Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment vs The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment scores 8.7/9.8 and The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid scores 8.8/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment
360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
The INKEY List WINSIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
Paula's Choice WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
19% overlapOnly in Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment
18 unique
Only in The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid
22 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.
Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid scores 7.5 here versus 6.8 for Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid brings Salicylic Acid, Zinc Pca, and Lactic Acid as actives, while paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment relies on Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, and Ascorbyl Glucoside. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Value comparison
Both sit in the mid-range bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid gets the nod here with its 8.8 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.
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 Niacinamide 20% Treatment or The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid?
Based on ingredient analysis, The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment and The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid 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 Niacinamide 20% Treatment and The INKEY List 360 Acne Clearing Serum with Dioic & Salicylic Acid?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.