Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment for dry skin
Niacinamide
Acetyl Glucosamine
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Portulaca Oleracea Extract Purslane ExtractHigh
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 pore-clearing and skin-evening effects for your dry skin due to high concentrations of niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine, which refine texture and reduce blemishes.
- The inclusion of glycerin and panthenol further supports your dry skin by providing essential hydration and barrier repair.
- This formula is safe for your dry skin, as it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily, combination, and aging skin frequently report significant improvements in skin texture and a visible reduction in the appearance of enlarged pores and "orange-peel" skin. Many praise its ability to smooth and brighten the complexion. A notable minority with sensitive skin experienced irritation, redness, or burning due to the high concentration of niacinamide.
Highlights
Minimizes enlarged pores Often Mentioned
- “pores stay clear and appear smaller”
- “visibly reduce the appearance of my pores”
- “tightened and smoothed my enlarged pores”
- “helps reduce the look of pores”
- “pores are less noticeable”
Smoother skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin looks clearer and more even”
- “smooths out rough, orange-peel texture”
- “skin is a lot clearer and smoother”
- “skin feels great after using”
- “softens skin”
Brightens skin tone Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks brighter and healthier”
- “freckles looked lighter”
- “fades brown spots”
- “complexion looked brighter”
- “helps with redness and hyperpigmentation”
Lightweight non-sticky texture Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs very well... no tacky or sticky residue”
- “formula feels light and absorbs quickly”
- “sinks in without being tacky”
- “liquid-gel texture”
- “absorbs quickly without feeling sticky”
Causes skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “burned so bad on application”
- “made my skin feel super dry”
- “irritates skin”
- “caused redness and stinging”
- “skin barrier felt compromised”
Expensive price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for on-going use”
- “pricey price”
- “little pricey for sustained use”
- “quite expensive for a small bottle”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “more pimples appears”
- “cystic breakouts”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “broke me out”
No visible results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see any difference”
- “no noticeable improvement”
- “pores... still looking a bit bigger”
- “just ok... nothing to write home about”
- “not effective”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.com, sephora.com, reddit.com, projectvanity.com, bellyrubzbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment a great fit for dry skin?
This product is a great fit for your dry skin because it uses high concentrations of niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine to smooth texture and even out tone. Glycerin and panthenol help bring in essential moisture and repair your skin barrier, while the gentle formula keeps your skin calm and safe from irritation.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for dry skin?
This treatment is a great fit for dry skin because it features high concentrations of niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine to smooth texture, along with glycerin and panthenol to deliver essential moisture and repair the skin barrier. It is very safe for dry skin since it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients.
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Acetyl Glucosamine do for dry skin?
Acetyl glucosamine helps dry skin by increasing moisture and making the skin feel soft and smooth. It may also decrease flakiness and help normalize how the skin sheds dry surface flakes.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after your cleanser and before your moisturizer. Using it at night keeps things simple and avoids extra sun sensitivity.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this treatment with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this product, or by alternating the nights you use each one to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use it?
This treatment is intended for evening use in your routine, applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. It is generally safe for your dry skin and unlikely to cause irritation when used consistently as directed.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, as its gentle formula focuses on hydration and refining texture without harsh ingredients. Reviewers occasionally report breakouts, but the ingredients are generally safe and supportive for this skin type.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2007A 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 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, 2005N-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, 2019Liposomes containing N-acetyl glucosamine prepared using the fusion method significantly increased skin moisture content compared to empty liposomes in human volunteers over a 5-hour period.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Combining 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, 2025Topical purslane at 5% and 10% concentrations achieved alleviation of symptoms and lesion remission comparable to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in 34 subjects with oral lichen planus over 90 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2023Facial masks containing low-temperature extracted Portulaca oleracea protect sensitive skin from photothermal stimulation and improve skin barrier function during photorejuvenation.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract Purslane Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Lecithin, Pullulan, Panthenol, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Propanediol, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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