Compare Products: 10% Niacinamide Booster vs SuperSolutions 20% Niacinamide Serum

Paula's Choice

10% Niacinamide Booster

Mid-range10%
$44 / 20ml — $2.20/ml
The Inkey List

SuperSolutions 20% Niacinamide Serum

Budget20%
$17.99 / 30ml — $0.60/ml

Who It's Designed For

Paula's Choice
  • Enlarged pores and uneven texture
  • Uneven skin tone and dullness
  • Post-acne marks and discoloration
  • Fine lines and early aging concerns
The Inkey List
  • Very oily skin seeking maximum oil control
  • Stubborn enlarged pores unresponsive to lower niacinamide concentrations
  • Users who have tolerated 10-15% niacinamide and want to increase strength
  • Budget-conscious users wanting clinical-strength actives
  • Those seeking exfoliating effects (20% niacinamide has mild exfoliating properties)

Key Ingredients

Paula's Choice

Niacinamide (10%), Ascorbyl Glucoside (Vitamin C), Licorice Root Extract

The Inkey List

Niacinamide (20%), Zinc PCA (0.5%), Squalane (3%)

Product Composition

33% similarity (11 ingredients in common)

Shared Ingredients
water (aqua)niacinamidebutylene glycolsodium hyaluronateglycerinsodium citratesodium hydroxideethylhexylglycerinpolysorbate 20trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinatephenoxyethanol
Only in Paula's Choice (16)
acetyl glucosamineascorbyl glucosidephospholipidsallantoinboerhavia diffusa root extractdipotassium glycyrrhizateglycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extractepigallocatechin gallatebeta-glucanpanthenolcarnosinegenisteincitric acidxanthan gumpentylene glycolcaprylyl glycol
Only in The Inkey List (6)
squalanebenzyl alcoholammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymerzinc pcadehydroacetic acidsorbitan isostearate

User Feedback Patterns

Paula's Choice
Texture takes adjustment

The watery, almost runny texture surprises some users. It can feel like it's not "doing" anything. The brand intends for it to be mixed with other products, which helps with application.

Price comparison to The Ordinary

At roughly 7x the price of The Ordinary's niacinamide serum, value is a common discussion point. Users who prefer it cite the more elegant texture, additional beneficial ingredients, and lack of pilling.

Gradual, cumulative results

Most users report noticing effects (smoother skin, smaller-looking pores, more even tone) after several weeks of consistent use rather than immediate results.

Plays well with other products

The booster format gets consistent praise for layering easily. Users report no issues combining it with retinol, acids, or other actives.

The Inkey List
Serious oil control

Users with very oily skin consistently report this as one of the most effective oil-control products they have tried. Many note all-day mattifying effect.

Strong but not irritating

Despite the 20% concentration, most users report no irritation. However, patch testing is frequently mentioned as important for first-time users.

Better than The Ordinary

Users who found The Ordinary's 10% niacinamide too weak or pilling-prone often prefer this. The gel texture absorbs cleanly.

Can leave white cast if overused

Some users report a white film if they apply too much. The brand addresses this: use less product and follow immediately with moisturizer.

Which Should You Buy?

The Inkey List SuperSolutions 20% Niacinamide Serum offers great value at a lower price point. Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster may be worth the premium if you want Niacinamide (10%).

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