-irritating and gentle.

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

Biore is noted by reviewers for having a high price and small size, whereas Paula's Choice is mostly mentioned for high price and packaging issues.

Between Paula's Choice and Biore, which brand is owned by Unilever?

Paula's Choice is owned by Unilever. The company was founded in the United States in 1995 and has been under Unilever's ownership since 2021.

How does Paula's Choice compare to Biore for dry sensitive skin routine fit?

For dry sensitive skin routine fit, Biore has a High level, while Paula's Choice has an Average level.

Which brand performs better for pore cleansing and clarity according to review themes?

Biore performs better for pore cleansing and clarity according to the review themes on this page.

Paula's Choice or Biore for oily skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Biore fit oily skin at a High level. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice does better with lightweight and fast absorption, while Biore does better with pore cleansing and clarity.

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

Paula's Choice sunscreen helps dry skin with a high Lovi fit level, whereas Biore UV Aqua Rich sunscreen rates a caution for dry skin on this page. Biore sunscreen may be more suitable for combination skin with its high Lovi fit level.

Paula's Choice or Biore for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice is a better fit for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High while Biore's routine is also High, but Paula's Choice wins on being non-irritating and gentle. Every product on this page for Paula's Choice lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Biore offer an equal level of routine fit for acne-prone skin, with Paula's Choice best fitting this skin type through its brand-focused routines. Paula's Choice helps smooth skin texture and soothe irritation, while Biore is noted for effective pore cleansing and clarity.

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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