When it comes to skincare products, we all want to have the best. That’s why there is a lot of debate pertaining to Paula’s Choice vs The Ordinary. These two brands are fighting tooth and nail to offer the best products in the beauty industry.
They have everything you need from cleansers, primers, toners, moisturizers, humectants and masks to keep your skin young, glowing and healthy. But which company among the two should you trust with your skincare products? We answer this by looking at the different products offered by these companies and the ingredients contained in each.
Niacinamide Booster
This is one of the bestselling body serums from these two companies. Niacinamide is an essential ingredient that does everything in the body, from keeping it hydrated, fighting acne wrinkles and preventing irritation.
Although these two companies contain the same percentage of Niacinamide booster, Paula’s Choice Booster is loaded with other useful ingredients such as Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, Licorice extract and Allantoin.
What’s more, Paula’s Choice Niacinamide Booster is lightweight, clear and easily absorbs into the skin without leaving a sticky residue. To use The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% booster requires that you first cleanse your face, something which is not mandatory when using Paula’s Choice Niacinamide.
Azelaic Acid Booster
Another popular product from these two companies is the Azelaic Acid Booster. Paula’s Choice sells the 10% Azelaic Acid Booster while The Ordinary offers the Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%. Azelaic acid helps fight acne, black spots, and rosacea and kills harmful bacteria on your skin.
The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% contains silicones that help in keeping the skin soft and fighting fine lines and large pores. You may think this is all Azelaic acid boosters can do but wait till you get a hold of Paula’s choice Azelaic Acid Booster.
Besides fighting acne, this acid booster contains useful ingredients such as Licorice extract, Allantoin and Salicylic acid to help delay aging, fight irritation and moisturize the skin.
Exfoliants
Exfoliants is another product sold by these two companies. The Ordinary sells the Aha 30% + Bha 2% peeling solution exfoliants, while Paula’s Choice offers the Skin perfecting 2% Bha Liquid exfoliants.
Each of these exfoliants contains different ingredients, with Paula’s Choice containing Salicylic acid, green tea extract and Hydroxy Acid as its main composition. The Ordinary exfoliants, on the other hand, contains Lactic acid, Salicylic acid and Glycolic acid as their most notable ingredients.
Owing to the difference in the ingredients found in each of these exfoliants, each serves a different purpose. The Ordinary exfoliant, for instance, works best in hydrating, exfoliating the skin and fighting acne. Paula’s Choice exfoliant, on the other hand, helps in acne treatment, exfoliating and fighting aging.
Again because of the difference in ingredients, these two exfoliants work with different types of skins. The Ordinary’s exfoliant will work with all types of skin, while Paula’s Choice is limited to oily and acne-prone skins.
Moisturizers
Moisturizers are one of the most sought-after beauty products in the market today. Everyone longs for smooth, flawless and well-hydrated skin and these products do just that. Paula’s Choice offer over 10 SPF inbuilt varieties of moisturizers to choose from.
Although the Ordinary also offers a range of moisturizers to choose from, they are not SPF inbuilt, which means you will have to spend more to get this essential ingredient.
Retinols
Retinol is another product you will want to include in your skincare routine to help reverse anti-aging, fight spots and acne breakout. The Ordinary offers over seven varieties of retinol to choose from, while Paula’s Choice has only two retinol products.
One advantage of Paula’s Choice retinol is that it’s pure, and this makes it stronger than The Ordinary retinol. While The Ordinary contains 0.5% Retinol in Squalane, Paula’s Choice contains 1% Retinol Booster.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another skincare product you can get from these two companies. The Ordinary offers over ten different varieties of Vitamin C products to choose from, while Paula’s Choice offer only one Vitamin C product.
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster is safe to use on all skin types to help reverse signs of aging and brighten your skin. While Paula’s Choice offers a strong Vitamin C product, The Ordinary has varieties to choose from for all skin types.
Cleansers
Cleansers are a must to incorporate the product into your skincare routine. They help get rid of makeup dirt, excessive oils and debris from your skin, opening the pores. The Ordinary offers an incredible cleanser (the Squalane Cleanser) that does not leave any residue after washing it off. Paula’s choice offer over 13 different types of cleansers to choose from.
Paula’s Choice Vs The Ordinary: Which Is Better
Courtesy of Reddit
As you can tell from the above discussion, these two companies are in the market to offer the safest and quality beauty products for your skincare routine. Both of these brands do their best to limit the amount of fragrance, grease and alcohol in their products. Their products are also cruelty-free and safe for most skin types. The truth is no matter what your skin type is or the condition you want to treat, Paula’s Choice and The Ordinary has a skincare product for your need.
Although The Ordinary is generally cheaper than Paula’s Choice, we cannot ignore the fact that Paula’s Choice has done its best to add more active ingredients to all its products. In short, Paula’s Choice offers value for your money.
So, which is better between Paula’s Choice vs The Ordinary? This is a hard nut to crack. Both of these companies have outdone themselves in their bid to offer you the best skincare products. The answer to which one is better between the two comes down to personal preference and budget.
If you are after more active ingredients in your skincare products, Paula’s Choice has the solution for you. If you are budget stricken and need to take care of your skin, The Ordinary is your go-to brand. Alternatively, you can try comparing the products individually because every product offered by these two companies contains different ingredients which may or may not be useful to your skin needs.
You can also try mixing products from the two brands in your skincare routine for more effective results. You can, for instance, get a cleanser from The Ordinary and use it with a moisturizer from Paula’s Choice. As always, ensure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and get the right products for your skin type. In case of any negative reaction, stop using the product and contact your dermatologist immediately.
