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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 features serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily and acne-prone skin best. Conversely, the second line 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 core ingredients and ideal skin types.

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 more skin types with a High or Superior rating on this page, while Eminence offers fewer options. Paula's Choice is better suited for oily, acne-prone, and mature skin.

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

Paula's Choice offers a much wider range of targeted skincare products that excel at skin texture smoothing, whereas Eminence features fewer items on this page that focus on soothing and hydrating moisturizers. Reviewers mention high prices for both brands, but Eminence products may also draw dislike for their strong scent.

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

Paula's Choice offers a much wider range of moisturizers with specialized fit levels for different skin types compared to Eminence. The products on this page help provide targeted hydration, and ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are well-supported for skin barrier health.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Both Paula's Choice and Eminence share drawbacks regarding a high price point among the products on this page. Reviewers note high prices and expensive sizes for Paula's Choice and a high price point for Eminence.

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

Eminence helps more with pore clearance and acne reduction than Paula's Choice does. Eminence's Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer has a high fit for acne-prone skin, while Paula's Choice provides many products with average fits for acne-prone skin.

Between Paula's Choice and Eminence, which brand is better suited for oily and acne-prone skin?

Paula's Choice is better suited for oily and acne-prone skin, as the products on this page feature multiple items with a Superior fit level for these skin types. Eminence also offers options like the Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer which has a High fit level for oily and acne-prone skin.

How do the fragrance ingredients compare across both Paula's Choice and Eminence product lines?

Both Paula's Choice and Eminence list no fragrance in the ingredients for every product on this page.

Which brand performs better for skin texture smoothing according to review themes?

Paula's Choice performs better for skin texture smoothing among the products 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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