If you're a fan of effective, no-nonsense skincare, you probably have a few BHA exfoliants or powerhouse serums from Paula's Choice in your cabinet. The brand is a holy grail for its science-backed formulas that deliver real, noticeable results without the luxury price tag or irritating fragrances.
But sometimes it's fun to explore. Whether you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, a dose of luxury, or a similar ingredient-first philosophy from a different brand, we've got you covered. Here are 19 amazing brands that give off a serious Paula’s Choice vibe.
Sharing a die-hard commitment to ingredient transparency, The Ordinary is the ultimate stripped-back skincare brand. They focus on delivering a single hero ingredient - like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or retinol - in a simple, effective formula at an incredibly low price point, with most items under $15.
While Paula's Choice often creates more complex, multi-ingredient formulations, The Ordinary gives you the building blocks to customize your own routine. If you love understanding the science behind your skincare and don't mind a little DIY cocktailing, this brand is for you.
Shop now at theordinary.com
Much like The Ordinary, The Inkey List's mission is to make powerful ingredients accessible and easy to understand. Their products are incredibly affordable and designed to be mixed and matched to address specific concerns, from fine lines to oily skin. You'll find favorites like their Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Oat Cleansing Balm priced comfortably under $20.
They share Paula's Choice's educational ethos, working hard to decode complicated ingredient lists for shoppers. Think of them as the slightly more user-friendly, beginner-friendly counterpart to Paula's more advanced treatment options.
Shop now at theinkeylist.com
Often considered a direct competitor, Naturium delivers clinically effective, biocompatible formulas at a drugstore-friendly price. Its sleek packaging and ingredient-focused products, like its Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% and Vitamin C Complex Serum, feel very similar to what you'd find from Paula's Choice.
The brand emphasizes high-quality ingredients with gentle yet potent results, making it perfect for anyone who loves Paula’s Choice but wants to see what else is out there. It’s science-backed skincare that looks and feels more expensive than it actually is, fitting perfectly in that mid-range sweet spot.
Shop now at naturium.com
If your main goal is supporting your skin barrier, look no further than CeraVe. Developed with dermatologists, this affordable brand is famous for its ceramides-packed cleansers and moisturizers that lock in hydration and restore skin health. It's a gold standard for gentle, reliable, everyday basics.
While Paula's Choice is revered for its targeted chemical exfoliants and potent anti-aging treatments, CeraVe focuses on building a strong, healthy foundation. CeraVe is the perfect complement, providing the support your skin needs to tolerate those more intense active ingredients.
Shop now at cerave.com
La Roche-Posay is another French pharmacy favorite beloved by dermatologists, especially for sensitive-skin-sufferers. Like Paula’s Choice, it offers clinically proven formulas to address issues like acne, aging, and dryness, but its star ingredient is often the brand’s signature soothing prebiotic thermal water.
This is the brand you turn to when your skin is feeling finicky, red, or irritated. Their Cicaplast and Toleriane lines are essentials for calming compromised skin, while their Anthelios sunscreens are world-renowned for their elegant, high-protection formulas.
Shop now at laroche-posay.us
As its name suggests, First Aid Beauty (or FAB) is all about rescuing stressed-out, sensitive skin. They take ingredient safety seriously, avoiding irritants like artificial fragrance, making them a kindred spirit to Paula's Choice. Their products deliver effective solutions for concerns like dryness, redness, and eczema.
Their Ultra Repair Cream is a cult favorite for its deeply hydrating yet non-greasy feel, capable of soothing even the driest complexions. If you love Paula’s Choice for its fragrance-free, gentle approach but need something focused on soothing and calming, FAB will be your new best friend.
Shop now at www.firstaidbeauty.com
Harnessing the power of mineral-rich volcanic water from Vichy, France, this dermatologist-recommended brand offers powerful skincare focusing on common concerns like dehydration and signs of aging. Their Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum is a bestseller for its ability to plump and hydrate tired skin.
Both Paula's Choice and Vichy hold strong to scientific validation, but Vichy places a greater emphasis on its core mineralizing water as a therapeutic ingredient. It's an excellent choice if you're battling environmental stressors and want to boost your skin's resilience.
Shop now at vichyusa.com
Built around calming Avène Thermal Spring Water, this French dermo-cosmetic brand excels at creating products for intolerant, hypersensitive, and allergy-prone skin. It shares Paula's Choice's commitment to creating gentle-yet-effective formulas suited for reactive skin types.
Where Paula's Choice might offer a potent AHA or retinol for anti-aging, Avène provides equally effective anti-aging solutions specifically designed not to cause irritation. Their Thermal Spring Water spray is an undisputed classic for calming down redness in a single spritz.
Shop now at aveneusa.com
A giant in the world of K-beauty, COSRX practices a similar philosophy to Paula's Choice: simple, effective formulas packed with targeted active ingredients. The brand is celebrated for its highly effective, minimalist products that target acne, blemishes, and texture issues without unnecessary additives.
If you're a devotee of Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, you'll love the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. The brand is also famous for its innovative snail mucin products, which provide incredible hydration and repair benefits at a very affordable price point.
Shop now at www.cosrx.com
Dr. Jart+ perfectly merges dermatological science with fun, creative innovation. This Korean skincare brand is known for its high-performance product lines that address specific issues, from the soothing Cicapair collection for redness to the deeply moisturizing Ceramidin line for a damaged skin barrier.
Like Paula's Choice, Dr. Jart+ is rooted in efficacy and finding solutions for common skin woes. The key difference is a distinct K-beauty flair, featuring unique textures, playful packaging, and cutting-edge ingredient technologies that make skincare feel fun and exciting.
Shop now at drjart.com
Founded by renowned dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad, this brand combines clinical research with a holistic approach to wellness. Murad offers high-performance treatments targeting specific concerns like acne, pigmentation, and aging, using innovative, science-backed ingredients.
It occupies a more premium space than Paula's Choice, with a higher price point to match its luxurious formulations. However, both brands speak to the informed consumer who demands products that are well-researched, potent, and proven to work.
Shop now at murad.com
Often considered the gold standard in clinical skincare, SkinCeuticals is famous for its high-potency antioxidant serums, particularly its C E Ferulic. This brand is a top choice among dermatologists and aesthetic professionals for its unparalleled research and powerful, preventative formulas.
While Paula's Choice makes science-backed skincare accessible, SkinCeuticals represents the peak of clinical luxury. The prices are significantly higher, but for those seeking the ultimate in antioxidant and anti-aging technology, it’s a worthy investment that shares Paula’s respect for proven science.
Shop now at skinceuticals.com
Drunk Elephant champions a philosophy of "biocompatible" skincare, eliminating common irritants they call the "Suspicious 6" (like essential oils, silicones, and fragrance). Their formulations are clean, effective, and feel incredibly luxurious on the skin.
Like Paula’s Choice, Drunk Elephant is built on the idea that ingredients matter most. Drunk Elephant, however, has more playful, colorful branding and a higher price point, positioning itself as a fun, trendy leader in the premium “clean clinical” space.
Shop now at drunkelephant.com
With its unique heritage as an old-world apothecary, Kiehl’s mixes natural ingredients with advanced science to create beloved formulas. Famous for products like the Ultra Facial Cream and Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner, the brand effectively serves a wide range of skin types and concerns.
Their approach feels similar to Paula's Choice in that they rely on effective, tried-and-true ingredients and have earned steadfast loyalty over decades. Kiehl's often adds a touch more focus on botanical ingredients and offers a classic, unisex appeal.
Shop now at kiehls.com
For lovers of a more spa-like experience, Elemis is a luxury British brand that blends science with nature. They are masters of creating skincare with incredible aromatics and textures that make your routine feel like a pampering ritual, especially their iconic Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm.
While Paula's Choice is strictly functional and fragrance-free, Elemis firmly believes in the power of sensory experience as part of effective skincare. If you're looking for high-performance anti-aging products but crave that indulgent, luxe feel, Elemis is your answer.
Shop now at elemis.com
Tata Harper sits at the pinnacle of luxury green beauty. This brand grows many of its own organic ingredients on its Vermont farm, crafting complex, 100% natural formulas that deliver potent results. It's for the eco-conscious user who refuses to compromise on efficacy.
Unlike Paula's Choice's use of safe, lab-created synthetics, Tata Harper is strictly all-natural. Both brands are serious about potent, active-packed formulas, but Tata Harper does so with a much higher price tag and a true farm-to-face philosophy.
Shop now at tataharperskincare.com
Known for its "skin first, makeup second" mantra, Glossier created a movement around minimalist, dewy skin. Their gentle skincare essentials, like the Milky Jelly Cleanser and Futuredew serum, are designed to enhance your natural beauty rather than cover it up.
While Paula's Choice is about correction and treatment, Glossier focuses on maintenance and aesthetics. It’s a softer, more lifestyle-oriented approach to skincare that appeals to those who want a simple, effective routine that leaves them looking fresh and glowy.
Shop now at glossier.com
Rooted in the science of nature, Aveeno uses ingredients like soothing oats to create dermatologist-recommended products for sensitive, dry, and irritable skin. It’s an incredibly accessible, trusted brand for reliable, everyday skincare basics.
Aveeno and Paula’s Choice share a commitment to gentle formulations, but Aveeno’s focus is on calming and nurturing with natural ingredients at a very low price point. It's the perfect choice for basic hydration and calming care without a fuss.
Shop now at aveeno.com
Starting with its iconic beeswax lip balm, Burt’s Bees has grown into a powerhouse of natural, earth-friendly skincare. Their formulas prioritize ingredients from nature and responsible sourcing, appealing to those who want clean beauty on a budget.
Compared to the clinical feel of Paula’s Choice, Burt’s Bees has a much more wholesome, rustic vibe. It's the brand you go to for gentle, plant-powered cleansers, oils, and moisturizers when your skin just needs clean and simple care.
Shop now at burtsbees.com
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