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Paula's Choice vs Lancôme

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

Paula's Choice and Lancôme are established skincare brands from America and France that offer diverse selections of cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, and more. Paula's Choice relies on key ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin c, while Lancôme utilizes nourishing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and adenosine. The American brand suits oily and acne-prone skin best, whereas the French brand excels for sensitive and mature skin. They differ primarily in their founding heritage, targeted skin types, and specific active formulations.

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

unilever.comtracxn.com

Lancôme is a French skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 1964.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular Paula's Choice vs Lancôme products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceLancôme
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
    • “absorbs almost instantly — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “absorbs instantly — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “Skin feels cushiony soft — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives my skin an instant dewy glow — Lancôme Tonique Confort”
    • “keeps the skin soft and hydrated — Lancôme HYDRA ZEN”
    • “The product provides deep hydration and visible rejuvenation. — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Night Cream”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Brightening, Radiance, and Tone Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “calmed redness immediately — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Skin looks lit from within — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care 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”
    • “instantly soothed my skin — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
  • Acne Clearing and Pores Mostly MentionedNot 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”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “super expensive — Lancôme Absolue Precious Oil”
    • “expensive as hell — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
  • Irritation, Dryness, and Breakouts Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't notice much change in wrinkles — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Leaves a greasy film — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
  • Scent, Residue, and Texture Flaws Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “My only issue with it is the fragrance. — Lancôme Hydra Zen Gel Cream”
    • “scent is too strong — Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing Eye Cream”

Paula's Choice vs Lancôme routines for dry skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · £210.78 · 86% fitBuy Lancôme routine · £294.78 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Lancôme routines for oily skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · £280.77 · 92% fitBuy Lancôme routine · £282.47 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Lancôme routines for combination skin

Buy Paula's Choice routine · £235.40 · 90% fitBuy Lancôme routine · £331.47 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Lancôme: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for acne-prone, oily, and combination skin, while both brands offer a High fit for dry and sensitive skin. Paula's Choice helps improve skin texture and clear pores, whereas Lancôme provides deep hydration and lightweight moisturizers.

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

Paula's Choice generally offers superior fit levels for oily, combination, acne-prone, and mature skin, whereas Lanc$$$$$$ excels in deep hydration and sensitive skin care with higher reviewer praise for soothing properties. Furthermore, the products on this page by Paula's Choice list no fragrance across their ingredients, while many Lanc$$$$$$ items contain added scent.

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for dry skin?

Both Paula's Choice and Lancôme are a High fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Paula's Choice relies on fragrance-free formulas featuring ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while Lancôme offers deep hydration and moisture with options like Tonique Confort.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice is better for cleansers, as the products on this page achieve a Superior fit for oily and acne-prone skin while Lancôme cleansers list a warning for skin types on this page.

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

Both brands frequently receive shopper mentions regarding a high price point, so neither stands out as more affordable.

Which brand has better fragrance-free options?

Paula's Choice offers better fragrance-free options because every single product on the products on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, most options from Lancôme contain added fragrance.

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is a better fit for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Lancome's High level. The products on this page for Paula's Choice help target excess oil with key ingredients like salicylic acid, while maintaining a fragrance-free formula.

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

Paula's Choice and Lancôme both offer popular moisturizers, but Paula's Choice is often favored for targeted concerns like blemishes and aging, while Lancôme is widely appreciated for deep hydration and luxurious textures. Every product on the Paula's Choice page lists no fragrance, whereas many Lancôme moisturizers contain added fragrance.

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for sensitive skin?

Paula's Choice has a superior routine fit for sensitive skin compared to Lancôme, which has a high fit. Every product on the Paula's Choice page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Lancôme products on this page contain fragrance.

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

Paula's Choice is a better fit for acne-prone skin, with products on this page achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Lancôme's High fit level. Paula's Choice also does better for acne clearing and pores according to review themes, and every product on its page lists no fragrance.

Paula's Choice or Lancôme for skin with dark spots?

For skin with dark spots, Paula's Choice is superior to Lancôme, matching this skin type at a Superior level compared to Lancôme's High level. The products on this page from Paula's Choice feature key brightening ingredients like Niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

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

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