Paula's Choice
1% Retinol BoosterA serum built around Niacinamide and Panthenol, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Retinoid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and hydration.
Brand price
USD 24.00 · checked 26 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, Silicone-free, Pore-clogger-free and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Benefits
Hydrating13
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Collagen, Dimethicone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Panthenol, Propanediol, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair23
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Brassica Campestris Sterols, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cholesterol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oleic Acid, Panthenol, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Reduces Irritation5
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Panthenol
Redness Reducing4
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Niacinamide
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 Acne8
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oleic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis20
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oleic Acid, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris8
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oleic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Oily Skin4
May increase shine or excess oil.
Glycine Soja Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Squalane
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
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
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
Retinol (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
- Retinoid
- Acne Fighting
- Anti-Aging
- Dark Spots
- Firming
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Smoothing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra
Ceramide NP (in both products)
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 →Hydrogenated Lecithin
Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Lecithin →Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate →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 →Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinol is a retinoid.
Learn more about Retinol →Ceramide NP
Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Ceramide NP →
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