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Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.7/9.8 and Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum scores 8.7/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
These two are neck and neck — just 0.0 points apart.
Scores last verified: June 2026
38 unique
9 in common
21 unique
These two serums 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.
Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 7.1 here versus 6.2 for Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum. 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, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, and Palmitoyl Oligopeptide as actives, while peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum relies on Niacinamide, Zinc Pca, and Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment is better if you have
Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum is better if you have
Both sit in the mid-range bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment gets the nod here with its 8.7 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.
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.
Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.
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© 2026 Gracie. All rights reserved. Data sourced from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL) and EU CosIng.