Paula's Choice
10% Niacinamide BoosterA serum built around Retinoid and Hyaluronic acid, for barrier repair and hydration.
A serum built around Niacinamide and Vitamin C derivative, for hydration and barrier repair.
Brand price
USD 21.99 · checked 8 Oct 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, Pore-clogger-free and Oil-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.

Benefits

Hydrating8
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, PEG-8, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair10
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isododecane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
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 Acne5
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis9
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C13-14 Isoalkane, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Laureth-7, Polysorbate 20, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis3
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Humectant
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
Cleansing
2 / 3
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
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 →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 →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 →Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate is a hyaluronic acid.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate →Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →Polysorbate 20
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20 isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20 →Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
Learn more about Pentylene Glycol →Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering, Denaturant
Sodium hydroxide
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide →
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