Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment for mature skin
Retinol
Peptides
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide 2
High
- SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few serums fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Excellent for your normal skin, this treatment effectively targets wrinkles and fine lines with retinol and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which promote collagen production and skin renewal. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate further support your skin by providing essential hydration and maintaining a balanced moisture barrier.
- The inclusion of oat kernel extract and licorice root extract ensures a soothing experience, minimizing any potential for irritation.
- This formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring beneficial extracts that protect against irritation.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 6.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users report significant improvements in skin texture, reduction in fine lines, and fading of hyperpigmentation. Many users experience a harsh adjustment period with peeling and irritation, so slow introduction is recommended.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin becomes very smooth”
- “texture has smoothed out”
- “glowy, smooth skin”
- “soft and smooth”
Anti-aging results Often Mentioned
- “softens lines and wrinkles”
- “firm and lifted”
- “younger looking skin”
- “fewer lines”
Dryness and peeling Often Mentioned
- “peeling and flaking”
- “skin might start to become drier”
- “shedding again”
- “dry patches”
Effective packaging Sometimes Noted
- “air-tight pump bottle”
- “vacuum pump is great”
- “dispenses exactly what you need”
- “sturdy and practical”
Even skin tone Sometimes Noted
- “hyperpigmentation is fading”
- “lighten acne marks”
- “skin tone is more even”
- “faded discolorations”
Lightweight formula Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly”
- “light, silky texture”
- “spreads easily”
- “non-greasy”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “price is quite high”
- “bit steep”
- “expensive”
- “pricy for the amount”
Severe irritation Sometimes Noted
- “burnt skin off”
- “scaling like a snake”
- “raw and puffy”
- “absolutely burns”
Breakouts/Purging Rarely Noted
- “causing red acne”
- “gave me little breakouts”
- “red bumps”
- “badly broke me out”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “chemical smell”
- “sour smell”
- “weird scent”
- “smells like glue”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.com, amazon.com, sephora.com.au, dermstore.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment a great fit for mature skin?
This treatment is a great fit for mature skin because it uses retinol and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate to target fine lines and wrinkles while encouraging skin renewal. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help keep your skin hydrated, and soothing ingredients like oat kernel extract minimize irritation.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for mature skin?
This treatment is a great fit for mature skin because it uses retinol and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate to target fine lines and wrinkles by promoting skin renewal. Additionally, glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential hydration to keep the skin balanced, while oat kernel and licorice root extracts help keep the skin calm and comfortable.
What does Retinol do for mature skin?
Retinol helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles while improving overall skin thickness and firmness over time. It may also cause temporary dryness, scaling, or stinging as your skin gets used to it.
What do Peptides do for mature skin?
Peptides help mature skin by signaling skin cells to boost collagen production, which improves firmness and smooths out fine lines. They are generally safe to use daily, though their ability to deliver results depends heavily on how well the formula can sink into the skin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009Biomolecules, 2025
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer. Applying it at night helps avoid sun sensitivity while retinol and vitamin C target fine lines and encourage skin renewal.
Can I use this treatment with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first and letting it absorb before putting on this treatment. This combination helps smooth wrinkles while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
How often should I use this treatment?
Use this treatment in your evening routine. Start by applying it once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This treatment is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging for your mature skin. Its formula features soothing ingredients that help calm the skin and minimize irritation while targeting wrinkles.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol and arachidyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical formulations containing ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, coenzyme Q10, green tea polyphenols, and resveratrol reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines and attenuated inflammatory signs compared to untreated skin and vehicle in 25 Japanese volunteers exposed to sodium dodecyl sulfate.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Peg-33, Polysorbate 20, Behenyl Alcohol, Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ceramide 2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Lecithin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sorbitan Laurate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Peg-100 Stearate, Peg-75 Shea Glycerides Butter, Ppg-12, Peg-10 Phytosterol, Peg-8 Dimethicone, Peg-14, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Arachidyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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