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Kiehl's Clearly Corr… vs Paula's Choice Clini… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
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/Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution vs Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 vs Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution at 7.8/9.8. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment wins for hydration.

Head to head

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Kiehl's

Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution

serumpremium

7.8

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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.

Kiehl's wins 0

Tied 2

Paula's Choice wins 3

9.0

Kiehl's

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

15% overlap

18Kiehl's

7Shared

47Paula's Choice

Only in Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution

11 unique

Aqua/Water Propylene Glycol Niacinamide Ascorbyl Glucoside Salicylic Acid Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid+1 more

Shared ingredients

7 in common

Glycerin Pentylene Glycol Dimethicone Disodium Edta Sodium Hydroxide Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol

Only in Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

40 unique

Aqua Butylene Glycol Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate Glyceryl Stearate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Dimethicone Crosspolymer Polysorbate 20 Behenyl Alcohol Retinol+30 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 Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution's 6.8. With Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, and Sodium Hyaluronate in its top ingredients, Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Ingredient Transparency is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.8 here versus 7.5 for Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. 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 kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution relies on Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Salicylic Acid. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 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 7.8, Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 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

+1.1 lead

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

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7.8Kiehl's

8.9Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 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 Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 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 Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 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: Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution→Full analysis: Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment→

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