Face Serum & Treatment
A serum is not a moisturizer with extra steps. It is a targeted treatment — a concentrated formula built around one or two active ingredients designed to address a specific concern that hydration alone cannot fix.
Paula's Choice serums and treatments are fragrance-free, clinically tested to be non-irritating, and formulated around proven actives at concentrations that produce visible results.
Explore some of our most-loved, best-selling treatments, including PRO Retinaldehyde Treatment, 1% Retinol Treatment, Niacinamide 20% Treatment, Discoloration Repair Serum, Triple Active Total Repair Serum, and Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA, or use the guide below to find the right formula for your skin concern.
Find Your Concern
Dark Spots, Pigmentation, and Uneven Tone
Discoloration — whether from sun exposure, post-blemish marks, or patchy tone — requires consistent delivery of ingredients that interrupt the melanin pathway.
A targeted serum used daily produces visible improvement over 8–12 weeks.
Key actives: tranexamic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, bakuchiol
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What You Are Seeing |
Recommended Product |
Key Actives & Notes |
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Enlarged pores and uneven skin tone — all skin types |
10% niacinamide (vitamin B3). Ultra-light liquid that visibly minimizes pore size and improves uneven tone. Can be used alone or mixed. |
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Brown or gray patches, stubborn discoloration, post-blemish marks |
Discoloration Repair Serum |
3% tranexamic acid + 5% niacinamide + 0.5% bakuchiol. All skin types. |
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Post-blemish marks, enlarged pores, excess oil, uneven tone |
Niacinamide 20% Treatment |
20% niacinamide. Helps visibly refine pores, improve uneven tone, and support skin barrier function. All skin types. |
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Dullness and early uneven tone — all skin types |
15% stabilized vitamin C with ferulic acid and ergothioneine. All skin types. Morning use. |
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Stubborn pigmentation requiring clinical-level vitamin C |
25% vitamin C with glutathione. Lightweight serum. All skin types. |
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Tone, dark spots, and early aging in one step |
Triple Active Total Repair Serum |
0.3% retinyl propionate + 5% niacinamide + 0.4% hexylresorcinol. All skin types. |
Visible Aging — Fine Lines, Wrinkles, and Loss of Firmness
Addressing visible aging requires actives that work at a cellular level — promoting cell turnover, supporting collagen production, and defending against free-radical damage.
Retinol, retinaldehyde, peptides, bakuchiol, and antioxidants do this. A moisturizer alone does not.
Retinol strength matters. Begin at the lowest effective concentration and increase only when your skin has fully adjusted.
Start three times a week and build to nightly use gradually. If redness or flaking occurs, reduce frequency rather than stopping entirely. All retinol and retinaldehyde treatments in this range are for evening use.
Key actives: retinol, retinaldehyde, peptides, bakuchiol
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What You Are Seeing |
Recommended Product |
Strength & Notes |
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First signs of aging — all skin types, |
PRO Retinaldehyde Treatment |
Retinaldehyde — closer to prescription-strength retinoic acid than retinol, with fewer conversion steps. Calcium-encapsulated for minimized irritation. Evening use. |
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Advanced visible aging, deeper lines, experienced retinol users |
1% Retinol Treatment |
1% retinol with peptides and vitamin C. High-strength retinol treatment designed for established signs of aging. Evening use. |
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Experienced retinol users seeking a customizable high-strength treatment |
1% retinol in a slow-release delivery system with peptides and antioxidants. Can be used alone or mixed with a serum or moisturizer. Helps improve the appearance of wrinkles, uneven tone, visible pores, and loss of firmness. Evening use. |
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Fine lines, antioxidant protection, lightweight hydration |
Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Hyaluronic Acid |
0.01% retinol. Rich silky serum. Dry and sensitive skin, including eczema-prone. |
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Established fine lines — all skin types |
0.1% retinol with vitamin C and antioxidants. All skin types. |
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Fine lines, firmness, enlarged pores — retinol plus bakuchiol |
0.3% retinol amplified by 2% bakuchiol and peptides. All skin types. |
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Loss of bounce and firmness — peptides without retinol |
Pro-collagen peptide complex. Visibly smooths in 15 minutes; clinically proven firmness improvement in 4 weeks. All skin types. |
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Lines, discoloration, and firmness — comprehensive treatment |
Triple Active Total Repair Serum |
0.3% retinyl propionate + 5% niacinamide + 0.4% hexylresorcinol. All skin types. |
Clogged Pores, Blackheads, and Congestion
Pores become congested when dead skin cells and sebum build up inside the pore lining. Surface cleansing does not reach this buildup.
BHA (salicylic acid) is oil-soluble — it penetrates into the pore and clears from within. Leave-on formulas are significantly more effective than rinse-off products for this concern.
Do not rinse them off.
Key active: BHA (salicylic acid)
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What You Are Seeing |
Recommended Product |
Strength & Notes |
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Blackheads, clogged pores, bumpy skin — daily maintenance |
Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA |
2% salicylic acid. Lightweight liquid. Oily and combination skin. pH 3.2–3.8. |
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Persistent congestion requiring stronger exfoliation |
4% salicylic acid. Serum-gel texture. Normal to oily skin. pH 3.5–4.0. |
Dullness and Uneven Surface Texture
When skin's natural exfoliation slows — due to age, sun damage, or dehydration — dead cells accumulate on the surface and scatter light unevenly.
AHA exfoliants dissolve the bonds holding dead cells together, revealing fresher, more radiant skin underneath.
Key actives: AHA (glycolic, lactic, malic, tartaric acid)
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What You Are Seeing |
Recommended Product |
Strength & Notes |
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Dullness and surface roughness — normal to dry skin, daily use |
5% glycolic acid. Lightweight hydrating lotion. Normal to dry skin. pH 3.5–3.9. |
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Significant sun damage, advanced surface aging |
Glycolic, lactic, malic, and tartaric acids plus BHA. Milky liquid. Normal to dry skin. |
Active Breakouts and Acne
Breakouts have more than one cause — congestion, excess oil, and acne-causing bacteria all play a role.
BHA addresses congestion and texture. Benzoyl peroxide targets bacteria directly.
For persistent or inflammatory acne, both may be needed at different points in the routine.
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What You Are Seeing |
Recommended Product |
Key Actives & Notes |
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Clogged pores contributing to breakouts |
Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA |
2% salicylic acid. Unclogs pores and smooths texture. Oily and combination skin. |
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Active breakouts — regular to moderate acne |
2.5% benzoyl peroxide. Ultra-light lotion. All skin types. Apply after cleansing and exfoliating. |
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Stubborn or persistent breakouts |
5% benzoyl peroxide. Ultra-light lotion. All skin types. Suitable for cystic-style acne. |
Begin with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. If results plateau after consistent use, increase to 5%. Higher concentration is for more resistant breakouts — not faster results.
Dehydration and Barrier Fatigue
Dehydration is not the same as dryness.
Oily and combination skin can be dehydrated, particularly in Singapore, where air-conditioning draws moisture from the skin throughout the day.
Barrier fatigue — caused by over-exfoliation, stress, or insufficient replenishment — leaves skin tight, reactive, and less responsive to every other product in the routine.
Restore before adding more actives.
Key actives: hyaluronic acid, omega fatty acids, ceramides
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What You Are Seeing |
Recommended Product |
Key Actives & Notes |
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Dehydration — all skin types, lightweight texture |
Multi-weight hyaluronic acid with ceramides and panthenol. All skin types. Use alone or layer into moisturizer. |
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Dehydration and barrier fatigue — dry and normal skin |
Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids plus ceramides. Dry and very dry skin. |
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Dryness and general barrier replenishment — all skin types |
Nine fragrance-free plant oils with ceramides. All skin types. |
Redness, Sensitivity, and Reactive Skin
For skin that flushes easily, stings with most products, or is prone to rosacea, the priority is barrier support and reducing visible reactivity.
The formulas below use barrier-strengthening and anti-inflammatory ingredients at levels that are effective without triggering further irritation.
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What You Are Seeing |
Recommended Product |
Key Actives & Notes |
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Persistent redness, flushing, rosacea-prone skin |
Ceramides, beta-glucan, antioxidant plant extracts. All skin types, including rosacea-prone. |
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Sensitivity alongside dehydration |
Omega+ Complex Serum |
Omega fatty acids and ceramides. Gentle enough for eczema-prone skin. |
Introduce one new product at a time. Allow two to three weeks before adding another.
If stinging or redness occurs, reduce frequency before removing the product.
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SPF note: Several actives across this collection — including vitamin C, AHA, BHA, retinol, and tranexamic acid — increase the skin's sensitivity to UV damage. Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or greater is essential when using any of these treatments. This applies year-round in Singapore, where UV levels are consistently high. |
Not Sure Where to Start?
If you have more than one concern or are new to targeted treatments, use this as your starting point.
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Your Main Concern |
Start Here |
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Enlarged pores and uneven tone |
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Dark spots or post-blemish marks |
Discoloration Repair Serum |
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Enlarged pores and uneven tone |
Niacinamide 20% Treatment |
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First signs of aging |
PRO Retinaldehyde Treatment |
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Advanced signs of aging |
1% Retinol Treatment |
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Established fine lines or wrinkles |
Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum |
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Loss of firmness, no retinol yet |
Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster |
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Blackheads and clogged pores |
Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA |
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Dullness and rough texture |
Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA |
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Active breakouts |
Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment 2.5% BP |
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Dehydration — all skin types |
Hyaluronic Acid Booster |
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Redness and sensitivity |
Repairing Serum |
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Dullness and early aging |
C15 Super Booster |
How to Layer Serums
Routine order: Cleanser → leave-on exfoliant (BHA or AHA) → serum → moisturizer → SPF (morning only)
Thinnest to thickest: If using more than one serum or booster, apply in order of texture — lightest first.
Morning vs evening: Vitamin C and antioxidant serums are best in the morning. Retinol and retinaldehyde treatments are for evening use only.
What not to combine in one application: High-strength vitamin C and retinol — use vitamin C in the morning and retinol in the evening.
High-concentration AHA or BHA layered directly with retinol can cause irritation — apply the exfoliant first and allow it to absorb fully, or alternate evenings if your skin is sensitive to layering.
Boosters: The C15 Super Booster, 10% Niacinamide Booster, Hyaluronic Acid Booster, and Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster can be applied alone or blended into your serum or moisturizer.
How to Apply a Face Serum
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Apply after cleansing and any leave-on exfoliant, before moisturizer.
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Dispense two to four drops or one to two pumps into the palm of your hand and press gently into the face and neck.
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Allow one to two minutes to absorb before applying the next step.
Results depend on the active ingredient. Exfoliants may improve texture within a few weeks. Retinol, vitamin C, and pigmentation treatments require consistent use over several weeks to months before visible improvement develops.
A serum does not provide UV protection. For daytime use in Singapore's high-UV climate, always follow your morning serum with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater. Browse the Paula's Choice sunscreen collection.