Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment vs Wardah Lightening Serum Ampoule

Paula's Choice

Wardah

A serum built around Vitamin C derivative and Vitamin C, for barrier repair and smoothing.

A serum built around Niacinamide, for barrier repair and hydration.

Serum

53 ingredients

17 ingredients

Brand price

USD 48.75 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

Not recorded · brand's site

No retailer listed yet

Brand country not recorded

Brand from Indonesia

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free; that row is shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Vitamin E1
Tocopherols — fat-soluble antioxidants.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Vitamin C derivative (stable)1
Stable derivatives of ascorbic acid.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Colloidal oatmeal1
Finely milled oat — an FDA-recognised skin protectant.
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)1
Polysorbate (Tween) emulsifiers.
Polysorbate 20

Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)1
Polysorbate (Tween) emulsifiers.
Polysorbate 20
Niacinamide1
Vitamin B3 — supports the barrier and evens tone.
Niacinamide

Hydrating3
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin
Barrier Repair4
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide
Reduces Irritation1
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Bisabolol
Redness Reducing2
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Bisabolol, Niacinamide

May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis2
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 20
May Worsen Irritation1
May cause stinging, redness or sensitivity.
Fragrance
May Worsen Eczema1
May worsen itching or irritation for eczema-prone skin.
Fragrance
May Worsen Rosacea1
Can trigger flare-ups in rosacea-prone skin.
Fragrance

Show highlights for:

Water
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Silicones
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- Smoothing
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Butylene Glycol (in both products)
Humectant
1 / 0
- Hydrating
Isononyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Castor Isostearate Succinate
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Emollient
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
0-1 / —
- Silicones
PEG-33
Humectant

Aqua
Solvent
0 / —
Butylene Glycol (in both products)
Humectant
1 / 0
- Hydrating
Niacinamide
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
0-1 / —
- Silicones
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Biosaccharide GUM-1
Skin Conditioning
0-1 / —
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Viscosity Controlling
0-1 / —
Phenoxyethanol (in both products)
Preservative
0 / —
Bisabolol
Skin Conditioning
- Redness Reducing
- Reduces Irritation
Dimethicone (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Silicones
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- Smoothing

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Dimethicone
Antifoaming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting
Dimethicone is a silicone.
Learn more about Dimethicone →
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 →
Polysorbate 20
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20 isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20 →
Disodium EDTA
Chelating, Viscosity Controlling
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
Learn more about Disodium EDTA →
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering, Denaturant
Sodium hydroxide
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide →
Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →