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Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica

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

Paula's Choice and Dermalogica are respected American skincare brands that offer diverse cleansers, serums, and moisturizers built around key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and salicylic acid. Both brands suit oily skin and combination skin best by balancing excess oil and hydration. Paula's Choice is known for treatments featuring vitamin c and BHA, while the other brand is celebrated for nourishing formulas and gentle exfoliants. They differ in their specific product lines and targeted solutions for acne-prone, mature skin, and dark spots.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Dermalogica is an American skincare brand founded in 1986 and owned by Unilever since 2015.

en.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceDermalogica
  • Improving skin texture and smoothness Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “skin feels smooth as silk — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Fast absorption and lightweight feel Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “watery consistency — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “blends seamlessly — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
    • “feels like nothing — Dermalogica Active Moist”
  • Glow, radiance and brightening Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “spots barely visible — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “immediately brighter looking — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Unclogging pores and clearing acne Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “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”
    • “Brings out all the gunk — Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry skin — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “super hydrating — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
    • “skin feels hydrated — Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance”
  • Reduces redness and soothes skin Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “helps calm and nourish my skin — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “The redness is better — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “Calms redness — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • High price and expensive size Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “expensive for body lotion — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “hefty price tag — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Unpleasant smell or 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 puke — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “smells like medicine — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
  • Purging, breakouts and skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Cystic acne flare-ups — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “Caused cystic acne — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “gave me acne — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Packaging issues and leaks Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dropper leaks — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “dropper can be unpredictable — Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster”
    • “Leaky pump — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “pump dispenses too much — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”

Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica routines for dry skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · SAR 2,726.33 · 85% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · SAR 1,588.72 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica routines for oily skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · SAR 2,796.23 · 91% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · SAR 1,883.71 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Dermalogica routines for combination skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · SAR 2,550.53 · 91% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · SAR 1,601.99 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for improving skin texture, unclogging pores, and brightening, while Dermalogica is better for deep hydration and soothing redness. Both brands offer fragrance-free products, but Paula's Choice fits oily skin and oily acne-prone skin at a Superior level, matching Dermalogica's Superior fit in those categories.

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

Paula's Choice and Dermalogica are both US skincare brands founded in the 1990s and owned by Unilever, and their products on this page list no fragrance. Paula's Choice is better suited for oily skin, combination skin, and oily acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit for those types compared to Dermalogica's High fit, while Dermalogica is often noted for deep hydration and soothing moisturizers.

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica for dry skin?

Paula's Choice and Dermalogica both offer a High routine fit for dry skin. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice does better at improving skin texture and smoothing, while Dermalogica excels in deep hydration and moisturization.

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

Dermalogica is better for oily and combination skin cleansers, where its routine fit is rated as Superior compared to Paula's Choice. Reviewers note that Dermalogica provides gentle, non-stripping cleansers with intense hydration.

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

Both brands are noted by reviewers for having a high price point. Paula's Choice is additionally mentioned for expensive sizes.

Between Paula's Choice and Dermalogica, which brand does a better job at improving skin texture and smoothness?

Paula's Choice does a better job at improving skin texture and smoothness than Dermalogica. Both brands offer products formulated with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide that help support overall skin health.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Antioxidants, 2021

Which brand performs better for unclogging pores and clearing acne according to reviews?

Paula's Choice performs better for unclogging pores and clearing acne according to reviews. The products on this page help target breakouts while offering fragrance-free formulas.

How do Paula's Choice and Dermalogica compare when it comes to deep hydration and moisturization?

When it comes to deep hydration and moisturization, Dermalogica does better than Paula's Choice according to reviewer themes. Hyaluronic acid helps provide these moisturizing effects across products for both brands.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica for oily skin?

Dermalogica is the better choice for oily skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Paula's Choice which has a High fit level. Both brands provide fragrance-free products on this page, but Dermalogica specifically stands out for delivering deep hydration and moisturization.

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

Dermalogica provides deep hydration and moisturization better than Paula's Choice, making it a strong choice for moisture-focused routines. Both brands offer products with no added fragrance across their lines.

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica for sensitive skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Dermalogica are a High fit for sensitive skin. Paula's Choice tends to do better for improving skin texture and brightening, while Dermalogica excels in deep hydration and soothing redness.

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

Dermalogica features sunscreens that fit oily and combination skin at a Superior level, while Paula's Choice reaches a High fit level for those skin types. Both brands offer products with a High fit for dry, sensitive, mature, and acne-prone skin.

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

Paula's Choice and Dermalogica both achieve a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin. Paula's Choice takes the lead specifically for unclogging pores and clearing acne among the products on this page.

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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