If you’re looking for a versatile product to add to your skin care routine, you (and your skin) may benefit from niacinamide serum.
“Niacinamide (aka vitamin B3) is a water-soluble vitamin that is a popular skin care ingredient due to its versatile properties," says Kunal Malik, a board-certified dermatologist from New York City. “Niacinamide serums may improve skin health by addressing a range of concerns, including acne, hyperpigmentation and signs of aging.”
Plus, “since serums are designed to be highly concentrated and faster absorbing than moisturizers, they allow the active ingredient — in this case, niacinamide, to penetrate more deeply,” says Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist.
Shop TODAY tapped more board-certified dermatologists to learn more about niacinamide serums (mainly regarding their concentrations of niacinamide and other ingredients, along with their benefits and potential side effects). Experts also pointed out some of their favorite serums, which we rounded up below.
Once you start adding these expert- and editor-recommended niacinamide serums to your skincare routine, you’ll never want to stop.
What does niacinamide do? | The best niacinamide serums, according to experts | The best niacinamide serums, according to an editor | Can you use niacinamide every day? | Ingredients to look for in niacinamide | How we chose | Meet the experts
Best for a glowing finish$undefined$35.00
Editor's pick, splurge-worthy$undefined$77.00
What does niacinamide do?
“Niacinamide works by strengthening the skin barrier, reducing inflammation, regulating oil production and improving hydration,” explains Malik. “It can be a great tool to improve skin tone and texture as it also helps reduce redness as well as hyperpigmentation.”
Debra Jaliman, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, adds that niacinamide can also enhance skin’s elasticity to reduce the external signs of aging such as fine lines, dark spots, and other signs of hyperpigmentation.
Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Robin Schaffran, MD, FAAD, also told Shop TODAY that niacinamide "functions predominantly as an antioxidant, meaning it counteracts oxidative stress induced by environmental damage, which can be caused by things like ultraviolet (UV) light."
The best niacinamide serums, according to experts
For acne-prone skin: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum
- Designed for oily skin
- Vegan
- Affordable
- Can't apply with vitamin C
Key ingredients: Niacinamide and Zinc PCA | Size: 30 ml. | Niacinamide concentration: 10%
Jaliman recommends this niacinamide serum (especially for those with oily skin), as it’s made with a water-based formula that shouldn’t clog pores. “This serum is an affordable option with a potent 10% niacinamide concentration to help reduce the appearance of pores, control excess oil and calm acne-prone skin,” she adds.
In addition to niacinamide, this serum contains Zinc PCA that helps manage sebum and oil within the skin. As if that wasn’t enough to sell you on this skin care product, it doesn’t contain alcohol, parabens, silicone or sulfates.
Brightening on a budget: BYOMA Brightening & Hydrating Face Serum
- Non-comedogenic
- Contains Tri-Ceramide Complex
- Recyclable bottle
- Need between four to six drops
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and vitamin C | Size: 30 ml. | Niacinamide concentration: 3.60% - 5.50%
When it comes to niacinamide serums that brighten, Yadav recommends this one from BYOMA. “This affordable serum combines niacinamide with humectants and emollients to enhance the B vitamin’s hydrating, glow-boosting effects,” says Yadav.
Made with a tri-ceramide complex, this serum is unscented, vegan and cruelty-free. It’s easy to apply, only requiring four to six drops, and it comes in a recyclable bottle.
A glossy finish: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
- Made with vitamins A and C
- Chic bottle
- Shiny finish
- It’s a pump (not a dropper)
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C | Size: 40 ml. | Niacinamide concentration: 2.5%
Consider this product for a niacinamide serum that’ll leave your skin with a glossy finish. “This serum combines niacinamide with antioxidant-rich watermelon extract which contains vitamins A and C,” says Jaliman. “It also contains hyaluronic acid, which is very hydrating and can be used as a serum morning or night.”
Despite its name, this niacinamide serum does not come with a dropper, but instead is dispensed via a pump, so make sure to keep that in mind. That said, only one pump is needed (before using a moisturizer) to reap the benefits of this watermelon-scented formula.
For dark spots: La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum, Dark Spot Corrector
- Designed for all skin tones
- Allergy-tested formula
- Can be used on face and neck
- Expensive
Key ingredients: Niacinamide and melasyl | Size: 30 ml. | Niacinamide concentration: 10%
Although this niacinamide serum is accompanied by a nearly $45 price tag, it’s worth the investment for its ability to lighten dark spots. “Formulated with niacinamide and a proprietary molecule (melasyl), this serum brightens and smooths the skin, targeting hyperpigmentation without clogging pores,” says Malik. “It is gentle but effective on dark spots.”
It does contain 10% niacinamide, which may be a lot for those with sensitive skin, but it’s effective and can be used on both the face and neck (after cleansing) twice per day with only three to four drops.
With vitamin C: Paula’s Choice Boost 10% Niacinamide Booster
- Can be applied to under-eyes
- Fragrance-free
- Vegan
- Comes in a small bottle
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C and licorice extract | Size: 20 ml. | Niacinamide concentration: 10%
If you’re looking for a niacinamide serum with some vitamin C, look no further than this one from Paula’s Choice. “This formula can be used solo or mixed into your other serums to boost their efficacy,” says Yadav. What makes this formula stand out (in comparison to some other niacinamide serums) is its incorporation of licorice extract which helps reduce irritation and redness.
Furthermore, this serum can be used on the under-eye area for some extra coverage with or without applying a serum or moisturizer first. It’s also fragrance-free, so you don’t have to worry about any extra irritation.
The best niacinamide serums, according to an editor
Mega moisture: FaceGym Hydro-Bound Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide Serum
- Great hyrdator
- Good for dry skin
- Easy to apply
- Bottle design isn't ideal
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid and marine bioferments | Size: 30 ml. | Niacinamide concentration: 2%
Alexandra Deabler, the deputy editorial director at Shop TODAY, recommends this 2% niacinamide serums and says, "I got the smaller version of this at the time because it’s so expensive, but it made such a huge difference in my skin, that I keep buying it. It’s so lightweight, but hydrating — and I have very dry skin."
Can you use niacinamide every day?
Whether or not you can use niacinamide every day should be discussed with your physician or dermatologist.
That said, Jaliman notes that since it doesn’t interact with sunlight, you can plan to incorporate it into your skincare routine at any point in the day.
“I suggest layering it under heavier creams to ensure maximum absorption,” adds Malik.
Ingredients to look for in niacinamide serums
When shopping for niacinamide serums, board-certified dermatologist Connie Yang, MD, FAAD, recommends looking for those containing hyaluronic acid, ceramides, allantoin and vitamin C as they work to hydrate and soothe the skin.
How we chose
To compile our list of the best niacinamide serums, we considered the recommendations of the board-certified dermatologists we interviewed. We also included a couple of picks from our team of editors at Shop TODAY.
Meet the experts
- Debra Jaliman, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist and author of “Skin Rules” (St. Martin’s Press)
- Geeta Yadav, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology
- Connie Yang, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at PFRANKMD by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank
- James Kilgour, MD, is the founder of KilgourMD and Stanford University Resident Dermatologist
- Kunal Malik, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and assistant professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
- Maya Thosani, MD, is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based board-certified dermatologist and owner of Modern Dermatology.
- Dr. Robin Schaffran, MD, FAAD is a Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist.
