Niacinamide is always the odd one out, isnât it? Youâve already got your skincare routine down to a T:
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AHA/BHA exfoliant? Check.
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Vitamin C serum? Check.
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Retinol serum? Check.
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Moisturising sunscreen? Check.
But none of them has niacinamide! Argh! How do you fit this antiaging superstar into your skincare routine, too?! đ”âđ«
Fret not. You donât have to give up one or your staples and start the search all over again. Just get yourself a bottle of Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster. Itâs a lightweight booster you can mix with any of your fave skincare products to supercharge it against wrinkles and large pores. Hereâs how it works and why itâs a staple in my skincare routine:
Whatâs In Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster?
NIACINAMIDE TO⊠EVERYTHING
Niacinamide wins the award for the âMost Versatile Skincare Ingredient.â Iâm not exaggerating. Here are all the things science says this form of vitamin B3 can do:
It hydrates skin: Itâs more effective than petrolatum at preventing water loss.
It soothes skin: It alleviates the symptoms of rosacea and irritations.
It lightens skin: It reduces dark spots, blotchiness (redness) and sallowness (yellowing).
It helps treat wrinkles: Preliminary research shows it can boost the production of skin-firming collagen.
It treats acne: Its effects are similar to those of 1% clindamycin gel.
Told you, it did everything! No matter what your skin type is, itâs a must for everyone:
Dry skin: It helps keep it soft and hydrated.
Oily skin: It helps shrink large pores and heal pimples faster.
Sensitive skin: It helps soothe redness and irritations.
Mature, sun-damaged skin: It helps lighten dark spots and keep wrinkles at bay.
Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains a generous 10% dose. Thatâs more than enough to do the job.
Related: All You Ever Wanted To Know About Niacinamide
VITAMIN C TO BRIGHTEN SKIN
Wait, what?! I thought you couldnât use vitamin C and niacinamide together?! Thatâs a myth. Phew! Iâve written all about why itâs totally ok to use these two vitamins together. The only exception? If youâre one of the few people who gets a red flush when you use this combo together, donât go there.
Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster uses ascorbyl glucoside, a derivative of vitamin C that fights free radicals (the little culprits that give you wrinkles) and reduces dark spots. FYI, ascorbyl glucoside is less effective than L-ascorbic acid (the pure form of vitamin C). But itâs more stable (read: doesnât go bad within a month) and less irritating. A good trade off, if you ask me.
Related: Types Of Vitamin C In Skincare
HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN
Ok, Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster uses sodium hyaluronate, a close cousin of hyaluronic acid. But, they work in the same way. Sodium hyaluronate is a moisture magnet: it attracts moisture from the air into the skin, drenching it in water. Itâs so powerful, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water! The result? Your skin is plumper, so your wrinkles look smaller. Your complexion is softer to the touch. Your complexion is glowing. Instant anti-aging trick right there.
Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE âBest Anti-Aging Skincare Routineâ to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
Green: Itâs effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
Yellow: Thereâs not much proof it works (at least, yet).
Red: What is this doing here?!
Waterâ : The main solvent in the product.
Acetyl Glucosamineâ : This simple sugar has powerful antioxidant properties that helps reduce discolourations, especially when paired with niacinamide. It needs to be used in 2-5% concentrations to do the job. Luckily, thereâs enough of it here.
Butylene Glycolâ : A solvent with hydrating properties that keeps skin softer and smoother for longer.
Phospholipidsâ : Types of lipids that naturally occur in your skin. They draw moisture from the air into your skin, helping to keep your skin hydrated without being occlusive and giving you acne.
Allantoin: A byproduct of uric acid that naturally occurs in the comfrey plant, it has powerful soothing properties that calm down redness and irritation.
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extractâ : It has powerful antioxidant properties that also help lighten discolourations.
Glycerinâ : A powerful humectant that draws moisture from the air into the skin, helping to keep it hydrated for longer.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizateâ : Naturally found in liquorice, it has powerful soothing properties that calm down redness and irritation. It also helps lighten discolourations.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extractâ : Another component of licorice that soothes irritations and lightens dark spots.
Ubiquinoneâ : An antioxidants that fights free radicals before they can give you wrinkles.
Epigallocatechin Gallateâ : A powerful antioxidant found in green tea, it fights free radicals and reduces the damaging effects of UV rays to prevent wrinkles and discolourations.
Beta-Glucanâ : A hydrator that makes skin softer and smoother.
Panthenolâ : A humectant that draws moisture from the air into the skin to keep it hydrated. It also soothes irritations.
Carnosineâ : It protects against the oxidative stress that causes free radicals to prevent premature aging.
Genisteinâ : A component of soybean, it soothes UVB-induced redness in human skin.
Citric Acidâ : It adjusts the pH of skincare products to help them work their best.
Sodium Citrateâ : It helps adjust the pH of skincare products.
Sodium Hydroxideâ : Another pH balancer.
Xanthan Gumâ : It thickens the consistent of skincare products.
Disodium EDTAâ : It enhances the stability of cosmetic formulas and helps preservative make the product safer for longer.
Ethylhexylglycerinâ : It has hydrating properties but itâs used here mostly as a preservative to make the booster last longer.
Phenoxyethanolâ : A preservative that helps your skincare products last longer.
Texture
I love the texture of Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster: itâs clear, lightweight as water and absorbs immediately into the skin without leaving a greasy or sticky residue behind. It tends to be runny, so you may need a cotton pad to apply it.
Fragrance
Like all Paulaâs Choice products, itâs fragrance-free. I personally like it. It may not smell like a meadow in full bloom, but itâs safe for sensitive skin. Fragrances are the most irritating ingredients in skincare, so you want to avoid them whenever possible â just in case.
How To Use It
You can use this booster in several ways. I like to use it alone, in the morning, just after cleansing, to boost sun protection and get maximum benefits. You can also use mix it with your fave serum or moisturiser. Itâll dilute it a little, so youâll see results more slowly, but it does save time in the morning or evening. If you want to use it in the evening, it goes after exfoliation (on exfoliation days) and before retinol (on retinol days).
Packaging
The booster comes in a white bottle with green accents and a dropper applicator. I love how practical and easy to use it is. The only con? The small size. It makes it travel-friendly, but it also means youâll have to buy the serum often.
Performance & Personal Opinion
I like to mix Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster with a hyaluronic acid serum or moisturiser in the evening, but you can use it in the mornings, too. Just donât mix it with sunscreen. ANYTHING you mix with sunscreen will dilute the SPF. Donât go there. Or, if you donât like the idea of mixing your lotions and potions, use it alone. Like a serum. Either way, it works.
The results here depends on what it is youâre dealing with. For example, I have large pores on and around my nose. After a few applications, they already look smaller. I also noticed an improvement in the texture of my skin. Now it looks a little smoother all over. Itâs also softer. While Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster isnât the most hydrating product Iâve ever tried, it does helps strengthen my skinâs protective barrier so moisture canât escape out.
I canât personally vouch for its ability to reduce dark spots, just because I have none (lucky, I know!). As for wrinkles, that takes time. Wrinkles werenât formed in a day and niacinamide wonât make them disappear in a day. You have to play the long game here.
My only complaint is the size. Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains only 20ml of product. Sure, you need so little thatâs gonna last you a long time but I still want more. Iâm greedy like that.
How Does It Compare ToâŠ
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($6.00): No comparison here. The Ordinary is specially developed to absorb excess sebum and treat acne in oily skin. If your skin is oily or acne-prone, this is your best bet. Everyone else, will find it to drying. Stick to Paulaâs Choice instead. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
The Inkey List Niacinamide (ÂŁ9.99): A stripped down version of this serum. Super hydrating, it contains Niacinamide and nothing else. If youâre on a budget, go for it. Otherwise, itâs worth it to spend a little more and get the extra antioxidants benefits from Paulaâs Choice. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, Selfridges, Sephora, and The Inkey List.
What I Like About Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture.
Fragrance-free.
Shrinks large pores.
Hydrates skin and makes it softer.
Helps lighten discolourations.
Versatile, can use it on its own or mix it with other serums/moisturisers.
Travel-friendly.
What DONâT I Like About Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
Small bottle, you need to repurchase it often.
Who Should Use This?
Anyone can use this booster, especially if niacinamide isnât already part of your skincare routine. It helps with acne, dark spots, dehydration, irritations, large poresâŠ. The only reason to avoid it is if youâre allergic to one of the ingredients.
Does Paulaâs Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster Live Up To Its Claims?
CLAIM
TRUE?
This concentrated 10% niacinamide serum booster dramatically improves uneven skin tone and refines the appearance of pore size, skin texture and fine lines.
True.
Sheer, ultra-light liquid formula.
True.
Promotes a brighter, younger-looking appearance.
True.
Is Paulaâs Choice Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Paulaâs Choice is truly cruelty-free. It doesnât test on animals and doesnât outsource the process to third parties either.
Price & Availability
$42.00/ÂŁ40.00 at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Net-A-Porter, Paulaâs Choice, Selfridges, and SpaceNK
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
You DO need niacinamide into your skincare routine. If you donât know how to add it in, this is a great option for you. Just add a few drops to your moisturiser and youâre good to go.
Dupes & Alternatives
The Inkey List Niacinamide (ÂŁ9.99): A simple, no-frills, hydrating niacinamide serum for all skin types. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, Selfridges, Sephora, and The Inkey List.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($6.00): Suitable for oily skin ONLY, it absorbs excess oil and helps keep acne under control. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
Water (Aqua), Niacinamide (vitamin B3, skin-restoring ), Acetyl Glucosamine (skin replenishing/antioxidant), Ascorbyl Glucoside (vitamin C/antioxidant), Butylene Glycol (hydration), Phospholipids (skin replenishing), Sodium Hyaluronate (hydration/skin replenishing), Allantoin (skin-soothing), Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract (skin-soothing), Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (skin-soothing), Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract (licorice extract/skin-soothing), Ubiquinone (antioxidant), Epigallocatechin Gallate (antioxidant), Beta-Glucan (skin-soothing/antioxidant), Panthenol (skin replenishing), Carnosine (antioxidant), Genistein (antioxidant), Citric Acid (pH balancing), Sodium Citrate (pH balancing), Sodium Hydroxide (pH balancing), Xanthan Gum (texture-enhancing), Disodium EDTA (stabilizer), Ethylhexylglycerin (preservative), Phenoxyethanol (preservative)
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.