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Paula's Choice 10% N… vs The Inkey List Retin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster vs The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Head to head

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Paula's Choice

10% Niacinamide Booster

serummid-range

8.3

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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.

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The Inkey List

Retinol Serum

serumbudget

7.0

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

Paula's Choice wins 3

Tied 2

The Inkey List wins 0

8.3Paula's Choice

+1.3vs

7.0The Inkey List

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Paula's Choice WINS

7.7

5.6

Paula's Choice

The Inkey List

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Paula's Choice

The Inkey List

Active Ingredient Strength

Paula's Choice WINS

6.7

3.6

Paula's Choice

The Inkey List

Ingredient Transparency

Paula's Choice WINS

8.8

7.5

Paula's Choice

The Inkey List

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Paula's Choice

The Inkey List

Ingredient face-off

14% overlap

22Paula's Choice

3Shared

12The Inkey List

Only in Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

19 unique

Aqua Niacinamide Acetyl Glucosamine Ascorbyl Glucoside Butylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane Methyl Gluceth-20 Allantoin Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract+9 more

Shared ingredients

3 in common

Glycerin Xanthan Gum Phenoxyethanol

Only in The Inkey List Retinol Serum

9 unique

Aqua/Water Squalane Retinol Dimethicone Cetearyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate Peg-100 Stearate Ethylhexylglycerin Disodium Edta

Why Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster comes out ahead

Where Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 6.7 compared to The Inkey List Retinol Serum's 3.6. Its formula features Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Allantoin in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster scores 7.7 here versus 5.6 for The Inkey List Retinol Serum. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster brings Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Allantoin as actives, while the Inkey List Retinol Serum relies on Retinol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

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

The Inkey List Retinol Serum is better if you have

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

Value comparison

At mid-range pricing with a score of 8.3, Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster delivers strong value. The Inkey List Retinol Serum sits at the budget level with a 7.0 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.3 lead

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

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8.3Paula's Choice

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7.0The Inkey List

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster or The Inkey List Retinol Serum?

Based on ingredient analysis, Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster and The Inkey List Retinol Serum share ingredients?

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

What's the main difference between Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster and The Inkey List Retinol Serum?

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

Full analysis: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster→Full analysis: The Inkey List Retinol Serum→

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