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Paula's Choice

CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment.

Paula's Choice CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment
Retinoids

About this product

A nighttime retinol treatment combining 1% retinol with vitamin C, peptides, allantoin, and licorice root to address fine lines, firmness, and skin barrier support.

Best for

Mature skin
Retinoids

The Guru Index verdict

72%

Approved

Approved · 72%
9Reviewers
7Approved
1Mixed
1Skip
#7 in Retinoids

What the gurus are saying

Most gurus praise this as an effective intermediate retinol with a thoughtfully layered formula that calms and firms without heavy irritation. The 1% concentration delivers real anti-aging results, and the supporting ingredients like peptides and vitamin C help protect the barrier. However, price has become a sticking point since the formula's value proposition weakened after a recent increase, and one expert found it caused more sensitivity than Paula's Choice's gentler 0.3% option. Those new to retinol may want to start with a lower strength or apply it over a thin layer of moisturizer to ease in.
Synthesized from 9 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Vitamin CRetinoidHyaluronic acidVitamin ECeramidesPeptidesFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Aqua, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-33, Polysorbate 20, Behenyl Alcohol, Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ceramide 2, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Avena Sativa (Avena) Kernel Extract, Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sorbitan Laurate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
~Mixed
"They actually launched a lot of their more popular products including their Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment. However, prices were significantly increased after the investment and Paula's Choice kind of started to lose their reputation of being well priced for the amazing formula you were getting."
Approved
"They have a 1% retinol that's going to be your intermediate, somebody who's a little bit used to it, wants something that's gentle but still effective."
All 3 takes from Doctorly
Products We LOVE and HATE From Paula's Choice | Doctorly Reviews
"They have a 1% retinol that's going to be your intermediate, somebody who's a little bit used to it, wants something that's gentle but still effective."
The ULTIMATE Normal & Combination Skincare Routine | Doctorly Routines
"Paula's Choice CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment contains 1% retinol which is a super high concentration of retinol over the counter. It also has THD ascorbate vitamin C which is one of the better forms of vitamin C, allantoin which is calming and soothing, licorice root, and several forms of different peptides that help to support the skin barrier. It's that high concentration of retinol that's going to be really effective for anti-aging in general and just maintaining a healthy skin barrier. I've used this one for a long period of time and had a lot of good success with it personally, so I absolutely love this one."
Saturday Skincare Live!
"Paula's Choice retinol, that's a great one too."
Approved
"This is a product that I've always raved about because not only does it have the retinol, it also has vitamin C and peptides so it's going to help firm, address fine lines and wrinkles, it's going to brighten, it's going to improve texture and it's great for those that have acne prone skin as well. It really does it all. I use this on my neck and my chest, and I can't use tretinoin on my neck multiple times a week, so I use this on those off nights instead. All you need is a pea-sized amount to apply to your face and then another pea-sized amount to cover your neck area."
All 6 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash
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"The one product that I am literally the most consistent with is the 1% retinol treatment. This product is really nice because it has that 1% retinol so of course this is going to soften fine lines, it's going to firm up the skin. This can be used on your face and I have used this many times on my face but I strictly keep this for my neck. I bring it down my chest and I will occasionally use it on the tops of my hands before I go to bed. This also has peptides which of course firm the skin."
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"I like the Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment. I actually use that on my neck and my chest in my nighttime skincare routine, but sometimes I will use it and bring it onto the tops of my hands and yes I will put a hand cream on top of that just to keep the hands nice and comfortable. Using a retinol can really help to improve texture and tone, crepiness, it can help to produce new collagen as well, and it really makes the biggest difference when you are consistent with a retinol product on the hands. It can really help with wrinkles as well."
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"I love the Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment. This also has peptides as well as Vitamin C. This is a great option to look into. Starting with retinol and just using it twice a week to start with, I'm telling you it can make the biggest difference in giving that brighter look."
THE BEST SKINCARE TIPS 2024 | DO'S & DON'TS FOR BETTER SKIN! SINCERELY MISS ASH
"Paula's Choice CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment is really nice for those that have sensitive skin. I use this on my neck all the time and my neck can be very sensitive to retinol and just active ingredients in general, and in my opinion this is gentle. This one also has vitamin C and peptides in the formulation and I do feel like it's quite moisturizing as well. Even if you have to start with the sandwich method first then do that, so that means you're going to put a layer of moisturizer first then your retinol then another layer of moisturizer. This is a great technique to do when you're first starting retinol. This is going to give you that barrier and it's just going to provide your skin with more moisture when you're using that retinol and it works really well. This really is a great product to address so many skin concerns like discoloration fine lines and wrinkles acne and so much more."
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"This is a product that I've always raved about because not only does it have the retinol, it also has vitamin C and peptides so it's going to help firm, address fine lines and wrinkles, it's going to brighten, it's going to improve texture and it's great for those that have acne prone skin as well. It really does it all. I use this on my neck and my chest, and I can't use tretinoin on my neck multiple times a week, so I use this on those off nights instead. All you need is a pea-sized amount to apply to your face and then another pea-sized amount to cover your neck area."
IS IT OVER FOR TRETINOIN? WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON? SHARING ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO USE INSTEAD!
"I really like the one from Paula's Choice, the 1% retinol treatment. I like it because it's moisturizing, it's quite gentle, but it also contains peptides and vitamin C. I like using it on my neck and my chest, but I've also used it many times on my face as well, and I really love that formulation."
Approved
"Like Paula's Choice or any sort of retinol, try to use it on those areas. If you're nervous, put a moisturizer first and then apply it. Only do it at night and don't try to do it twice a day."
Approved
"The ingredients here are water, squalene, glycerin, and a combination of retinol plus retinaldehyde at 0.1%. They don't tell you the exact split, but some sources say it's 0.5% and 0.5%, so half and half. This one I'd say is more for intermediate users. To be honest, I just don't think it's worth the price tag. It's a thinner formula than we've seen today, and retinol works better in a fattier formula just because it can be very irritating and the oil can help to mitigate that."
Approved
"Paula's Choice retinol is one of the few skincare products where I tested it out and I noticed a difference very very quickly. I just loved it. Although I will say that it's the first retinol I ever tried so probably almost any retinol would have that effect, but there's a few products that just right at the gate I just love them."
Approved
"I love the Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment. Over-the-counter retinols are the most easily tolerated on our skin because there is less irritation."
All 2 takes from Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
Which Retinoid is right for YOUR skin❓ Watch this IG LIVE SHOW as I walk you through all of the dif
"I love the Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment. Over-the-counter retinols are the most easily tolerated on our skin because there is less irritation."
Which Retinoid is right for YOUR skin? Watch this IG LIVE SHOW as I walk you through all of the dif
"This is my top retinol that you can find at home. It's got to be converted to make this stronger, so my number one choice for an atom retinol if you're just beginning or even if you want to step your retinol down a little bit, if you don't want to be peely or red. Even if you just started with something like this and stayed here, you're still increasing cell turnover, you're still diminishing fine lines and wrinkles, you're still treating acne, you're still helping melasma, you're still changing the function of your skin. This is my top one. It's an over-the-counter retinol and it also has great supporting ingredients such as peptides and oat and willow bark that help to soothe the skin as it's treating. This is still a great product and you still might get irritated from this, but this is a great starter retinol."
Skip
"Paula's Choice Clinical which is a one percent strength... was definitely high potency you get some great results but you also got a lot of irritation with it. I actually prefer their retinol 0.3 plus the couture to their clinical strength you get a good dose of retinol and that couture dials up the results you're going to see without also dialing up the sensitivity that you can experience in the skin."
Approved
"The one percent Paula's Choice is the one that most people would need probably to build up to. I absolutely love it. I've had zero irritation in all the time I've ever used this. It has peptides and it has vitamin C, it's basically beautifully formulated, it's really lovely. It's unfragranced, it's the smell of retinol which I really love, and I've had zero problems with it."
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