Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster for combination skin
Niacinamide
Acetyl Glucosamine
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Panthenol Vitamin B5High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin and oily shine concerns, as niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine work effectively to regulate sebum production and improve skin texture. Glycerin and panthenol further support hydration and skin barrier function, enhancing overall skin health.
- The formulation includes beneficial antioxidants like epigallocatechin gallate and ubiquinone, which offer protection against environmental stressors, complementing the primary benefits for your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no harsh or prohibited ingredients, ensuring a low risk of irritation for your combination skin.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
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 combination skin?
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is a great fit because niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine help control oily shine and smooth texture while glycerin and panthenol keep skin hydrated and balanced. Its antioxidants protect against daily environmental stress, and the gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Carcinogenesis, 2001
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine make this serum a great fit for your combination skin by helping to balance oily shine and smooth out your texture. Glycerin and panthenol team up to keep your skin hydrated and support your skin barrier with a very low risk of irritation. Antioxidants like epigallocatechin gallate and ubiquinone also help protect your skin from daily environmental stress.
Carcinogenesis, 2001The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
What does Acetyl Glucosamine do for combination skin?
Acetyl Glucosamine helps keep combination skin hydrated and smooth while evening out dark spots and patchiness. It also increases water content and supports skin renewal, making dry areas feel soft and oily zones balanced.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the serum first and letting it absorb before putting on your retinol. This approach is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula has an excellent safety profile and includes soothing ingredients that help keep your skin calm.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is great for your combination skin and helps manage oily shine while supporting hydration. You can use it in the evening as part of your routine, and it has an excellent safety profile with a low risk of irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This booster is unlikely to cause severe breakouts since it has an excellent safety profile for combination skin, though some reviewers do mention mild irritation or breakouts. Niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine help regulate oil production and improve texture to keep pores clear.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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 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, 2002Topical application of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to human skin before UV irradiation decreases UV-induced production of hydrogen peroxide by 68-90% and nitric oxide by 30-100%, inhibits leukocyte infiltration and lipid peroxidation by 41-84%, and restores glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activity compared to UV exposure alone.
Carcinogenesis, 2001Topical treatment with coenzyme Q10 formulas replenishes Q10 levels in the skin surface and deeper epidermis, augments cellular energy metabolism, and reduces free radicals while increasing antioxidant capacity in stressed skin.
BioFactors, 2015A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 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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