Marine Hyaluronics
1% Retinol Booster

The Ordinary

Marine Hyaluronics

Paula's Choice

1% Retinol Booster

A serum built around Lactic acid and BHA, for hydration and smoothing.

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

Serum
Serum
33 ingredients
27 ingredients

Brand price

USD 8.28 · checked 25 Sept 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

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

No retailer listed yet
No retailer listed yet
Brand from Canada
Brand country not recorded

At a Glance

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

Key Ingredients

  • Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)1

    Polysorbate (Tween) emulsifiers.

    Polysorbate 20

  • AHA1

    Alpha hydroxy acids — water-soluble chemical exfoliants.

    Citric Acid

  • BHA1

    Beta hydroxy acid — oil-soluble, so it works inside the pore.

    Salicylic Acid

  • Lactic acid1

    An AHA that also acts as a humectant.

    Sodium Lactate

  • 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

Benefits

Concerns

  • May Trigger Acne1

    Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.

    Hexylene Glycol

  • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis1

    May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.

    Polysorbate 20

  • May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1

    May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.

    Hexylene Glycol

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

  • Water

    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

    Humectant

    1 / 0

    • Hydrating

  • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

    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

    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

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Similar Comparisons

Each product against its closest dupes.