# Pair vs Menarini

Page: https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/pair-vs-menarini

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the United Kingdom.

Pair and Menarini are two distinct skincare lines known for thoughtful formulas that deliver reliable care. The Japanese brand founded in 2000 is beloved for targeted [serums](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/ingredients/serum) and suits acne-prone skin best, featuring the Acne Cream W for targeted breakouts. Meanwhile, the other brand suits sensitive, dry, and combination skin best with advanced serums, featuring the A-Ret Gel for acne-prone skin. Both offer gentle preparations to support a balanced and healthy complexion, though they differ in their specific formulations and ideal skin types.

Pair is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 2000 and owned by Lion Corporation since 2004.

[ja.wikipedia.org](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AA%E3%83%B3%E8%A3%BD%E5%93%81%E4%B8%80%E8%A6%A7) [beautymatter.com](https://beautymatter.com/articles/courtin-family-takes-majority-stake-in-pai-skincare)

This page compares some of the most popular Pair and Menarini products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, [use the Lovi app](https://app.pora.ai/vqqJ/j1xj2b6o?af_sub2=compare&af_sub3=selection_note&af_sub4=pg0cbc3dded9).

### Popular Pair vs Menarini products

#### Menarini

- [A-Ret Gel](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/p/menarini/a-ret-gel/for/oily-skin) — High fit

#### Pair

- [Acne Cream W](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/p/pair/acne-cream-w/for/combination-skin) — Average fit — [£8.85 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083WFBFGX?tag=lovi-care-web-product-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

### Pair vs Menarini [serums](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/ingredients/serum) and treatments

#### Menarini

- [A-Ret Gel](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/p/menarini/a-ret-gel/for/oily-skin) — High fit

#### Pair

- [Acne Cream W](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/p/pair/acne-cream-w/for/combination-skin) — Average fit — [£8.85 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083WFBFGX?tag=lovi-care-web-product-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

## Questions and answers

### Pair or Menarini: which is better?

Menarini fits oily and oily acne-prone skin at a High level with A-Ret Gel, whereas Pair rates Average for those skin types with Acne Cream W. Both brands have no fragrance in the products on this page.

### What is the difference between Pair and Menarini?

Menarini achieves a High Lovi fit for oily skin with A-Ret Gel, whereas Pair reaches an Average fit across multiple skin types with Acne Cream W. Both brands feature no fragrance in the products on this page.

### Which is more affordable, Pair or Menarini?

The products on this page do not list pricing information, so a comparison of affordability cannot be made between Pair and Menarini.

### Which causes fewer breakouts, Pair or Menarini?

Menarini's A-Ret Gel is better suited for oily acne-prone skin with a High fit from Lovi, whereas Pair's Acne Cream W has only an Average fit for acne-prone skin. Both brands are fragrance-free, but Menarini may help clear breakouts more effectively because it features [tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/ingredients/tretinoin).

[Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32210603/) [Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34146120/)

### Which brand has been around longer, Pair or Menarini?

Menarini has been around longer, having been founded in 1886 compared to Pair, which was founded in 2000.

### Do any of the products from Pair or Menarini contain fragrance?

Every product on this page from both Pair and Menarini lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

### How does the Lovi fit level for oily skin compare between Pair's Acne Cream W and Menarini's A-Ret Gel?

For oily skin, Lovi gives Menarini's A-Ret Gel a High fit level, whereas Pair's Acne Cream W receives only an Average fit level. Both fragrance-free products list no added scent in the ingredients on this page.

## Research behind their key ingredients

- [Restoration of collagen formation in photodamaged human skin by tretinoin (retinoic acid)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8336752/) Tretinoin · The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993
- [Clinical Assessment of New Topical Cream Containing Two Essential Oils Combined with Tretinoin in the Treatment of Acne](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32210603/) Tretinoin · Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020
- [Efficacy assessments of tretinoin-loaded nano lipid carriers in acne vulgaris: a double blind, split-face randomized clinical study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34146120/) Tretinoin · Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022
- [Topical tretinoin for treating photoaging: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35620028/) Tretinoin · International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022
- [Effects of 1,3-propanediol associated, or not, with butylene glycol and/or glycerol on skin hydration and skin barrier function](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37699769/) 3-butylene glycol · International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

## The brands

- Japanese skincare: [Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/brands/pair)
- Skincare: [Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/brands/menarini)

## More comparisons

- [SKIN1004 vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/skin1004-vs-pair)
- [SKIN1004 vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/skin1004-vs-menarini)
- [Anua vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/anua-vs-pair)
- [Anua vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/anua-vs-menarini)
- [Medicube vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/medicube-vs-pair)
- [Medicube vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/medicube-vs-menarini)
- [The Ordinary vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/the-ordinary-vs-pair)
- [The Ordinary vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/the-ordinary-vs-menarini)
- [Beauty of Joseon vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/beauty-of-joseon-vs-pair)
- [Beauty of Joseon vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/beauty-of-joseon-vs-menarini)
- [COSRX vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/cosrx-vs-pair)
- [COSRX vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/cosrx-vs-menarini)
- [CeraVe vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/cerave-vs-pair)
- [CeraVe vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/cerave-vs-menarini)
- [La Roche-Posay vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/la-roche-posay-vs-pair)
- [La Roche-Posay vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/la-roche-posay-vs-menarini)
- [Dr. Althea vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/dr-althea-vs-pair)
- [Dr. Althea vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/dr-althea-vs-menarini)
- [Some By Mi vs Pair](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/some-by-mi-vs-pair)
- [Some By Mi vs Menarini](https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/some-by-mi-vs-menarini)

## About the Lovi Fit

Lovi: Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes.

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules its 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. Levels from best to worst: Superior, High, Average, Low, Caution, Warning.

Behind this comparison: Nadia Kapleva, MS (Co-founder, Medical Director); Alexey Shagraev, PhD (Co-founder, CEO and CTO); Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc (Medical Board); Aishani Shah, MD (Medical Board); Asya Zubkova, MS (Medical Board); Hanna Kurets, MD (Medical Board, Medical Advisor); Elina Nazarenko, MD (Medical Board); Victoria Derkova, MS (Medical Board).

Page built Nov 8, 2026.

More from Lovi: https://lovi.care/skincare/llms.txt

## This page in other countries

- United States: https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- United Kingdom: https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/pair-vs-menarini (this page)
- Ireland: https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- Germany: https://lovi.care/skincare/de/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- France: https://lovi.care/skincare/fr/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- Italy: https://lovi.care/skincare/it/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- Netherlands: https://lovi.care/skincare/nl/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- Spain: https://lovi.care/skincare/es/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- Canada: https://lovi.care/skincare/ca/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- Australia: https://lovi.care/skincare/au/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- Singapore: https://lovi.care/skincare/sg/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- Saudi Arabia: https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/compare/pair-vs-menarini
- United Arab Emirates: https://lovi.care/skincare/ae/compare/pair-vs-menarini
