Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

After I fell in love with the Clinical 1% Retinol from Paula’s Choice (which is almost as good as the fountain of youth), I decided to try out the Niacinamide Booster.

Similar to retinol (but safe to use during pregnancy), the 10% Niacinamide Booster is great for all skin types and has a number of benefits to the skin while being super gentle and non-irritating.

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Benefits of the Paula’s Choice Niacinamide Booster

Niacinamide has a number of skin care benefits and it’s a great product for every skin type because it is non-irritating. Niacinamide works by:

-reducing enlarged pores by reducing sebum (oil) production

-reducing the appearance of fine lines

-improving uneven skin tone

-promoting brighter, smoother skin

-reducing sebum (oil) output

-buffering the irritating effects of retinol

I’ll take all of the above please!

RELATED READING: 11 Things You Should Know About Retinol

BUY IT: Dermstore | Net-A-Porter

Formula and Ingredients of Paula’s Choice Niacinamide Booster

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has been found to work wonders on the skin due to its ability to address the problems I listed above. This booster has a very mild smell (I can only smell it when I put the product really close to my nose) and comes in a clear, liquid form that is dispensed using a pipette.

The formula includes hydrating and soothing elements to reduce redness and dryness as well, such as sodium hyaluronate.

The Niacinamide Booster is 100% fragrance free, not tested on animals and clinically found to be non-irritating (although I have read reviews where some people have reacted to the product in the form of acne).

 

Who Can Use Niacinamide?

Niacinamide is safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding and is gentle and safe for all skin types and daily use. It is normally recommended that you not use Vitamin C and niacinamide on the same day at the same time but niacinamide is otherwise perfect for mixing with acids, retinol, moisturizers and facial oils (excluding those containing vitamin C of course).

Paula’s Choice also offers a 20% Niacinamide Booster, but I would not recommend trying that formula until you are ok with the 10% version first. 

 

Ingredients include:

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).

 

How I Use Paula’s Choice Niacinamide In My Skin Care Routine

The packaging comes with a dropper/pipette to dispense the booster (pictured above), which can be applied to your daily serum or moisturizer after cleansing, exfoliating and toning once or twice daily.

I like to add one-two drops into a mixture of (a) one splash of The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Aqua Boost Essence and (b) Larachem’s Hyaluronic Moisturizing Gel  at night time.

Whether alone or mixed into my serums, the niacinamide booster absorbs into the skin in seconds with no greasy residue left behind whatsoever. Niacinamide doesn’t make your skin photo-sensitive either, although you should always wear a sunscreen during the daytime anyways!

I haven’t been using my retinol in the past month or so, so I was curious as to whether the niacinamide would live up to its claims and keep my skin looking as good as it does after using my retinol…fingers crossed!

RELATED READING: Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment: Better Skin Overnight

Results?

Paula’s Choice Niacinamide Booster definitely improved the overall look of my skin with regular use with zero irritation. My complexion looks radiant and healthy and it gets along well with this serum. I also feel like over time my skin has become less oily, which is always a bonus.

While I love all the skin-improving benefits of niacinamide, I’d like to see if the more affordable niacinamide option from The Ordinary, which retails for around $6, can offer me the same benefits at a lower cost.

If you’re interested in trying the Niacinamide Booster, or any other products from Paula’s Choice, click here for $10 off your first order (affiliate link). 

How long does it take for niacinamide to work? Like most serums, you should use the Niacinamide Booster consistently for 8-12 weeks to see full results.

BUY IT: Dermstore | Selfridges | Paula’s Choice

RELATED READING: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc %1

 

Have you tried the Paula’s Choice Niacinamide Booster yet?