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Shop Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
Serum
Paula's Choice

10% Niacinamide Booster

~$49· 20ml
Visible poresUneven textureAcneRadiance

What it's good for

Key actives from our research database. Click any to read the full evidence dossier.

  • NiacinamideStrong evidenceFull dossier ↗

    A multitasker that calms redness, evens out skin tone, and helps oily skin balance out. One of the safest do-a-little-of-everything ingredients.

    Good for: Brightening, Barrier repair, Anti-inflammatory

  • Ascorbyl GlucosideModerate evidenceFull dossier ↗

    A gentler, more stable form of vitamin C. Same brightening benefits with less chance of stinging.

    Good for: Brightening, Antioxidant

  • Licorice RootModerate evidenceFull dossier ↗

    A gentle Asian-skincare brightener derived from licorice root. Fades dark spots and calms redness, and it's a pregnancy-safe alternative to stronger fade ingredients.

    Good for: Brightening, Anti-inflammatory

Evidence behind the ingredients

Real citations from our research database, one per tracked active in this product. Click any ingredient name to read its full evidence dossier.

NiacinamideStrong evidence10 citations

A multitasker that calms redness, evens out skin tone, and helps oily skin balance out. One of the safest do-a-little-of-everything ingredients.

Moro F et al., Skin Cancer Prevention and Antiaging: Role of Nicotinamide, International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2026

2026Mechanism onlyPMID:42278444View source ↗

Passeron T et al., An Investigator-Blinded, Randomized Trial of a Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen Containing Sclareolide and Niacinamide, Dermatology and Therapy (Heidelberg) 2026

2026Positive (efficacy)PMID:41240206View source ↗

Vergilio MM et al., Topical Formulation with Niacinamide Combined with 5 MHz Ultrasound for Improving Skin Ageing, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2025

2025Positive (efficacy)PMID:39171587View source ↗
Ascorbyl GlucosideModerate evidence6 citations

A gentler, more stable form of vitamin C. Same brightening benefits with less chance of stinging.

Takada A et al., Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos, International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 — significantly reduced solar lentigo hyperpigmentation without adverse effects

2024Positive (efficacy)PMID:39769217View source ↗

Muller B et al., A Bayesian network meta-analysis of 14 molecules inhibiting UV daylight-induced pigmentation, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2024;38(8):1566-1574 — network MA including ascorbyl glucoside 2% among depigmenting agents

2024Meta-analysis (positive)PMID:38433524View source ↗

Jacques C et al., Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside: An ascorbic acid pro-drug with longer-term antioxidant efficacy in skin, International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2021 — comparable antioxidant protection to higher-dose ascorbic acid with better stability

2021Mechanism onlyPMID:34679221View source ↗
Licorice RootModerate evidence9 citations

A gentle Asian-skincare brightener derived from licorice root. Fades dark spots and calms redness, and it's a pregnancy-safe alternative to stronger fade ingredients.

Glabridin Inhibits Melanogenesis and Melanin Transfer via Wnt/beta-Catenin Pathway and Rho Family GTPase-Mediated Dendritic Formation Suppression, Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2026;19(3) — glabridin (the licorice-root active) suppressed melanin synthesis and keratinocyte melanin transfer in vitro via Wnt/beta-Catenin and Rho-GTPase dendrite suppression

2026Mechanism onlyPMID:41901315View source ↗

Liu Y et al., Glycyrrhiza glabra extract as a skin-whitening agent: Identification of active components and CRTC1/MITF pathway-inhibition mechanism, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2025;349:119948 — identifies glabridin as the principal active and maps skin-whitening mechanism via CREB/CRTC1/MITF suppression

2025Mechanism onlyPMID:40350048View source ↗

Wang JY et al., Preparation of compound liquorice microemulsion gel and its pharmacodynamics evaluation, Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi (China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica) 2020;45(21):5193-5199 — compound licorice (Glycyrrhiza) microemulsion gel significantly reduced ear swelling and inflammatory infiltration in chronic eczema mouse model

2020Positive (efficacy)PMID:33350235View source ↗

Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.

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