Paula's Choice
10% Niacinamide BoosterA serum built around Niacinamide and Panthenol, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Niacinamide and Vitamin C derivative, for hydration and barrier repair.
Brand price
USD 24.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 53.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-free, Silicone-free, Pore-clogger-free, Oil-free and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.

Benefits

Hydrating13
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Collagen, Dimethicone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Panthenol, Propanediol, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair23
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Brassica Campestris Sterols, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cholesterol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oleic Acid, Panthenol, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Reduces Irritation5
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Panthenol
Redness Reducing4
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Niacinamide
Hydrating7
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Acetyl Glucosamine, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Barrier Repair7
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Niacinamide, Panthenol
Reduces Irritation5
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol
Redness Reducing3
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.

Concerns

May Trigger Acne8
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oleic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis20
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oleic Acid, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris8
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oleic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Oily Skin4
May increase shine or excess oil.
Glycine Soja Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Squalane
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis3
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- Dark Spots
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Niacinamide
Smoothing
Niacinamide is niacinamide.
Learn more about Niacinamide →Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
Learn more about Pentylene Glycol →Panthenol
Antistatic, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Panthenol is panthenol (provitamin B5).
Learn more about Panthenol →Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant, Skin Conditioning
.alpha.-d-Glucopyranosiduronic acid, (3.beta.,20.beta.)-20-carboxy-11-oxo-30-norolean-12-en-3-yl 2-O-.beta.-d-glucopyranuronosyl-, dipotassium salt
Learn more about Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate →Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
L-histidine, N-beta-alanyl
Learn more about Carnosine →
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