Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set vs Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set scores 8.7/9.8 and Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.7/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set
Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.0 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
TIEIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
Paula's Choice WINSIngredient Transparency
Paula's Choice WINSFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
15% overlapOnly in Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set
56 unique
Shared ingredients
10 in common
Only in Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
37 unique
Why these two are neck and neck
These two moisturisers take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.
Ingredient Transparency is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.8 here versus 8.5 for Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set brings Niacinamide, Extract, and Tocopheryl Acetate as actives, while paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment relies on Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, and Palmitoyl Oligopeptide. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
- Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Retinol does the heavy lifting
Value comparison
Both sit in the mid-range bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set gets the nod here with its 8.7 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.
Our verdict
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set or Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment?
Based on ingredient analysis, Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set and Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment share ingredients?
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
What's the main difference between Clarins Smooth, Glow-Up & Go Set and Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.