Niacinamide Peptides
1% Retinol Booster

Medik8

Niacinamide Peptides

Paula's Choice

1% Retinol Booster

A serum built around Niacinamide and Zinc salt, for barrier repair and hydration.

A serum built around Retinoid and Ceramide, for barrier repair and hydration.

Serum
Serum
30 ingredients
27 ingredients

Brand price

GBP 49.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

USD 55.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

No retailer listed yet
No retailer listed yet

At a Glance

They come out differently on Silicone-free, Pore-clogger-free and Vegan; 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.

    Cetearyl Alcohol

  • Vitamin E1

    Tocopherols — fat-soluble antioxidants.

    Tocopherol

  • Zinc salt (sebum/soothing)1

    Zinc salts, used for sebum control and soothing.

    Zinc PCA

  • Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)2

    Polysorbate (Tween) emulsifiers.

    Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80

  • Ceramide1

    Skin-identical lipids that hold the barrier together.

    Ceramide NP

  • Colloidal oatmeal1

    Finely milled oat — an FDA-recognised skin protectant.

    Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

  • Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)1

    Polysorbate (Tween) emulsifiers.

    Polysorbate 20

  • Retinoid1

    Vitamin A derivatives that speed cell turnover.

    Retinol

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

  • Aqua

    Solvent

    0 / —

  • Niacinamide

    Smoothing

    0 / —

    • Niacinamide
    • Acne Fighting
    • Barrier Repair
    • Brightening
    • Dark Spots
    • Even Tone
    • Oil Control
    • Pore Refining
    • Redness Reducing

  • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

    Occlusive

    1 / 1

  • Acetyl Glucosamine

    Skin Conditioning

    • Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
    • Dark Spots
    • Hydrating
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

    Emollient

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Glycerin (in both products)

    Humectant

    0 / 0

    • Possibly animal-derived
    • Hydrating

  • Dimethicone

    Emollient

    1 / 0

    • Silicones
    • Barrier Repair
    • Hydrating
    • Smoothing

  • Zinc PCA

    Humectant

    • Zinc salt (sebum/soothing)
    • Acne Fighting
    • Oil Control
    • Reduces Irritation

  • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10

    Skin Conditioning

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Sodium Hyaluronate

    Humectant

    0 / 0

    • Hyaluronic acid
    • Hydrating

  • Water

    Skin Conditioning

  • Glycerin (in both products)

    Humectant

    0 / 0

    • Possibly animal-derived
    • Hydrating

  • Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

    Skin Conditioning

    0 / 0

    • Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
    • Plant or mineral oil
    • Barrier Repair
    • May Worsen Oily Skin
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate

    Cleansing

  • Butylene Glycol

    Humectant

    1 / 0

    • Hydrating

  • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

    Skin Conditioning

  • Polysorbate 20

    Cleansing

    0 / 0

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Retinol

    Skin Conditioning

    • Retinoid
    • Acne Fighting
    • Anti-Aging
    • Dark Spots
    • Firming
    • Oil Control
    • Pore Refining
    • Smoothing

  • Glycyrrhiza Glabra

  • Ceramide NP

    Skin Conditioning

    • Ceramide
    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • Barrier Repair
    • Hydrating
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Similar Comparisons

Each product against its closest dupes.