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Drunk Elephant C-Fir… vs Paula's Choice Clini… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum vs Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 vs Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum at 7.9/9.8. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment wins for hydration.

Head to head

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Drunk Elephant

C-Firma Fresh Day Serum

serumpremium

7.9

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Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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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.

Drunk Elephant wins 0

Tied 2

Paula's Choice wins 3

9.0

Drunk Elephant

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

11% overlap

27Drunk Elephant

5Shared

47Paula's Choice

Only in Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum

22 unique

Water/Aqua Ascorbic Acid Laureth-23 Ceteareth-20 Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract Ferulic Acid Tocopherol+12 more

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Glycerin Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Hydroxide Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol

Only in Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

42 unique

Aqua Dimethicone Butylene Glycol Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate Glyceryl Stearate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Dimethicone Crosspolymer Polysorbate 20 Behenyl Alcohol+32 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 Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum's 6.6. 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 6.2 for Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum. 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 drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum relies on Ascorbic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum 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

At premium pricing with a score of 7.9, Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum is a decent pick. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment sits at the mid-range level with a 8.9 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.0 lead

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

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7.9Drunk Elephant

8.9Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum 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 Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum 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 Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum 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: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum→Full analysis: Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment→

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