Medicube 21% Red Succinic Acid Cleansing Booster Serum vs Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster

Medicube

Paula's Choice

A serum built around AHA and Lactic acid, for hydration and barrier repair.

A serum built around Retinoid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and hydration.

Serum

36 ingredients

27 ingredients

Brand price

USD 20.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

USD 55.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

No retailer listed yet

Brand from South Korea

Brand country not recorded

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, Alcohol-free, Oil-free and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Panthenol (provitamin B5)1
Provitamin B5 — a humectant and soother.
Panthenol
AHA2
Alpha hydroxy acids — water-soluble chemical exfoliants.
Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid
BHA1
Beta hydroxy acid — oil-soluble, so it works inside the pore.
Salicylic Acid
Glycolic acid1
The smallest AHA, and so the most penetrating.
Glycolic Acid

Ceramide1
Skin-identical lipids that hold the barrier together.
Ceramide NP
Colloidal oatmeal1
Finely milled oat — an FDA-recognised skin protectant.
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)1
Polysorbate (Tween) emulsifiers.
Polysorbate 20
Retinoid1
Vitamin A derivatives that speed cell turnover.
Retinol

Hydrating7
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Panthenol
Barrier Repair5
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Panthenol, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Reduces Irritation3
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol
Redness Reducing1
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Allantoin

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
Redness Reducing1
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Allantoin

May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis4
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
C12-14 Pareth-12, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate
May Worsen Irritation2
May cause stinging, redness or sensitivity.
Alcohol, Fragrance
May Worsen Eczema2
May worsen itching or irritation for eczema-prone skin.
Alcohol, Fragrance
May Worsen Rosacea2
Can trigger flare-ups in rosacea-prone skin.
Alcohol, Fragrance

Show highlights for:

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Humectant
- AHA
- Lactic acid
- Brightening
- Exfoliating
- Hydrating
- Smoothing
Alcohol
Fragrance
0 / —
- Denatured alcohol
- May Worsen Dryness
- May Worsen Eczema
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Rosacea
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Dipropylene Glycol
Perfuming
0-1 / —
Glycereth-26
Humectant
0 / 0
Methylpropanediol
Solvent
0-1 / —
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Tromethamine
Buffering
0 / —
Butylene Glycol (in both products)
Humectant
1 / 0
- Hydrating

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
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
Butylene Glycol (in both products)
Humectant
1 / 0
- Hydrating
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Cleansing
0 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
- Retinoid
- Acne Fighting
- Anti-Aging
- Dark Spots
- Firming
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Smoothing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
- Ceramide
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →
Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →