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Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice

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

Cetaphil and Paula's Choice are American skincare brands offering cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and more, formulated with nourishing ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol. Cetaphil suits combination and acne-prone skin best, while Paula's Choice fits dry skin and oily acne-prone skin best. Both brands differ in their specific product lineups and founding heritage, yet each relies on core ingredients such as glycerin to increase hydration and restore barrier function.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

Popular Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice products

People Say

CetaphilPaula's Choice
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin smoothing and texture Rarely NotedMostly 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 felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Oil control and acne reduction Rarely 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”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “Removes excess oil without drying. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
  • Brightening and complexion Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “immediate glow — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “skin looks more radiant — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
  • Unpleasant smells Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
    • “smells like masking fragrance — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Caused breakouts and purging Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused whiteheads — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Broke me out bad — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
    • “caused small bumps — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice routines for dry skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · S$289.57 · 95% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$257.68 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · S$531.12 · 91% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$330.00 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Cetaphil vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · S$393.15 · 92% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$348.51 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Paula's Choice: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for skin smoothing, oil control, and brightening, while Cetaphil is better for gentleness on sensitive skin and overall hydration.

Cetaphil or Paula's Choice for dry skin?

Both brands are great choices for dry skin, with Paula's Choice having a Superior routine fit and Cetaphil having a High routine fit for the products on this page. Paula's Choice excels in skin smoothing and texture, while Cetaphil is known for being gentle on sensitive skin and providing great hydration.

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

Cetaphil is better for gentle, non-stripping cleansing, while Paula's Choice is better for oil control and acne reduction on the products on this page.

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

Cetaphil is more affordable than Paula's Choice, as Paula's Choice has a high price point that reviewers mostly note. Cetaphil is better for a lower price point, although reviewers often mention texture and residue issues for the products on this page.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance between Cetaphil and Paula's Choice?

Cetaphil has more products containing fragrance on the page, as one Cetaphil product lists fragrance while every Paula's Choice product lists none.

Between Cetaphil and Paula's Choice, which brand performs better for skin smoothing and texture?

Paula's Choice performs better for skin smoothing and texture compared to Cetaphil. The products on this page help improve texture with active ingredients like retinol and various acids, which are well-documented for supporting skin renewal.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

What are the company founding years and current parent companies for Cetaphil and Paula's Choice?

Cetaphil was founded in 1947 in the United States and is owned by Galderma Group AG, while Paula's Choice was founded in 1995 in the United States and has been owned by Unilever since 2021.

Cetaphil or Paula's Choice for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a superior fit for oily skin compared to Cetaphil. The products on this page help provide oil control and acne reduction.

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

Cetaphil is better for hydration and moisture, while the products on this page for Paula's Choice offer superior overall routine fit for dry and oily skin types.

Cetaphil or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

Cetaphil is better for sensitive skin, as the products on this page are gentler and the brand is well-regarded for being gentle on sensitive skin. Lovi rates the sensitive skin routine for Cetaphil as High.

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

Both brands offer solid sunscreen options, but Cetaphil stands out on this page with sunscreens like the Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 achieving Superior fit levels across several skin types. Paula's Choice also provides protective choices like the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, which is well-suited for dry and combination skin types.

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

Paula's Choice outperforms Cetaphil for acne-prone skin, offering superior oil control and acne reduction across the products on this page. Niacinamide helps reduce blemishes and regulate sebum production.

Antioxidants, 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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