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Medicube Deep Vita A… vs Paula's Choice 10% N… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum vs Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum scores 8.9/9.8 vs Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster at 8.3/9.8. Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum wins for hydration.

Head to head

Medicube

Deep Vita A Retinol Serum

serum

8.9

Compare

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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

10% Niacinamide Booster

serummid-range

8.3

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

Medicube wins 1

Tied 4

Paula's Choice wins 0

8.9Medicube

+0.6vs

8.3Paula's Choice

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Medicube WINS

9.8

7.7

Medicube

Paula's Choice

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Medicube

Paula's Choice

Active Ingredient Strength

TIE

6.7

Medicube

Paula's Choice

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.8

Medicube

Paula's Choice

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Medicube

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

19% overlap

53Medicube

10Shared

22Paula's Choice

Only in Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum

43 unique

Water Dipropylene Glycol Propanediol 2-Hexanediol Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Squalane Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate Dimethyl Isosorbide Hydrogenated Lecithin Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer+33 more

Shared ingredients

10 in common

Butylene Glycol Glycerin Niacinamide Pentylene Glycol Panthenol Allantoin Xanthan Gum Sodium Hyaluronate Ceramide Np Beta-Glucan

Only in Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

12 unique

Aqua Acetyl Glucosamine Ascorbyl Glucoside Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane Methyl Gluceth-20 Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract Ubiquinone Carnosine Sodium Pca Trisodium Edta+2 more

Why Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum comes out ahead

Where Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.8 compared to Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster's 7.7. With Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, and Glycerin in its top ingredients, Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum brings Niacinamide, Allantoin, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate as actives, while paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster relies on Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, and Ascorbyl Glucoside. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Dipropylene Glycol
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster comes in at mid-range pricing with a 8.3 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.6 lead

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is still a solid pick.

8.9Medicube

8.3Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum or Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster?

Based on ingredient analysis, Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum and Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster share ingredients?

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

What's the main difference between Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum and Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster?

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

Full analysis: Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum→Full analysis: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster→

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