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Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.7/9.8 and Topicals Faded Brightening Bundle for Discoloration on Face & Body (UNSCENTED) scores 8.9/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
These two are neck and neck — just 0.2 points apart.
Scores last verified: June 2026
37 unique
10 in common
44 unique
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.
Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. Topicals Faded Brightening Bundle for Discoloration on Face & Body (UNSCENTED) scores 7.7 here versus 7.1 for Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Topicals Faded Brightening Bundle for Discoloration on Face & Body (UNSCENTED) brings Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, and Oxidized Glutathione 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.
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment is better if you have
Topicals Faded Brightening Bundle for Discoloration on Face & Body (UNSCENTED) is better if you have
Both sit in the mid-range bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. Topicals Faded Brightening Bundle for Discoloration on Face & Body (UNSCENTED) gets the nod here with its 8.9 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, Topicals Faded Brightening Bundle for Discoloration on Face & Body (UNSCENTED) 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.