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cien Eternal Orquid vs Paula's Choice Clini… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cien Eternal Orquid vs Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 vs cien Eternal Orquid at 6.7/9.8. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment wins for hydration.

Head to head

cien

Eternal Orquid

serum

6.7

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Niacinamide
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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Paula's Choice

Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

serummid-range

8.9

Score comparison

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

cien wins 0

Tied 2

Paula's Choice wins 3

9.0

cien

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

6% overlap

22cien

3Shared

47Paula's Choice

Only in cien Eternal Orquid

19 unique

Aqua (Water)Glycerin Squalane Propylene Glycol Glyceryl Polyacrylate Triethanolamine Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract Orchis Morio Flower Extract Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Sodium Hyaluronate Butylene Glycol Xanthan Gum. Lecithin Hexapeptide-10 Carbomer Tripeptide-1+9 more

Shared ingredients

3 in common

Caprylyl Glycol Disodium Edta Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Only in Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

44 unique

Aqua Dimethicone Glycerin Butylene Glycol Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate Glyceryl Stearate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Dimethicone Crosspolymer Polysorbate 20+34 more

Why Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment comes out ahead

Where Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.8 compared to cien Eternal Orquid's 3.4. With Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, and Sodium Hyaluronate in its top ingredients, Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 7.1 here versus 4.2 for cien Eternal Orquid. 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, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate as actives, while cien Eternal Orquid relies on Triethanolamine Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract and Orchis Morio Flower Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cien Eternal Orquid is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

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

Value comparison

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment comes in at mid-range pricing with a 8.9 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+2.2 lead

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

6.7cien

8.9Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cien Eternal Orquid or Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment?

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 cien Eternal Orquid and Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between cien Eternal Orquid and Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment?

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

Full analysis: cien Eternal Orquid→Full analysis: Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment→

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