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Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 vs Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream at 8.0/9.8. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment wins for active ingredients.
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 attributes.
Scores last verified: April 2026
36 unique
10 in common
37 unique
Where Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 7.1 compared to Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream's 2.5. Its formula features Retinol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.
Ingredient Transparency is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.8 here versus 8.5 for Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment brings Retinol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate as actives, while dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream relies on Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream is better if you have
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment is better if you have
At premium pricing with a score of 8.0, Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream is a decent pick. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment sits at the mid-range level with a 8.9 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream is still a solid pick.
Based on ingredient analysis, Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.
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