Paula's Choice
Discoloration Repair SerumA serum built around Niacinamide and Tranexamic acid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Niacinamide and Vitamin E, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 59.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 37.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
They come out differently on Silicone-free and Vegan; 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
Hydrating4
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair15
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Bakuchiol, Behenyl Alcohol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Niacinamide, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Redness Reducing3
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Hydrating12
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair13
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Reduces Irritation4
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Achillea Millefolium Extract, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Redness Reducing3
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Concerns
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis7
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Behenyl Alcohol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
May Trigger Acne7
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis11
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris7
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Oily Skin3
May increase shine or excess oil.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Solvent
Emollient
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glyceryl Stearate (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Skin Conditioning
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Skin Conditioning
Viscosity Controlling
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 →Niacinamide
Smoothing
Niacinamide is niacinamide.
Learn more about Niacinamide →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 →Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →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 →Tocopherol
Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Occlusive
Tocopherol is vitamin E.
Learn more about Tocopherol →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Hydrogenated Lecithin
Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Lecithin →Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →Glycine Soja Oil
Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycine Soja Oil →
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