
Paula's choice CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment
Benefits
Promise: Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
In this advanced cream, pure one percent retinol, a potent blend of four peptides, and vitamin C help skin look and feel more youthful.
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol, palmitoyl hexapeptide-12.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 | HIGH | ||
retinol | HIGH | ||
acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester | MEDIUM |
Other benefit: Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Its advanced, lightweight formula improves skin elasticity and helps correct pigmentation from old blemishes, whilst added liquorice and oat extract minimise irritation that some people experience with retinol-infused products.
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: retinol. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
retinol | HIGH | ||
allantoin | LOW | ||
salix alba bark extract | LOW |
Other benefit: Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
This lightweight CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment lotion from PAULA'S CHOICE unites 1% retinol, peptides and liquorice root extract to firm skin, fade brown spots and smooth wrinkles for a beautiful and rejuvenated result.
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: glycyrrhiza glabra root extract.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
retinol | HIGH | ||
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract | LOW | ||
hydrolyzed soy protein | LOW |
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise | Can it deliver? |
---|---|
Anti-aging |
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Potential irritants

Ingredient | Irritancy | Skin Benefit |
---|---|---|
retinol | ||
arctium lappa root extract | ||
salix alba bark extract |
User reviews (0)
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WIMJ similarity score | 77% | 77% | 71% | 70% | 68% | 68% | 67% | 67% | 67% | 66% | |
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Ingredients & concentrations
- retinol
- acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester
- tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
- ceramide 2
- palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7
- palmitoyl hexapeptide-12
- glycine soja sterols
- polymethylsilsesquioxane
- sodium hyaluronate
- dimethicone
- allantoin
- dipotassium glycyrrhizate
- glycerin
- +9 more
Ingredient | Estimated concentration |
---|---|
45% - 55% | |
Plain old water | |
5.9% - 7.2% | |
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish | |
4.2% - 5.2% | |
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant | |
3.1% - 3.8% | |
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin | |
2.5% - 3.1% | |
Forms a protective film on the surface of the skin to prevent moisture loss. Gives a velvety feel to products while reducing tackiness | |
2% - 2.4% | |
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and add shine to its surface | |
1.7% - 2.1% | |
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together | |
1.5% - 1.8% | |
Enhances the product texture and makes it more spreadable. Helps reduce water loss from the outer layer of skin. Extands the shelf life by preventing bacteria growth | |
1.2% - 1.5% | |
Used to create a thicker product texture. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might be able to prevent moisture loss from its surface | |
1% - 1.2% | |
0.7% - 1.1% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.65% - 1% | |
Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient | |
1%
Declared
| |
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating | |
0.55% - 0.8% | |
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging. | |
0.5% - 0.75% | |
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
0.5% - 0.75% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.45% - 0.7% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.45% - 0.65% | |
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin | |
0.35% - 0.65% | |
A salt derived from licorice. Works as an emollient to soften the upper layer of the skin and can help calm down inflammation. Might be helpful for skin lightening | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals | |
0.35% - 0.6% | |
An effective moisturizing and skin barrier repair ingredient. Helps calm down inflammation and has some anti-oxidant properties | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Plant extract. Has some anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties. Can be irritating | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
An emollient that helps soften the skin | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients. | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might have some anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and skin lightening properties, but solid evidence is missing | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
Helps water and oil mix together | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Stabilizes the product formulation | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Used to adjust the product's pH | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Used to create a thicker product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
A preservative | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture | |
0.35% - 0.65% | |
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Used to create a nice product finish | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
A type of silicone that can help create nice product texture and soften the upper layer of the skin | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Used to create a thicker product consistency | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
A silicone that improves product texture and helps dissolve other ingredients. Can form a non-greasy film on the skin to prevent moisture loss | |
0.25% - 0.4% | |
Might be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and, when combined with zinc carbonate and malonic acid, reducing fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating elastin production. Also helps stabilize the product formulation | |
0.2% - 0.35% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Used to create gel-like formulas and stabilize emulsions | |
0.2% - 0.4% | |
Used to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a thicker product consistency | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
A preservative | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products | |
Show more |
Sources
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety
- Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)
- A comparative study of the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on histological, molecular, and clinical properties of human skin
- Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage
- Application of tetra-isopalmitoyl ascorbic acid in cosmetic formulations: Stability studies and in vivo efficacy
- Topically Applied Ceramides Interact with the Stratum Corneum Lipid Matrix in Compromised Ex Vivo Skin
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Ameliorating effect of dipotassium glycyrrhizinate on an IL-4- and IL-13-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin-equivalent model
- Final report on the safety assessment of Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Potassium Glycyrrhetinate, Disodium Succinoyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glyceryl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhetinyl Stearate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium Glycyrrhizate, Trisodium Glycyrrhizate, Methyl Glycyrrhizate, and Potassium Glycyrrhizinate.
- Contact dermatitis as an adverse reaction to some topically used European herbal medicinal products – part 1: Achillea millefolium–Curcuma longa
- Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extract
- An evaluation of the effect of a topical product containing salicin on the visible signs of human skin aging
- Profile of wound healing process induced by allantoin
- Extracts from Glycine max (soybean) induce elastin synthesis and inhibit elastase activity
- Dermatological and cosmeceutical benefits of Glycine max (soybean) and its active components
- Safety Assessment of Soy Peptides as Used in Cosmetics
- Safety Assessment of Pentaerythrityl Tetraesters as Used in Cosmetics
- Final report on the safety assessment of aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, sodium magnesium silicate, zirconium silicate, attapulgite, bentonite, Fuller's earth, hectorite, kaolin, lithium magnesium silicate, lithium magnesium sodium silicate, montmorillonite, pyrophyllite, and zeolite