Loading...
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 and Torriden Balanceful Cica Cream scores 8.7/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
These two are neck and neck — just 0.2 points apart.
Scores last verified: April 2026
42 unique
30 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. Torriden Balanceful Cica Cream scores 7.8 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.
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment brings Retinol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate as actives, while torriden Balanceful Cica Cream relies on Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, and Asiaticoside. 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
Torriden Balanceful Cica Cream is better if you have
At mid-range pricing with a score of 8.9, Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment delivers strong value. Torriden Balanceful Cica Cream sits at the budget level with a 8.7 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.
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.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission from purchases made through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Gracie free and independent.
© 2026 Gracie. All rights reserved. Data sourced from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL) and EU CosIng.