The cult-favorite Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster just got a quiet texture overhaul—and honestly, I didn’t notice until I ran out of my old bottle and cracked open the new one.
Fans are already split on whether it still delivers the same glow. The real drama? The new version dries down matte instead of tacky.
It’s a 20ml concentrated booster, $44. The claim that made me try it: “visibly minimizes pores and evens skin tone in 2 weeks.” Bold, but it worked.
10% Pure Niacinamide
Targets oil production without stripping—no tight face here.
No Silicone Base
Old formula had a slight slip; new one is almost watery.
Lactic Acid (0.5%)
Gentle enough for daily use, but actually exfoliates.
Old formula was a workhorse. New one swapped out some soothing extracts for a more streamlined, minimalist approach. Here’s what’s doing the heavy lifting now:
- Niacinamide: shrinks pores, calms redness, controls shine
- Ascorbyl Glucoside: vitamin C derivative that brightens without irritation
- Lactic Acid: surface-level exfoliation that won’t wreck your barrier
- Sodium Hyaluronate: hydration without the sticky finish
First pump—I actually thought I got a bad batch. It’s thinner. Almost like slightly viscous water. Absorbs in about 8 seconds flat. No residue. Zero stickiness.
Week 2: My pores look smaller, but I miss the old formula’s “slip” under makeup. New one pills if you layer too fast. Patience, idiot.
Oil production? Down 40% easy. Redness around my nose? Calmed. Pore size? Visibly smaller at week 3. But my usual glow took an extra week to show up compared to the old version.
New formula is objectively better for oily skin, worse for dry skin nostalgia. I’d repurchase, but I won’t pretend I don’t miss the old one.