Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster for oily skin
Niacinamide
Acetyl Glucosamine
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Panthenol Vitamin B5High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin due to the presence of niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine, which regulate sebum and smooth texture.
- Dipotassium glycyrrhizate and allantoin further support anti-inflammatory actions and soothe the skin, enhancing overall comfort and reducing shine.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation and a good balance of beneficial and soothing ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsUsers 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 a great fit for oily skin?
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is a great fit for oily skin because it contains niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine, which help regulate oil and smooth texture to minimize pores and even out skin tone. Licorice root extract and allantoin further calm the skin to keep it comfortable and reduce shine with a very low risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine make this treatment a great fit because they regulate oil and smooth texture to help shrink the look of pores and even out skin tone. Additionally, dipotassium glycyrrhizate and allantoin help calm the skin and reduce shine, while panthenol provides soothing moisture and supports comfort.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Acetyl Glucosamine do for oily skin?
Acetyl glucosamine helps keep oily skin feeling smooth by normalizing how the outer skin layer sheds, which reduces flakiness and boosts hydration. A product of this type for oily skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Using it at night helps avoid any extra sensitivity from sun exposure while it works to balance oil and smooth your texture.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol, applying the retinol first and following with this booster. It is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation and a good balance of beneficial and soothing ingredients that help keep your face calm and smooth.
How often should I use it?
This treatment is typically used in the evening as part of your routine for oily skin. You can start slowly once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This booster is a great fit for oily skin and is unlikely to irritate it, though some shoppers do mention breakouts. Niacinamide helps regulate oil and smooth texture, keeping pores clear without heavy oils.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate-loaded hydroxypropyl chitosan and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels applied to wounds in a mouse full-thickness skin defect model resulted in rapid wound closure, efficient tissue remolding, collagen deposition, and decreased inflammation compared to commercial Tegaderm film and 3M dressing controls.
Acta Biomaterialia, 2022Niacinamide 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, 2002Topical 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, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2007N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016Topical 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, 2019Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019Combining 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, 2015Licochalcone 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, 2015Bioactive 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, 2025Moisturizer 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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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