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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 both American skincare brands founded by Paula Begoun and Jane Wurwand, respectively. The former offers serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, which fit dry skin and oily acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the latter features targeted serums, nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, purifying masks, and more, enriched with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and salicylic acid to suit sensitive, dry, oily, and aging skin best. While both brands rely on science and share hydrating components like glycerin, they differ in their specific standout formulations and targeted solutions for diverse skin concerns.

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 serums and treatments

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 are owned by Unilever and list no fragrance across their products on this page.

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

Paula's Choice is better for improving skin texture, radiance, and clearing acne, while Dermalogica excels at deep hydration and soothing redness. The products on this page for both brands list no fragrance in their ingredients.

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

Paula's Choice does better at unclogging pores and clearing acne with its cleansers on this page, while Dermalogica excels at deep hydration and soothing redness.

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

Reviewers note a high price point and expensive size for Paula's Choice, while Dermalogica is also noted for having a high price point.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Paula's Choice or Dermalogica?

Paula's Choice does better at unclogging pores and clearing acne according to the products on this page. Dermalogica is more likely to cause purging, breakouts, and skin reactions.

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica: which is better for deep hydration?

Dermalogica does better for deep hydration and moisturization according to reviewers on this page. Lovi rates Dermalogica's Circular Hydration Serum as Superior for dry skin.

Paula's Choice or Dermalogica: which is better for reducing redness and soothing sensitive skin?

Dermalogica is better for reducing redness and soothing sensitive skin. Reviewers note its soothing moisturizers and gentle cleansers, and Lovi rates its Stabilizing Repair Cream as Superior for sensitive skin.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Dermalogica offer highly rated moisturizers on this page, with Dermalogica doing better for deep hydration and soothing. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin, and hyaluronic acid improves skin quality and signs of skin aging.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 and Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 both achieve a High fit for dry skin and combination skin on this page. Lovi rates the Dermalogica sunscreen as a Superior fit for mature skin, while the Paula's Choice sunscreen is an Average fit for mature skin.

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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