Which is better: Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 or Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles?

Based on ingredient analysis, Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 and Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles 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 Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 and Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 vs Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 scores 8.8/9.8 and Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles scores 8.7/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Paula's Choice

Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50

cleansermid-range

Why these two are neck and neck

These two cleansers 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. Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles scores 7.7 here versus 6.8 for Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 brings Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, and Ceramide Eop as actives, while shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles relies on Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, and Retinol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 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

Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles 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 — Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract does the heavy lifting

Value comparison

At mid-range pricing with a score of 8.8, Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 delivers strong value. Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles sits at the premium level with a 8.7 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 vs Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50

Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Irritation Risk

Active Ingredient Strength

Ingredient Transparency

Formulation Safety

Ingredient face-off

Only in Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50

Shared ingredients

Only in Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Why these two are neck and neck

Best for your skin type

Value comparison

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 or Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles?

Do Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 and Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles share ingredients?

What's the main difference between Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 and Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles?

Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 vs Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Head to head

Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50

Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Score comparison

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Irritation Risk

Active Ingredient Strength

Ingredient Transparency

Formulation Safety

Ingredient face-off

Only in Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50

Shared ingredients

Only in Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Why these two are neck and neck

Best for your skin type

Value comparison

Our verdict

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 or Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles?

Do Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 and Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles share ingredients?

What's the main difference between Paula's Choice Mini Must-Haves with 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, Foaming Cleanser, & SPF 50 and Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform® with 1% Encapsulated Retinol for Fine Lines & Wrinkles?