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Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 and the ordinary Buffet scores 8.8/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.
Scores last verified: April 2026
36 unique
11 in common
37 unique
These two serums take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.
Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 9.8 here versus 8.7 for the ordinary Buffet. 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 the ordinary Buffet relies on Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment is better if you have
the ordinary Buffet is better if you have
At mid-range pricing with a score of 8.9, Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment delivers strong value. the ordinary Buffet sits at the budget level with a 8.8 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.
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.
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.
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© 2026 Gracie. All rights reserved. Data sourced from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL) and EU CosIng.