Paula's Choice
1% Retinol BoosterA serum built around Niacinamide and Vitamin E, for barrier repair and hydration.
A serum built around Retinoid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and hydration.
Brand price
USD 24.00 · checked 28 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 55.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-free, Pore-clogger-free, Vegan and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Centella asiatica (Cica)1
Centella asiatica (cica), used to calm irritation.

Benefits

Hydrating15
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Betaine, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Panthenol, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sorbitol, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair21
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Betaine, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Niacinamide, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Panthenol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Tocopherol
Reduces Irritation7
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Panthenol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Redness Reducing4
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Niacinamide, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Hydrating5
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Ascorbate
Barrier Repair6
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Glycerin
Reduces Irritation3
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Concerns

May Trigger Acne5
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Glycine Soja Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis10
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Glycine Soja Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Tocopherol
May Worsen Oily Skin9
May increase shine or excess oil.
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis7
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polysorbate 20

Ingredients Side-by-side

Skin Conditioning
Emollient
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Skin Conditioning
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Skin Conditioning
Occlusive
0-3 / 3
- Vitamin E
- Anti-Pollution
- Antioxidant
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
Humectant
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Skin Conditioning
0 / 0
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- Barrier Repair
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate
Cleansing
Skin Conditioning
Cleansing
0 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Skin Conditioning
- Retinoid
- Acne Fighting
- Anti-Aging
- Dark Spots
- Firming
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Smoothing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra
Skin Conditioning
- Ceramide
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant, Skin Conditioning
.alpha.-d-Glucopyranosiduronic acid, (3.beta.,20.beta.)-20-carboxy-11-oxo-30-norolean-12-en-3-yl 2-O-.beta.-d-glucopyranuronosyl-, dipotassium salt
Learn more about Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate →Disodium EDTA
Chelating, Viscosity Controlling
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
Learn more about Disodium EDTA →Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive, Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract is colloidal oatmeal.
Learn more about Avena Sativa Kernel Extract →
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