Beauty Boost: What’s a Booster & Which One is Right for Me?
Every great skincare routine should include skincare products such as cleansers, toners, leave-on AHA or BHA exfoliants, sunscreens, and moisturizers. Beyond those basics for all skin types, additional products should address your specific skincare concerns — and that’s where boosters come in.
What Are Skincare Boosters? (What They Do, and Who They’re For)
A booster is a targeted skincare product that focuses on the unique capabilities of a particular ingredient that's used at a higher concentration.
Boosters target specific skincare concerns like enlarged pores, dehydration, dullness, loss of firmness, and so on. They work with other skincare products, allowing you to customise your routine so you can quickly achieve the exact results you want.
If you’re someone with a range of skincare concerns, don’t worry — it’s fine to use more than one skin booster. All of Paula’s Choice skincare boosters are formulated to complement each other. They also work with our leave-on AHA or BHA exfoliants and other anti-aging products (including serums and moisturizers with retinol) so you can build an anti-aging skincare "wardrobe" that works perfectly.
Paula’s Choice Skincare Anti-Aging Boosters
1. BOOST Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster
Targets: Loss of firmness, wrinkles, dehydration.
Our Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster delivers an unprecedented combination of highly targeted peptides that work with hydrating amino acids and key skin-replenishing ingredients to visibly increase your skin’s resilience, firmness, and texture. This lightweight, all skin type booster unlocks your skin’s ability to look and feel younger.
2. BOOST 10% Niacinamide Booster
Targets: Large pores, discolourations.
Our 10% niacinamide (vitamin B3) formula helps minimise the appearance of pore size and improve uneven skin tone. Its light-as-water fluid consistency features soothing agents, antioxidants, and skin-replenishing ingredients to boost its anti-aging benefits.
3. BOOST C15 Super Booster
Targets: Red or brown marks, wrinkles, visible loss of firmness.
Our potent 15% vitamin C booster effectively combats several visible signs of aging. It increases radiance, visibly firms, evens out skin tone — and can also be used around the eyes to address crow’s-feet.
6. BOOST Moisture Renewal Oil Booster
Targets: Dryness, dullness, dehydration, rough texture.
This blend of nine non-fragrant plant oils, combined with skin-restoring and skin-replenishing ingredients, relieves dry, tight, and/or dehydrated skin. Its fluid oil texture soothes temperamental, red skin — even skin prone to rosacea. Ideal to spot treat dehydrated areas, even around the eyes. It can also be used to enhance your moisturizer during dry seasons.
7. BOOST Hyaluronic Acid Booster
Targets: Fine lines, wrinkles, dehydration, sensitivity.
Moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid holds 1,000 times its weight in water, and combines with restoring ingredients to visibly plump dry, dehydrated skin, softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This booster's oil-free gel texture glides on to immediately replenish moisture and soothe skin.
8. BOOST 1% Retinol Booster
Targets: Fine lines, deep wrinkles, uneven skin tone, clogged pores, blemishes
1% stabilised pure retinol and a network of proven antioxidants create an anti-aging superstar booster for all skin types. This water-based, weightless fluid glides on easily and absorbs quickly. It dramatically improves multiple skincare concerns and is highly recommended for signs of aging (especially wrinkles). It's even suitable for blemish-prone skin.
How and When to Apply Skincare Boosters
Our boosters can be applied once or twice daily, or whenever your skin needs something extra. Some people like to mix their boosters in a serum or moisturizer; others apply boosters first, and then follow with those products. There’s no hard-and-fast rule to follow; our skin boosters are about customisation.
Where do Boosters Fit into Your Skincare Routine?
Cleanse, tone, and exfoliate with a leave-on AHA or BHA product, then apply the rest of your skincare products, in order from the thinnest in texture to the thickest. Always finish with a broad-spectrum sun protection product during the day.
Shop for Paula’s Choice’s range of boosters here.
References for this information
Cosmetics, May 2017, pages 1-14
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, January-February 2017, pages 9-18
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, March 2015, pages 271–280
Clinical Interventions in Aging, January 2015, pages 339–349
Dermatology, May 2014, pages 314–325
International Journal of Pharmacy, January 2013, pages 192–201
Journal of the America Academy of Dermatology, November 2012, pages 1,103–1,024
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, October 2012, pages 20–23; and March 2009, pages 38–43
