Paula’s Choice’s 11 Best Skincare Dupes

Paula’s Choice is known for ingredient transparency, high-quality packaging, and fragrance-free formulas designed to suit a variety of skin types. The direct-to-consumer brand was founded in 1995 by Paula Begoun before being acquired by Unilever in 2021. Paula’s Choice products are currently sold on the brand’s website as well as Sephora, Sephora (Kohles), Dermstore, and Amazon (make sure the product is authentic). To prevent counterfeiting, it is “sold by Paula’s Choice Skincare”!).

There’s a lot to like about Paula’s Choice, but if you’re looking for drugstore prices instead of PC mid-range prices, check out other skincare companies that offer products very similar to the original. A roundup of Paula’s Choice bestsellers and dupes that cost a fraction of the price.

Why is Paula’s Choice so popular?

Launched as a direct-to-consumer brand by makeup artist and esthetician Paula Begoun in 1995, Begoun’s goal for Paula’s Choice was to provide affordable skin care products based on ingredient transparency and abundant information. She wanted her customers to be educated and informed about the products they put on their skin and what products are best for their skin type and goals.

The brand is now owned by Unilever and can be found in stores and online, but still prioritizes the same goals. This means offering skin-friendly products for a variety of skin types at a mid-range price point.

Best Paula’s Choice Skincare Dupe

Original: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

By far the most popular Paula’s Choice product, the company’s Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is loved for its skin-cleansing properties. Contains beta hydroxy acid and salicylic acid, which help reduce oil, unclog pores, and treat and prevent acne. Since beta hydroxy acid is a chemical exfoliant, it can also help brighten a dull complexion. Adding green tea here helps soothe the skin. Overall this is a winner.

price: $33.25 on Amazon

The Dupe: Pharmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleansing Toner with Moringa + Papaya

Farmacy Deep Sweep contains 2% salicylic acid, providing the same effective skin brightening and cleansing benefits as Paula’s Choice exfoliator. This product also contains papaya enzymes for exfoliation and moringa seeds, which are rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Originally launched at Sephora in 2015 (now owned by P&G), cruelty-free Farmacy is a great brand that strives to use high-quality ingredients and gives back by donating to organizations that address domestic hunger in the U.S. and Canada.

price: $17 at Sephora

Another Dupe: Peach Slice Acne Exfoliating Toner

Peach Slices, a sister line to K-beauty brand Peach & Lily, offers an affordable acne exfoliating toner with 2% salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, and lactic acid for extra exfoliation benefits. . It also contains allantoin, cucumber water, and glycerin to hydrate and soothe the skin.

price: $13.49 at CVS

Original: Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster

A newly reformulated Vitamin C Serum with 15% Vitamin C (in the form of ascorbic acid), Vitamin E, the mushroom-derived antioxidant ergothioneine, and ferulic acid (which helps keep Vitamin C stable, among many other benefits), helps users Provides the following effects: Provides instant radiance, more even skin tone, and protection from pollution, sun damage, and more.

Vitamin C is well-known for being good for your skin, but (unfortunately) it breaks down easily when exposed to sunlight, heat, and air, so it’s important to choose a properly formulated vitamin C product. It’s packaged like this. (Then be sure to use it and store it away from the elements!)

price: Paula’s Choice $55

The Dupe: Timeless Skin Care Vitamin C and E Ferulic Acid Serum

Timeless offers its best-selling serum in a post-use product with a higher concentration of vitamin C. This product contains 20% L-ascorbic acid along with vitamin E and ferulic acid. It is fragrance-free, dye-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.

Some people with sensitive skin may find the concentration of vitamin C too high (at least at first), so Timeless also offers this serum with 10% vitamin C if you prefer.

price: $25.99 on Amazon

Original: Paula’s Choice Resist Super Light Daily Wrinkle Defense Face Sunscreen SPF 30

You’ve probably heard it before, but according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher year-round is essential for: essentialTo say the least.

Sunscreen helps reduce your risk of skin cancer and helps protect your skin from sun damage, keeping it in tip-top shape. Paula’s Choice’s popular, matte-finish, lightweight sunscreen has SPF 30. It also contains nutritional ingredients such as green tea, goji berry, glycerin, oat bran, and pomegranate extract. With everything it has to offer, using this feels like skincare rather than a chore.

price: $39 at Sephora

The Dupe: La Roche-Posay Tolerian Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV

To be fair, this is not an imitation. French drugstore brand La Roche-Posay began offering healing skincare products in 1975, so this product is hardly new. This brand’s excellent facial sunscreen offers SPF 30 and a lightweight, oil- and fragrance-free formula. In addition, ingredients such as ceramide, niacinamide, and soothing hot spring water are added, so you can feel your skin being cared for when using it.

price: $23.99 on Amazon

Original: Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Azelaic acid is a mild chemical exfoliant that can help with all kinds of effects, including improving skin texture and tone and reducing redness, pimples, and dark spots. It also leaves your skin feeling refreshed and glowing, and is well tolerated by people with sensitive skin. Paula’s Choice’s Azelaic Acid Booster also contains salicylic acid along with soothing licorice root extract. Use as a spot treatment or all over. You’ll love it!

price: $39 at Sephora

The Dupe: Naturium Azelaic Topic Acid 10%

Naturium is a vegan, fragrance-free brand that does not test on animals. This affordable 10% azelaic acid serum also contains niacinamide, vitamin C, and coffee seed extract.

price: $19.99 on Amazon

Original: Paula’s Choice Procollagen Peptide Gloss Balm

This is Paula’s Choice’s new plumping peptide lip gloss/balm. Contains three types of peptides to add fullness to your smile and provide lasting moisture. It applies refreshingly and glossily, has a transparent finish and a pleasant vanilla scent.

price: Paula’s Choice $24

The Dupe: Loaded Peptide Lip Treatment

Hailey Bieber’s Road line is a peptide lip balm that contains softening ingredients such as shea butter, peptide, and babassu to keep lips moist. You can choose from four versions: unflavored, salted caramel, watermelon, and vanilla. Rhode is a vegan brand that does not test on animals.

price: $18 on the load

Another dupe: Biossance Pro-PeptideTM Lip Perfector

Say goodbye to dry, chapped lips and restore a radiant, bright smile with Biossance’s lip treatment with vanilla scent, peptides, squalane, and hyaluronic acid. Purchase it with a transparent tint, and if you want to add color, choose a berry or pink tint.

price: $16.20 on Amazon

Original: Paula’s Choice CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser

Sensitive skin types, including those with eczema or rosacea, will appreciate the gentle cleansing they get with CALM Ultra Gentle Cleansing. It’s made with glycerin, triglycerides, and prebiotics, which are moisturizers that attract water to the face. This product has a soothing gel-lotion consistency that feels great on the face.

price: $22 on Amazon

The Dupe: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser

Neutrogena’s glycerin and hyaluronic acid gel cleanser from the popular Hydro Boost line boasts the National Eczema Institute’s seal of approval. This means it is generally well tolerated by people with sensitive skin, including those with eczema. It is fragrance-free (recommended if your skin reacts easily) and leaves your face feeling refreshed.

price: $13.69 at Target

Another dupe: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is also National Eczema Association certified. This affordable cleanser uses CeraVe’s hero ingredient, barrier-repairing ceramides, to support skin health. It also contains glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

price: $14.49 at Target

Original: Paula’s Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA

With glycolic acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for chemical exfoliation and nourishing shea butter for hydration, Paula’s Choice Unscented Skin Revealing Body Lotion is an excellent body moisturizer that helps soften rough, dry skin.

price: $30.40 on Amazon

The Dupe: Alpha Skin Care Revitalizing Body Lotion with 12% Glycol AHA

This renewal body lotion from Alpha Skin Care contains 12% glycolic acid and comes in a large 12-ounce bottle with a convenient pump top for easy application. It’s also fragrance-free.

price: $21 on Amazon

Another sequel: Amlactin Intensive Healing Cream with 15% Lactic AHA

AmLactin’s body lotion contains 15% lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). It is slightly less potent than its sibling glycolic acid, making it easier to use on dry or sensitive skin. This excellent fragrance-free moisturizer contains vitamin E and squalane to keep skin soft and soft, while ceramides support and nourish the skin.

price: $19.95 on Amazon

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