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Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster for dry sensitive skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

Superior

  • HighDry Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

One of the best serums for dry sensitive skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers excellent skin tone evening and pore minimizing for your dry and sensitive skin, as niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine work to brighten and smooth texture while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide essential hydration and barrier repair.
  • Allantoin and panthenol further support barrier function and soothe irritation, making this a highly compatible formula for your skin concerns.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
  • Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 900+ reviews

Users with oily and combination skin frequently praise this booster for its ability to visibly minimize pores and smooth rough texture, often describing the results as transformative for congestion and post-acne marks. A significant minority of reviewers experience adverse reactions, including breakouts and redness, while others find the price point high for the small quantity provided.

Highlights

  • Minimizes enlarged pores Mostly Mentioned
    • “pores look smaller”
    • “tightened my pores”
    • “pores less visible”
    • “refined pore size”
    • “helped with congestion”
  • Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels smoother”
    • “softens rough patches”
    • “glass skin effect”
    • “bumps disappeared”
    • “refined surface”
  • Lightweight & layerable Often Mentioned
    • “watery consistency”
    • “absorbs instantly”
    • “mixes well with moisturizer”
    • “non-greasy”
    • “no pilling”
  • Controls oil production Sometimes Noted
    • “less oily t-zone”
    • “balanced sebum”
    • “matte finish”
    • “controlled shine”
    • “less greasy during day”
  • Fades marks & redness Sometimes Noted
    • “reduced post-acne marks”
    • “calmed redness”
    • “brightened complexion”
    • “faded dark spots”
    • “evened skin tone”
  • Causes breakouts/irritation Sometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne”
    • “tiny red bumps”
    • “broke me out”
    • “burning sensation”
    • “skin barrier damage”
  • Expensive for size Sometimes Noted
    • “tiny bottle”
    • “pricey for amount”
    • “runs out quickly”
    • “not worth the cost”
    • “expensive per ml”
  • No visible results Rarely Noted
    • “did nothing”
    • “saw no difference”
    • “waste of money”
    • “ineffective”
    • “no change in pores”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “dropper is messy”
    • “hard to get last drops”
    • “bottle leaks”
    • “crusty rim”
    • “bad dispenser”
  • Sticky/tacky finish Rarely Noted
    • “feels sticky”
    • “tacky residue”
    • “leaves a film”
    • “sticky after application”
    • “glue-like texture”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, paulaschoice.com, dermstore.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, amazon.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster one of the best fits for dry sensitive skin?

This booster is an exceptional fit because niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine brighten and smooth texture while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide essential hydration and barrier repair. Allantoin and panthenol further support the skin barrier and soothe irritation without any harsh ingredients.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine make this treatment a great fit by smoothing texture and brightening skin tone. Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, allantoin, and panthenol also help hydrate dry skin and soothe irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013

What does Acetyl Glucosamine do for dry sensitive skin?

Acetyl Glucosamine helps dry sensitive skin by boosting moisture and keeping it soft and smooth. It may also help calm the skin and fade dark spots while supporting hydration.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007

Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing and toning steps, followed by a moisturizer. Lovi places treatments in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this treatment with retinol by applying niacinamide first to calm and hydrate dry, sensitive skin before layering your retinol. This approach is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula is gentle and helps support your skin barrier.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

How often should I use this treatment?

This treatment is applied in the evening as part of your routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation on dry sensitive skin and helps smooth texture while keeping the skin calm.

Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry sensitive skin, as it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. However, some reviewers do report moderate breakouts, so you may want to patch test first.

Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • Topical 2% N-acetyl glucosamine reduced facial hyperpigmentation in an 8-week split-face clinical test, with an even greater effect observed when combined with 4% niacinamide.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007

  • N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.

    Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016

  • Topical cosmetic products containing hyaluronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine, and gamma-amino butyric acid improved skin hydration by 24.28% to 33.60%, elasticity by 11.98%, and skin lightening by 5.26% over 2 months in 20 female participants.

    Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019

  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022

  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015

  • Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2015

  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025

  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000

  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020

Ingredients

Water, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Carnosine, Genistein, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play