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Paula's Choice vs Simple

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

Paula's Choice and Simple are two Unilever-owned skincare lines offering targeted serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, and vitamin c. Paula's Choice best suits dry skin and oily acne-prone skin, while the British brand excels at comforting sensitive and oily acne-prone skin with its gentle formulas. Both brands differ in their specific treatments and formulations, yet both rely on glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Simple products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceSimple
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Lightweight and fast absorbing texture Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Smoothes skin texture and fades dark spots Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
  • Gentle, non-stripping daily cleansing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
  • Convenient and affordable value Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “No need to rinse... perfect for traveling or lazy nights. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Effective hydration and non-greasy feel Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “cleared up my dry patches — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs super fast — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • High price and small bottle size Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “I have to use 4-5 cotton pads to get clean. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Causes purging, breakouts or irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Gave me tiny red spots — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
  • Sticky residue or unpleasant scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels slimy on skin — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Smells like chemicals — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · S$289.57 · 95% fitBuy Simple routine · S$261.94 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · S$531.12 · 91% fitBuy Simple routine · S$459.69 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Paula's Choice vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · S$393.15 · 92% fitBuy Simple routine · S$355.99 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Simple: which is better?

Paula's Choice offers a Superior fit for all skin types on this page, whereas Simple provides a High fit across those same categories. Paula's Choice is better known for lightweight, fast-absorbing textures and effective anti-aging serums, while Simple excels in providing gentle, non-stripping daily cleansing and affordable value.

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

Paula's Choice achieves a Superior fit level across all listed skin types on this page, whereas Simple achieves a High fit level for them. Paula's Choice is often noted for smooth texture and anti-aging serums alongside a higher price point, while Simple is praised for lightweight and value-friendly moisturizers.

Paula's Choice or Simple for dry skin?

Paula's Choice is a better fit for dry skin, where Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Simple. Paula's Choice features formulations containing sodium hyaluronate, which helps provide effective hydration and skin quality improvements.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice offers a superior Lovi fit for cleansers compared to Simple for oily, acne-prone, and combination skin types. Paula's Choice features cleansers like the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser which achieves Superior ratings across these skin types, while Simple cleansers generally show average fits.

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

Simple is more affordable, offering convenient and affordable value with lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

Which brand has more products containing niacinamide, Paula's Choice or Simple?

Paula's Choice offers more products containing niacinamide across the products on this page than Simple. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and control skin aging.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Do Paula's Choice and Simple products contain any added fragrance?

Paula's Choice and Simple products on this page are both formulated without added fragrance, as every product lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

What are the main company origins and ownership details for Paula's Choice and Simple?

Paula's Choice was founded in 1995 in the United States and has been owned by Unilever since 2021. Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

Paula's Choice or Simple for oily skin?

Paula's Choice achieves a Superior fit level for oily skin, whereas Simple reaches a High fit level. The products on this page for Paula's Choice feature key ingredients like niacinamide, which may help regulate sebum production and improve skin texture.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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

Paula's Choice is rated as a Superior fit for dry skin routines on this page, while Simple is rated as a High fit. Reviewers note that Paula's Choice offers lightweight textures and anti-aging serums, whereas Simple provides budget-friendly moisturizers.

Paula's Choice or Simple for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice is a Superior fit for sensitive skin, whereas Simple achieves a High fit. The products on this page for Paula's Choice are entirely fragrance-free, which helps minimize potential irritation.

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

Paula's Choice is a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, while Simple is High. Paula's Choice helps smooth skin texture and clear pores with active ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide, which may reduce breakouts.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 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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