Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment vs Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.7/9.8 and Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen scores 8.4/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.3 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
TIEIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
Paula's Choice WINSIngredient Transparency
Paula's Choice WINSFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
15% overlapOnly in Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
40 unique
Shared ingredients
7 in common
Only in Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen
32 unique
Why these two are neck and neck
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.
Ingredient Transparency is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.8 here versus 8.5 for Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen. 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 tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen relies on Allantoin, Bisabolol, and Ceramide Ap. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment 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 — Retinol does the heavy lifting
Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Cholesterol
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Value comparison
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment comes in at mid-range pricing with a 8.7 score, which is solid value at that tier.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment or Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen?
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.
Do Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment and Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen share ingredients?
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
What's the main difference between Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment and Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.