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Paula's Choice vs Eminence

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

Paula's Choice and Eminence are two distinct skincare lines offering targeted solutions for diverse complexions. The American brand launched in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021 provides serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting dry skin and oily acne-prone skin best. Conversely, Eminence is widely beloved for its deeply nourishing moisturizers and the pure botanical potency of its formulas, suiting dry, sensitive, and combination skin types best. While both deliver visible renewal, they differ in their foundational ingredients and specific formulations.

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Eminence products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceEminence
  • Fast absorption and lightweight formula Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “doesn't feel heavy — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
    • “buttery and great — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
  • Non-greasy feel and hydration Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “Not too thick — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
    • “hydrates without leaving me shiny — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs super fast — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Non-irritating and gentle Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “calms my irritation — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
  • Glow, radiance, and brightening Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “Skin feels soft — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
  • Pore clearance and acne reduction Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “cleared up my acne — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Skin texture smoothing Mostly MentionedNot 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”
  • High price and expensive size Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “pricey but worth it — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “spent a lot of money — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
  • Unpleasant smell and scent dislike Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “fragrance is terrible — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “strong tea tree smell — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
  • Purging and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “caused cystic acne — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “irritated my skin horribly — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
    • “Caused pimples — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Eminence: which is better?

Paula's Choice fits dry skin, oily acne-prone skin, and mature skin best, while Eminence features hydrating, soothing moisturizers with strong customer satisfaction for non-greasy hydration.

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

Paula's Choice offers a much wider variety of targeted serums, exfoliants, and toners with high Lovi fit levels for dry skin, oily acne-prone skin, and mature skin, whereas Eminence features a smaller selection focused mostly on moisturizers. Reviewers mention that Paula's Choice is great for skin texture smoothing, while Eminence is noted for its non-greasy hydration and soothing formulas.

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

Paula's Choice offers a much wider variety of moisturizers with products like the Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer and Replenishing Moisturizer fitting dry skin, oily skin, and mature skin at High or Superior levels, whereas Eminence features fewer options like the Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer and Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer which help soothe sensitive and acne-prone skin.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Eminence share high price drawbacks on this page, so neither brand is more affordable.

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

Eminence does better for pore clearance and acne reduction based on the review themes for the products on this page.

Between Paula's Choice and Eminence, which brand is better for skin texture smoothing?

Paula's Choice does better than Eminence for skin texture smoothing. Its products on this page help improve texture with ingredients like retinol and various exfoliants.

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

How do Paula's Choice and Eminence compare regarding fragrance in their products?

Both Paula's Choice and Eminence feature products on this page that list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Which brand performs better for pore clearance and acne reduction according to review themes?

Eminence performs better for pore clearance and acne reduction according to the review themes 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

How does it fit your skin?

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