Where I got it
I have been following Paula’s Choice IG for a while because I have been using and loving their products for a long time. They launched this 20% Niacinamide treatment in the US around January and I have been dying for it to come to AU/NZ!
Shortly after the Covid19 lockdown had started I managed to order this along with another product. This was AUD$69, which is around NZD$73, along with another product. They were having special offers on at that time and I received two free products as well. I ordered this on 26th March and received it on 18th May. I actually checked out the website again a few days ago and unfortunately they are unable to ship to NZ from Australia for a while due to the shipping delays. Boohoo. *update: I finally got my hands on this at 18th May!
Paula’s Choice haul
What I got
This is the Paula’s Choice Clinical 20% Niacinamide Treatment (20ml). A highly concentrated niacinamide serum that effectively tightens and minimises the look of sagging pores and rough bumps caused by age or sun damage. This innovative serum is the first ever to contain niacinamide at a safe, effective 20% concentration. This advanced level, complemented by purslane and acetyl glucosamine, steadily smooths out rough, orange-peel texture and tenacious bumps. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is a smart, multifaceted ingredient that uniquely penetrates skin’s surface to help improve the look of sagging, stretched pores. It normalises pore function and protects from further stretching when exposed to damaging UV light for a dramatically smoother, younger-looking complexion.
Full ingredients list: Water (Aqua), Niacinamide (skin-restoring/skin-replenishing), Pentylene Glycol (solvent/texture enhancer), Butylene Glycol (slip agent/hydration), Glycerin (skin-replenishing), Acetyl Glucosamine (skin-replenishing), Ascorbyl Glucoside (vitamin C/antioxidant), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (skin-soothing/antioxidant), Spiraea Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Extract (antioxidant), Portulaca Oleracea (Purslane) Extract (antioxidant), Camellia Japonica Flower Extract (antioxidant), Epigallocatechin Gallate (green tea-derived antioxidant), Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract (skin-soothing), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidant), Allantoin (skin-soothing), Lecithin (skin-replenishing), Pullulan (texture enhancer), Panthenol (hydration), Silica (absorbent), Xanthan Gum (thickener), Sclerotium Gum (thickener), Propanediol (hydration), Sodium Phytate (chelating agent), Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Ethylhexylglycerin (preservative).
Paula’s Choice Clinical 20% Niacinamide Treatment
How I find it
This treatment serum is clear with a slight amber tone to it. It comes in a light-proof glass bottle with a dropper to dispense the product. Designed to be used as the 4th step of the Paula’s Choice routine, which means you use this after exfoliator and before moisturiser. It can be used day or night depending on what other products you use. Currently, I use a BHA liquid in the morning for exfoliation, and then I will use a Hyaluronic acid serum on top. I can easily incorporate this serum after my Hyaluronic acid easily because they don’t clash. It is not recommended to use vitamin c with Niacinamide. So I will either use this at night or just alternate mornings with my vitamin c serum or creams.
I heard that some people complain about some chalkiness or ashiness from higher concentrations of Niacinamide, but this does not happen to be at all. I like the texture and feeling on the skin as it doesn’t leave any sticky residue or interfere with my other creams and serums on top.
Overall
During the course of waiting for this product to arrive and waiting to finish my existing product. I experienced an out-of-control acne attack around my chin/jaw area and I have no idea what I’m doing wrong. Initially, I doused myself with exfoliating products – AHA toners, BHA serum, exfoliating scrubs, rice polishes, leave on AHA peels, etc. but I did not see any improvements. Then I looked into a topic about using too much acids to cause skin irritation. You can actually cause the skin to breakout of you overuse acids because it just burns off your skin barrier and cause more skin irritations and unable to heal. I should use more B3 and B5 products and products that supports the skin barrier and soothes irritation.
I immediately started using this daily and pared back my acids to only my 2% BHA liquid only 3 times a week and use a nice and simple moisturiser. I don’t know if it is because I toned down my use of acid or if it is this product working. I finished the entire bottle in about 3 months, but I only use it about 3-4 times a week. My skin is a lot clearer and smoother, but most importantly, my cystic breakouts has reduced drastically. I think it also comes down to how I have toned down how much AHA and BHA I have been using and giving my skin some time for the barrier to repair. I will definitely keep using Niacinamide as an ingredient, but probably would not repurchase this high concentrate because I read that 5% is probably the best concentration and this one is quite expensive for on-going use.
