Paula's Choice CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment with Peptides, Vitamin C & Licorice Extract, Firming Cream for Face, Anti-Aging & Wrinkles, Fragrance Free, 1 Fl Oz

Why it's worth it

Paula's Choice pairs 1% retinol with peptides, vitamins C and E and licorice extract in an airless pump. If you're bothered by the idea of your retinol slowly oxidizing in a jar, this is the fix, and it's fragrance-free.

The airless pump solves the problem most retinol creams ignore. Retinol is photosensitive and oxidizes when exposed to air, which is why a jar you open nightly is weaker at the end than at the start. A sealed pump never lets air into the reservoir. The last dose comes out as fresh as the first. For an active this finicky, that's not a marketing flourish, it's the difference between paying for 1% and getting it.

You're getting four things working at once, not just retinol. Retinol drives turnover. Vitamins C and E add antioxidant protection and brightening. Peptides support firmness through a separate mechanism. Licorice extract targets the dark marks left behind by old breakouts. If your concerns are a mix of lines, uneven tone and post-acne shadows rather than wrinkles alone, this covers more ground than a single-active formula does.

From our review of 12 retinol creams, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +The airless pump solves the problem most retinol creams ignore
• +You're getting four things working at once, not just retinol
• +The texture works for skin that hates heavy creams
• +Fragrance-free is the default, not an upsell

What to know

• –It's a 1-ounce bottle at a serious price, and 1% demands existing tolerance
• –The vitamin C may be redundant