Versus

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster Versus Cos De BAHA Tranexamic Acid 5% Serum with Niacinamide 5%

Facial Treatment
Serum
American Brand United States
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on October 10, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and niacinamide

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Smoothing

Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.

And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

Learn more about Niacinamide
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

When to use

201 Routines
49% use in am
51% use in pm
90% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
509 Routines
44% use in am
56% use in pm
89% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 25 ingredients

3.7 /5
from 3 ratings
Broke Me Out (1) Doesn't Work (1) Expensive (1)
ManShan_33's avatar

ManShan_33

1 year ago
Review

Highly effective for fighting and preventing acne, watery consistency for quick absorption

Manateepiglet's avatar

Manateepiglet

1 year ago
Review

The formula was super watery and it caused me to develop pimples. My skin really didn’t like it.

#expensive
#broke me out
#irritating
#light

Cos De BAHA Tranexamic Acid 5% Serum with Niacinamide 5% 15 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 13 ratings
Sticky (7) No Scent (5) Great Value (5)
Alodia's avatar

Alodia

8 months ago
Review

Did a patch test on my arm to see if it works for hyperpigmentation - tried for 3 days (once a day) and my arm had small pimples/ irritation bumps! I never have breakouts on my body.
Don’t know if the concentrations are too potent (even for the body) or the formulation is just bad.

#broke me out
#irritating
#sticky
#no scent
Ariiii444's avatar

Ariiii444

11 months ago
Review

I think this is one of the best serums for hyperpigmentation IF you are a BEGINNER (keep that in mind), I have sensitive skin and I find it very soothing but didn’t see much results.
Also this serum is quite sticky so I recommend you that after you apply it on your face, leave it for 10-15 minutes so your skin can fully absorb the product. Then you can use other products as you wish. Hope it Show more

#hydrating
#sticky
#no scent