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LOOPS Dark Spot Mask vs Paula's Choice Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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LOOPS Dark Spot Mask vs Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

LOOPS Dark Spot Mask scores 8.9/9.8 vs Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner at 8.1/9.8. LOOPS Dark Spot Mask wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

LOOPS

Dark Spot Mask

moisturiser

8.9

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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

LOOPS Dark Spot Mask edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

LOOPS wins 1

Tied 3

Paula's Choice wins 1

8.9LOOPS

+0.8vs

8.1Paula's Choice

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Paula's Choice WINS

9.4

9.8

LOOPS

Paula's Choice

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

LOOPS

Paula's Choice

Active Ingredient Strength

LOOPS WINS

7.5

2.8

LOOPS

Paula's Choice

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.8

LOOPS

Paula's Choice

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

LOOPS

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

12% overlap

42LOOPS

5Shared

28Paula's Choice

Only in LOOPS Dark Spot Mask

37 unique

Aqua Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Gum Chondrus Crispus Powder Pentylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol 2-Hexanediol Hydroxyacetophenone Cellulose Gum Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum Potassium Chloride+27 more

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Glycerin Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Allantoin Tocopherol

Only in Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

23 unique

Water Cyclopentasiloxane Glycereth-26 Dimethiconol Oenothera Biennis Oil Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Sodium Hyaluronate Tocopheryl Acetate Ascorbyl Palmitate Panthenol+13 more

Why LOOPS Dark Spot Mask comes out ahead

Where LOOPS Dark Spot Mask really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 7.5 compared to Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner's 2.8. Its formula features Niacinamide, Allantoin, and Tocopherol in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner scores 9.8 here versus 9.4 for LOOPS Dark Spot Mask. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

LOOPS Dark Spot Mask brings Niacinamide, Allantoin, and Tocopherol as actives, while paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner relies on Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, and Ascorbyl Palmitate. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

LOOPS Dark Spot Mask 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 — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting

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

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner comes in at mid-range pricing with a 8.1 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.8 lead

LOOPS Dark Spot Mask edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner is still a solid pick.

8.9LOOPS

8.1Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: LOOPS Dark Spot Mask or Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner?

Based on ingredient analysis, LOOPS Dark Spot Mask scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do LOOPS Dark Spot Mask 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 LOOPS Dark Spot Mask 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: LOOPS Dark Spot Mask→Full analysis: Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner→

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