Paula's Choice
1% Retinol BoosterA serum built around Retinoid and Hyaluronic acid, for barrier repair and hydration.
A serum built around Retinoid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and hydration.
Brand price
USD 21.99 · checked 8 Oct 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 and Pore-clogger-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.

Benefits

Hydrating8
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, PEG-8, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair10
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isododecane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
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.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis9
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C13-14 Isoalkane, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Laureth-7, Polysorbate 20, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
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
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Humectant
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
Cleansing
2 / 3
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
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
Polysorbate 20 (in both products)
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
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 →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 →Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinol is a retinoid.
Learn more about Retinol →Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →Polysorbate 20
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20 isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20 →
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