FAQ

What’s the difference between the CLINICAL Niacinamide 20% Treatment and the 10% Niacinamide Booster?
Aside from the concentration of niacinamide (20% vs. 10%), the CLINICAL Niacinamide 20% has a slightly thicker texture. It also contains different supporting ingredients including meadowsweet, and camellia japonica to help reduce excess oil and offset pro-aging enzymes that can lead to stubborn, enlarged pores.

Should I use the CLINICAL Niacinamide 20% Treatment, 10% Niacinamide Booster or both?
You should use the Niacinamide 20% if you have advanced concerns such as stretched, sagging pores, orange peel-like texture, or stubborn oil-related bumps. If your concerns are enlarged pores and uneven skin tone, the 10% strength is ideal. If the intensity of your concerns varies over your entire face, you may want to try experimenting with both products.

Can I use Niacinamide 20% Treatment with other products containing niacinamide?
Yes, you can use the Niacinamide 20% Treatment with other niacinamide products including serums and moisturizers, layering them in order from thinnest to thickest texture. You can also alternate their use if you find that suits your skin’s needs.

Why did Paula's Choice formulate another niacinamide product?
The CLINICAL Niacinamide 20% Treatment was the brainchild of our founder, Paula Begoun. Having experienced such great results with the 10% Niacinamide Booster, she wanted to see if doubling the percentage would give her even better results on her most stubborn concerns (persistent clogged pores and bumps). Paula and team added some key supporting ingredients that really make this product a standout for anyone wanting to tackle large pores, rough, bumpy texture and uneven skin tone. The results exceeded expectations and the rest is history.

Can niacinamide cause sensitivity, redness or irritation?
Niacinamide typically doesn’t cause redness, sensitivity or irritation, although some people experience a brief flushing when pure niacinamide and vitamin C are used together. This combination can convert niacinamide to niacin, which may trigger temporary redness. Cosmetic chemists carefully formulate to avoid this concern, and even in a lab setting the conversion requires a significant amount of time and heat before it occurs. For those with a known sensitivity to niacinamide or with extra-sensitive skin in general, we suggest introducing the product slowly for the first two weeks, then increase gradually if desired.

Can I use niacinamide every day?
Yes, you can safely use niacinamide every day. Applying niacinamide products daily will provide the most consistent results.

Is niacinamide better morning or night?
For best results, you can use niacinamide in the morning and at night. You can also alternate its use if you find that works better for you.

What can you not mix with niacinamide?
While there are a lot of myths and misinformation about which ingredients you supposedly can’t mix with niacinamide, research shows that you can use niacinamide with retinol, vitamin C, hydroxy acids and other skin care ingredients safely.

Is 20% niacinamide too strong?
While 20% niacinamide is potent, the independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded that it is safe to use concentrations up to this amount. Individual responses may vary so if you have a known niacinamide sensitivity or extra-sensitive skin, we recommend patch testing first, and incorporating it slowly into your routine, watching how your skin responds.

What is “orange peel” skin?
Orange-peel texture refers to a condition where the skin appears thicker, has oversized (stretched) pores and an uneven, rough or bumpy texture like an orange peel. Learn more about orange peel skin in our article.

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