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Innisfree Retinol Ci… vs Paula's Choice Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule
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/Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule vs Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule scores 8.0/9.8 and Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner scores 8.1/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

Innisfree

Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule

serummid-range

8.0

Buy at Olive Young

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Paula's Choice

Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

tonermid-range

8.1

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.

Innisfree wins 1

Tied 2

9.0

Innisfree

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

25% overlap

17Innisfree

7Shared

28Paula's Choice

Only in Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule

10 unique

Propanediol 2-Hexanediol Centella Asiatica Extract Retinol Madecassoside Asiaticoside Adenosine Carbomer Arginine Ethylhexylglycerin

Shared ingredients

7 in common

Water Butylene Glycol Glycerin Niacinamide Panthenol Allantoin Sodium Hyaluronate

Only in Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

21 unique

Cyclopentasiloxane Glycereth-26 Dimethiconol Oenothera Biennis Oil Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Tocopheryl Acetate Tocopherol Ascorbyl Palmitate Hydrogenated Lecithin Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride+11 more

Why these two are neck and neck

These two toners 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.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner scores 9.8 here versus 6.3 for Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner brings Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, and Ascorbyl Palmitate as actives, while innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule relies on Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Retinol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

Both sit in the mid-range bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner gets the nod here with its 8.1 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.

Our verdict

✶ 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.

8.0Innisfree

8.1Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule or Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner?

Based on ingredient analysis, Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule and Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule and Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: Innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule→Full analysis: Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner→

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