Side-by-side comparison

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

Both serums contain Niacinamide and Licorice Root Extract, but each adds something the other doesn't. Here's where they overlap and where they split.

2Shared hero actives
CeraVe
Resurfacing Retinol Serum
SerumMid-rangeEvening only
Rough TextureDark SpotsAgingSensitive skinDamaged barrier

Encapsulated retinol with niacinamide, ceramides and licorice root extract for post-acne marks. Low-irritation formulation — a sensible step up from a niacinamide-only routine, or a maintenance retinol for acne-prone skin that's finished with benzoyl peroxide.

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Paula's Choice
10% Niacinamide Booster
SerumPremiumMorning or evening
Dark SpotsOilinessRedness

A lightweight 10% niacinamide booster with allantoin, licorice root and antioxidants. Designed to layer under your regular serum — a fractional dose for users who don't want a full niacinamide routine but want the pigmentation and oil-control benefits.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Niacinamide and Licorice Root Extract. CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum adds Retinol. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is the better fit for rough texture and signs of aging; Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster for oiliness and redness. On price, CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is the less expensive option (Mid-range versus Premium). CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is flagged evening only; Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is flagged morning or evening.

The overlap

What they share

These hero actives appear in both formulas:

NiacinamideLicorice Root Extract
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Caprylic/Capri…~3–10%
  • Niacinamide~2–6%
  • Sodium Hydroxy…~1.5–4%
  • Cetyl Alcohol~1–2%
  • Pentylene Glycol~1–2%
  • Ceramide NP~1–2%
  • Retinol~1–2%
  • Licorice Root …~1–2%

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Niacinamide10%
  • Acetyl Glucosa…~3–10%
  • Phospholipids~2–6%
  • Sodium Hyaluro…~1.5–4%
  • Glycerin~1–2%
  • Butylene Glycol~1–2%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol SerumPaula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierMid-rangePremium
Best forRough Texture, Dark Spots, AgingDark Spots, Oiliness, Redness
Usage notesEvening onlyMorning or evening
Shared hero activesNiacinamide and Licorice Root Extract
Questions

Common questions

Is the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum or the Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Niacinamide and Licorice Root Extract; CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum adds Retinol.
What's the difference between the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum and the Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster?
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum's hero actives are Retinol, Niacinamide, Ceramides and Licorice Root Extract. Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster's are Niacinamide and Licorice Root Extract. They also sit in different price tiers (Mid-range versus Premium).
Are the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum and Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Niacinamide and Licorice Root Extract, but CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum's Retinol isn't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum and Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster together?
Usually, yes. Apply the thinner texture first, then the thicker one, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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1 shared hero active

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