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IOPE The Vitamin C 1… vs Paula's Choice Clini… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum vs Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 vs IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum at 7.7/9.8. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment wins for hydration.

Head to head

IOPE

The Vitamin C 13 Serum

serumpremium

7.7

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Ingredients

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.

IOPE wins 0

Tied 2

Paula's Choice wins 3

9.0

IOPE

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

13% overlap

13IOPE

6Shared

47Paula's Choice

Only in IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum

7 unique

Water Ascorbic Acid 2-Hexanediol Niacinamide Panthenol Carbomer Tromethamine

Shared ingredients

6 in common

Glycerin Butylene Glycol Allantoin Sodium Hyaluronate Tocopheryl Acetate Ethylhexylglycerin

Only in Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

41 unique

Aqua Dimethicone Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate Glyceryl Stearate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Dimethicone Crosspolymer Polysorbate 20 Behenyl Alcohol Retinol+31 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 IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum's 6.9. 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 5.4 for IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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 iOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum relies on Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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 7.7, IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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

+1.2 lead

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

7.7IOPE

8.9Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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 IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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 IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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: IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum→Full analysis: Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment→

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