You know that Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster people lose their minds over? They changed it. And not in a “we made it better” way. In a “why would you do that” way.
The original had this silky, water-light feel that melted in 8 seconds flat. The new one? Sits on skin like a polite stranger who won’t leave. Same price ($44). Same bottle. Completely different vibe.
⚠️ **What You’re Actually Getting**
It’s a concentrated serum. $44 for 20ml. The claim was “brightening + pore refining” — which the OG delivered. New formula swaps out the old delivery system entirely.
– **Texture overhaul**: Went from watery to slightly tacky. Dries down slower.
– **Stability swap**: Original used a specific stabilizer blend. New one relies on modified cyclodextrins — feels stickier.
– **Absorption lag**: Old formula vanished. This one needs 60 seconds to stop feeling wet.
🧴 **Ingredients That Matter**
Niacinamide is still the star (10%), but the supporting cast changed. Less licorice root, more synthetic thickeners. The brightening effect depends on absorption — and this sits on top longer.
- Niacinamide 10%: Targets pores + uneven tone, if it penetrates
- Ascorbyl Glucoside: Vitamin C derivative, but lower down the list
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydration buffer, feels tacky here
- Butylene Glycol: Helps absorption, but can irritate sensitive types
📉 **First Impression & Reality Check**
Pumps out like a thin gel — not the watery slip I remembered. Spreads fine, but leaves a slight pull before it dries. My T-zone felt… coated. Like a primer that forgot to be invisible.
Two weeks in: my pores looked marginally smaller. But the finish? Slightly shiny in a way the original never was. Morning makeup pilled twice. That never happened before.
💡 **One Thing** — Apply to damp skin. Cuts the tackiness by half. Dry skin makes it worse.
📈 **Did It Actually Work?**
Pores: 20% cleaner-looking. Texture: slightly smoother. Brightness: barely noticeable — the OG gave me that glow by week 2. This is week 3 and I’m squinting.
💬 **Final Call**
If you never tried the original, this is fine. A decent niacinamide serum. But if you knew what it used to be — this feels like a downgrade dressed up as an upgrade.