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The Best Niacinamide Serums

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is our pick, and The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% the budget one. More is not better: the best-known trials used 2% to 5%.

By Avina PicksPublished

Labels checked 11 minute read

Our top picks

  1. Best overallPaula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
  2. Best budget niacinamide serumThe Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
  3. Best niacinamide serum for oily skinNaturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%
  4. Best niacinamide serum for sensitive skinGood Molecules Niacinamide Serum
  5. Best niacinamide serum for dark spotsAnua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
  6. Best high-strength niacinamidePaula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment
  7. Best drugstore niacinamide serumOlay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

The short answer

How we chose: we read the ingredient lists of the 128 niacinamide serums in Avina’s catalog and the ones review sites and Reddit users recommend most, then compared the finalists line by line. We did not test them on skin. Our method

62%

of the niacinamide serums in Avina’s catalog that state a strength state 10% or more (23 of 37): at least double the 2% to 5% that the best-known trials used.

Avina catalog, 128 serums named for niacinamide, measured 2026-09-30.

Every pick, side by side

What each label shows
PickNiacinamide list positionStated strengthAdded fragranceDrying alcohol
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide BoosterBest overallniacinamide (2nd of 25)10% niacinamideNone listedNone listed
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Best budget niacinamide serumniacinamide (2nd of 11)10% niacinamide, 1% zincNone listedNone listed
Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%Best niacinamide serum for oily skinniacinamide (2nd of 16)12% niacinamide, 2% zincNone listedNone listed
Good Molecules Niacinamide SerumBest niacinamide serum for sensitive skinniacinamide (2nd of 10)Not statedNone listedNone listed
Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% SerumBest niacinamide serum for dark spotsniacinamide (3rd of 51)10% niacinamide, 4% tranexamic acidNone listedNone listed
Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% TreatmentBest high-strength niacinamideniacinamide (2nd of 25)20% niacinamideNone listedNone listed
Olay Regenerist Niacinamide SerumBest drugstore niacinamide serumniacinamide (3rd of 15)Not statedNone listedNone listed

Best overall: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

A stated 10% niacinamide, 2nd of 25 ingredients, with a vitamin C derivative, licorice and panthenol. No fragrance and no drying alcohol, and you can use it alone or mix it into moisturizer.

  • Strength stated
  • No added fragrance
  • No drying alcohol
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

Label facts for Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

Niacinamide
Niacinamide, 2nd of 25 ingredients
Strength
10% niacinamide
Also active
Vitamin C
Added fragrance
None listed
Drying alcohol
None listed
Supporting
Glycerin, panthenol, allantoin, hyaluronic acid, licorice and vitamin C

Read from the label on September 30, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box.

Good for: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

  • Most skin types
  • Dark spots and uneven tone, with daily sunscreen
  • Adding niacinamide without adding a step

Skip it if: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

  • A tight budget: The Ordinary is far cheaper
  • You want zinc for oily skin

Why we picked it: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

Niacinamide is 2nd of 25, followed by acetyl glucosamine and ascorbyl glucoside, a stable form of vitamin C, then soothing extras like licorice and allantoin. In Procter & Gamble's pigmentation studies, niacinamide faded dark spots within weeks by slowing the transfer of pigment to skin cells rather than by stopping pigment being made.

The label has 25 ingredients, with no fragrance and no exfoliating acid. Paula’s Choice sells it as a booster: a few drops alone or in your moisturizer.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

  • Pricier than the budget picks.
  • 10% is twice what the best-known trials used.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster ingredients (full list of 25, niacinamide marked)

Water (Aqua), Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Carnosine, Genistein, Citric Acid (Ph Balancing), Sodium Citrate (Ph Balancing), Sodium Hydroxide (Ph Balancing), Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

As listed in Avina’s catalog on September 30, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best budget niacinamide serum: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

A stated 10% niacinamide, 1% zinc on an 11-ingredient list: niacinamide 2nd of 11, zinc PCA 4th. No fragrance and no drying alcohol.

  • Strength stated
  • No added fragrance
  • No drying alcohol
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Label facts for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Niacinamide
Niacinamide, 2nd of 11 ingredients
Strength
10% niacinamide, 1% zinc
Also active
Zinc
Added fragrance
None listed
Drying alcohol
None listed
Supporting
Zinc

Read from the label on September 30, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box.

Good for: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

  • Oily and combination skin
  • The cheapest way to try niacinamide
  • People who like short labels

Skip it if: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

  • Very sensitive skin: start lower
  • You want a strength close to the trials' 5%

Why we picked it: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

The label is about as simple as they come: 11 ingredients, niacinamide 2nd of 11, zinc PCA 4th, then thickeners and the preservatives. Zinc is added for oily skin; the evidence for it in a serum is thin, but niacinamide alone lowered oil in a study of 2% niacinamide.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

  • 10% is more than most trials used; start every other day if your skin is reactive.
  • Zinc for oily skin has little evidence behind it in a serum.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ingredients (full list of 11, niacinamide marked)

Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

As listed in Avina’s catalog on September 30, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best niacinamide serum for oily skin: Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

A stated 12% niacinamide, 2% zinc, with niacinamide 2nd of 16 ingredients, zinc PCA and hyaluronic acid. No fragrance and no drying alcohol.

  • Strength stated
  • No added fragrance
  • No drying alcohol
Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

Label facts for Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

Niacinamide
Niacinamide, 2nd of 16 ingredients
Strength
12% niacinamide, 2% zinc
Also active
Zinc
Added fragrance
None listed
Drying alcohol
None listed
Supporting
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and zinc

Read from the label on September 30, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box.

Good for: Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

  • Oily and acne-prone skin
  • Shine control through the day
  • A light gel under moisturizer

Skip it if: Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

  • Dry or sensitive skin
  • You want the lower strengths the trials used

Why we picked it: Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

In a two-country study, 2% niacinamide lowered sebum production over four weeks in a 100-person Japanese study (50 on niacinamide), and lowered the oil sitting on the skin in 30 white adults over six. This serum states six times that dose, with zinc PCA 5th and sodium hyaluronate for hydration.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

  • 12% is well above the doses studied for oil.
  • Nothing soothing on the list for reactive skin.
Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% ingredients (full list of 16, niacinamide marked)

Aqua, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Zinc PCA, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid [E-00007]

As listed in Avina’s catalog on September 30, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best niacinamide serum for sensitive skin: Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum

The shortest list we found: 10 ingredients, niacinamide 2nd of 10, with glycerin and betaine. No fragrance, no drying alcohol and no exfoliating acid.

  • Strength not stated
  • No added fragrance
  • No drying alcohol
Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum

Label facts for Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum

Niacinamide
Niacinamide, 2nd of 10 ingredients
Strength
Not stated in the product name
Added fragrance
None listed
Drying alcohol
None listed
Supporting
Glycerin and vitamin E

Read from the label on September 30, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box.

Good for: Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum

  • Sensitive and reactive skin
  • Tracing a reaction to one ingredient
  • A cheap first niacinamide

Skip it if: Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum

  • You want a stated strength
  • You want zinc or other actives

Why we picked it: Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum

With only 10 ingredients, there is little here besides niacinamide, humectants and thickeners, so if your skin reacts, the cause is easy to find. The Cleveland Clinic advises starting with a low concentration if you have sensitive skin; the name states no strength, so start every other day.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum

  • No stated strength.
  • Nothing but niacinamide doing the work.
Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum ingredients (full list of 10, niacinamide marked)

Aqua/Water/Eau, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol

As listed in Avina’s catalog on September 30, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best niacinamide serum for dark spots: Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

A stated 10% niacinamide, 4% tranexamic acid: niacinamide 3rd of 51, tranexamic acid 4th, with arbutin. No fragrance and no drying alcohol.

  • Strength stated
  • No added fragrance
  • No drying alcohol
Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

Label facts for Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

Niacinamide
Niacinamide, 3rd of 51 ingredients
Strength
10% niacinamide, 4% tranexamic acid
Also active
Tranexamic acid, arbutin and vitamin C
Added fragrance
None listed
Drying alcohol
None listed
Supporting
Ceramides, glycerin, panthenol, centella, hyaluronic acid and tranexamic acid

Read from the label on September 30, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box.

Good for: Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

  • Dark spots and marks left by acne
  • Uneven tone, with daily sunscreen
  • K-beauty fans

Skip it if: Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

  • You react to long lists: this one has 51
  • Pregnancy: ask about tranexamic acid first

Why we picked it: Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

This label puts niacinamide and tranexamic acid, both sold for dark spots, near the top, with arbutin, another brightener, soon after. For dark spots, the American Academy of Dermatology says sunscreen comes first: it prevents new spots and helps fade old ones.

The list is long: 51 ingredients, including several plant oils, which makes a reaction harder to trace.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

  • 51 ingredients.
  • Several actives at once: introduce it slowly.
Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum ingredients (full list of 51, niacinamide marked)

Aqua(Water), Glycerin, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arbutin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Betaine Salicylate, Alpha-Arbutin, Sucrose Palmitate, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Gellan Gum, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Cyanocobalamin, Polyglutamic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ceramide NP, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Yeast Ferment Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methy Rapeseedate Ferment, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydroly zed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

As listed in Avina’s catalog on September 30, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best high-strength niacinamide: Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment

A stated 20% niacinamide, niacinamide 2nd of 25, with a vitamin C derivative and licorice. No fragrance and no drying alcohol.

  • Strength stated
  • No added fragrance
  • No drying alcohol
Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment

Label facts for Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment

Niacinamide
Niacinamide, 2nd of 25 ingredients
Strength
20% niacinamide
Also active
Vitamin C
Added fragrance
None listed
Drying alcohol
None listed
Supporting
Glycerin, panthenol, allantoin, licorice and vitamin C

Read from the label on September 30, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box.

Good for: Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment

  • Stubborn dark spots and enlarged-looking pores
  • Skin already used to 10%
  • Spot use on problem areas

Skip it if: Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment

  • You are new to niacinamide
  • Sensitive skin

Why we picked it: Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment

Twenty percent is four times the 5% used in the best-known aging-skin trial, and no trial we cite tested it. Paula’s Choice keeps the rest of the list gentle: niacinamide 2nd of 25, then acetyl glucosamine, ascorbyl glucoside and soothing plant extracts, with no fragrance. Use it where you need it, not as a first step.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment

  • A strength no trial we cite has tested.
  • May be more likely to irritate than lower strengths.
Paula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment ingredients (full list of 25, niacinamide marked)

Water (Aqua), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Extract, Portulaca Oleracea (Purslane) Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Lecithin, Pullulan, Panthenol, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Propanediol, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

As listed in Avina’s catalog on September 30, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best drugstore niacinamide serum: Olay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

Niacinamide 3rd of 15 ingredients, with glycerin, vitamin E and panthenol. No fragrance and no drying alcohol, from the company that ran the best-known niacinamide trials.

  • Strength not stated
  • No added fragrance
  • No drying alcohol
Olay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

Label facts for Olay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

Niacinamide
Niacinamide, 3rd of 15 ingredients
Strength
Not stated in the product name
Added fragrance
None listed
Drying alcohol
None listed
Supporting
Glycerin, panthenol and vitamin E

Read from the label on September 30, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box.

Good for: Olay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

  • Drugstore shopping
  • Normal to dry skin: a silicone-smooth serum
  • Aging-skin goals

Skip it if: Olay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

  • You want a stated strength
  • Oily skin that dislikes silicones

Why we picked it: Olay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

Procter & Gamble, which makes Olay, ran the 12-week split-face trial in which a 5% niacinamide moisturizer improved fine lines, dark spots, redness and sallowness in 50 women aged 40 to 60, and the pigmentation studies behind niacinamide’s reputation. Read those results knowing who paid for them. This serum lists dimethicone right after water, and niacinamide 3rd of 15.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Olay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

  • No stated strength.
  • The maker funded the research it leans on.
Olay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum ingredients (full list of 15, niacinamide marked)

AQUA, DIMETHICONE, NIACINAMIDE, GLYCERIN, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PANTHENOL, HYDROXYACETOPHENONE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYSORBATE 20, LAURETH-4, LAURETH-7, DISODIUM EDTA, POLYACRYLAMIDE, C13-14 ALKANE, PHENOXYETHANOL

As listed in Avina’s catalog on September 30, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

What percentage of niacinamide is best? 5% vs 10% vs 20%

Between 2% and 5%, as far as the research goes, and 10% for most people who want a little more. The trials behind niacinamide’s reputation used low strengths:

None of them tested 10%, 15% or 20%. The Cleveland Clinic notes most products contain 5% or less and advises starting low if your skin is sensitive. A higher number on the bottle is a marketing choice, not a proven upgrade.

What niacinamide does, and what it does not

  • Evens tone. It slows the transfer of pigment to skin cells (Hakozaki 2002).
  • Supports the barrier. In lab studies it raised the skin’s own ceramide production, and applied to dry skin it lowered water loss (Tanno 2000, by Kanebo).
  • Lowers oil, at least in some people (Draelos 2006).
  • It is not an exfoliant and does not speed up skin turnover like a retinoid.
  • A serum is not the skin-cancer pill. The trial that cut new skin cancers used 500 mg by mouth twice a day.

How to use niacinamide serum

  1. Once or twice a day, after cleansing and before moisturizer.
  2. Start every other day with 10% or more if your skin is easily irritated.
  3. Mix freely: it works with vitamin C (see our mixing guide) and with a retinoid at night.
  4. Sunscreen every morning if dark spots are the goal.

Pair it with a morning vitamin C serum or an evening retinol.

What to check on a niacinamide serum label: five things

  • Niacinamide near the top. Second or third on the list means a real amount; ingredients above 1% are listed by amount (21 CFR 701.3).
  • A stated strength, and not too high. The trials used 2% to 5%. Of the 128 niacinamide serums in our catalog, 37 state a strength, and 23 of those state 10% or more.
  • No fragrance. The FDA notes fragrance can cause allergic reactions. Also check for essential oils and citrus peel oils.
  • No alcohol denat. near the top. In the first five ingredients it is there in a real amount.
  • Zinc for oily skin, soothers for dry. Zinc PCA is added for oil; panthenol, allantoin or ceramides for comfort.

How we picked, and why you can trust it

We started from every serum in Avina’s catalog named for niacinamide, added the ones review sites and Reddit users recommend most, and read each label: where niacinamide sits, the strength the name states, other actives, fragrance and scented oils, and drying alcohol. We kept serums with no added fragrance and chose across strengths, budgets and skin types, checking every claim against the studies linked below. Procter & Gamble funded several of them, and we say so where we cite them.

  • Every fact on a product card is read from its label and generated from it, not typed by hand.
  • Every health claim links to its source, such as the AAD, the FDA, a Drug Facts label or a published study.
  • No brand pays, sends free products or buys ads to be on a list, and commission never decides a pick.
  • We did not test these on skin or run a panel, and we say so on every post.

Our full method explains what we check and why.

Also considered

  • The Inkey List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum

    Niacinamide 2nd of 23 with squalane and a radish ferment, fragrance-free, and no stated strength. A good budget alternative.

  • L'Oréal Paris Bright Reveal 12% Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum

    A stated 12% niacinamide, but alcohol denat. is 4th and fragrance is listed last of 30.

  • La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum

    Forbes Vetted’s pick for hyperpigmentation (September 2026), but it lists fragrance (last of 32) and a red colorant.

  • Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

    Niacinamide only 5th of 23, and fragrance is listed 22nd of 23.

  • Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum

    Forbes Vetted’s top niacinamide serum (September 2026): a stated 10% niacinamide, but the list includes citrus aurantium dulcis peel extract, citrus grandis peel extract, citrus tangerina peel oil and citrus limon peel oil, which we leave out of a daily serum.

  • Medicube TXA Niacinamide 15 Serum

    Niacinamide 2nd of 39 with tranexamic acid, but the list includes rosa centifolia flower oil.

  • SKIN1004 Niacinamide 10 Boosting Shot Ampoule

    Niacinamide 3rd of 21, with hydrolyzed sponge, needle-like particles that can prickle.

  • Isntree Hyper Niacinamide 20 Serum

    Niacinamide 2nd of 30 with arbutin and zinc, fragrance-free. A strong alternative to our 20% pick.

  • Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum with 4% Niacinamide

    A stated 4% niacinamide, but alcohol is 2nd and fragrance is listed.

Questions people ask

What is the best niacinamide serum?

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster for most people: niacinamide 2nd of 25 ingredients, a vitamin C derivative, and no fragrance. On a budget, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% has only 11 ingredients.

What percentage of niacinamide is best?

The best-known trials used 2% to 5%: 5% niacinamide improved fine lines, dark spots, redness and sallowness over 12 weeks, and 2% lowered oil. Most serums that state a strength state 10% or more, which no trial we cite compared with 5%. Start at 5% to 10%, and go higher only if your skin is comfortable.

Is 10% niacinamide too much?

It can be for sensitive skin. It is double what the trials used, and the Cleveland Clinic advises starting with a low concentration if your skin is sensitive. If 10% bothers you, try a lower strength or use it every other day.

Is 20% niacinamide better than 10%?

There is no evidence that it is. No trial we found compared them, and higher strengths may be more likely to irritate. Treat 20% as a spot treatment for skin that already tolerates niacinamide.

Does niacinamide help dark spots?

Yes, modestly. In Procter & Gamble's studies, 5% niacinamide, and 2% niacinamide with sunscreen, reduced hyperpigmentation within four weeks, by slowing the transfer of pigment to skin cells. In a small trial in melasma, 4% niacinamide helped 44% of patients a lot, against 55% for 4% hydroquinone, with fewer side effects. Daily sunscreen matters more than any serum.

Is niacinamide good for oily skin and pores?

It can reduce oil: in one study, 2% niacinamide lowered sebum production in Japanese adults over four weeks, and lowered surface oil in white adults over six. Less oil can make pores look smaller; nothing shrinks pores permanently.

Can I use niacinamide with vitamin C?

Yes. The idea that they cancel out comes from old tests of the raw chemicals heated in water, not from finished skincare. Our Learn guide on mixing ingredients has the details.

Can I use niacinamide with retinol?

Yes, and they pair well: niacinamide supports the skin barrier, which retinoids can disrupt. In lab studies, niacinamide raised the skin's own ceramide production.

Can niacinamide cause breakouts or purging?

Niacinamide is not an exfoliant or a retinoid, so it should not cause purging the way a retinoid can. New breakouts after starting a serum are more likely a reaction to the formula: stop it and try a shorter list.

Is niacinamide the same as the vitamin B3 pill for skin cancer?

Same molecule, different use. A trial found that 500 mg of nicotinamide taken by mouth twice a day lowered new non-melanoma skin cancers by 23% in high-risk people. That was a pill under medical supervision; a serum does not do that.

Sources

  1. Bissett et al. (Procter & Gamble): Topical niacinamide reduces yellowing, wrinkling, red blotchiness, and hyperpigmented spots in aging facial skin, International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2004)
  2. Hakozaki et al. (Procter & Gamble): The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer, British Journal of Dermatology (2002)
  3. Draelos et al.: The effect of 2% niacinamide on facial sebum production, Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy (2006)
  4. Navarrete-Solís et al.: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial of niacinamide 4% versus hydroquinone 4% in the treatment of melasma, Dermatology Research and Practice (2011)
  5. Tanno et al. (Kanebo): Nicotinamide increases biosynthesis of ceramides and other stratum corneum lipids to improve the epidermal permeability barrier, British Journal of Dermatology (2000)
  6. Chen et al.: A phase 3 randomized trial of nicotinamide for skin-cancer chemoprevention, New England Journal of Medicine (2015)
  7. Cleveland Clinic: Niacinamide: what it is and skin benefits
  8. American Academy of Dermatology: How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones
  9. FDA: Fragrances in cosmetics
  10. 21 CFR 701.3: order of ingredients on cosmetic labels (the 1% rule)

Written by Avina Picks. Not clinically reviewed, and not a treatment plan: ask a dermatologist about a skin condition, a prescription, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

A serum works when it is part of your routine

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More from Avina Picks

Our picks

  1. Best overallPaula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
  2. Best budget niacinamide serumThe Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
  3. Best niacinamide serum for oily skinNaturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%
  4. Best niacinamide serum for sensitive skinGood Molecules Niacinamide Serum
  5. Best niacinamide serum for dark spotsAnua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
  6. Best high-strength niacinamidePaula's Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment
  7. Best drugstore niacinamide serumOlay Regenerist Niacinamide Serum

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