The best niacinamide serum overall
SkinCeuticals's Metacell Renewal B3 is an anti-aging serum containing 5% niacinamide and a cocktail of other ingredients that target skin concerns such as fine lines and redness.
Part of SkinCeuticals' "Correct" line-up, it's meant to help repair damage that has already been done to the skin. The formula also includes amino acids to help boost collagen levels, along with peptides to help lessen the appearance of lines and glycerin to hydrate.
This lightweight serum is dermatologist-tested and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and mature. It's fragrance-free and formulated without sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.
Health calls it "a great choice for anyone with environmental damage." It's been featured as a top pick by StyleCaster and averages 5 stars on Dermstore, based on 48 reviews.
"Highly recommend staple in my nightly routine! Helps to diminish my hyper-pigmentation and I've noticed firmer and smoother skin," writes one shopper.
Pros: Addresses many concerns such as lines, redness, and free radical damage, fragrance-free, works for all skin types
The best budget niacinamide serum
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is an effective, affordable serum with a surprisingly high concentration of actives for such an inexpensive product — seriously, it's less than $6. The 10% niacinamide combined with zinc makes this a great pick for the breakout prone and budget conscious.
The serum's thin texture makes it ideal as a spot treatment for individual blemishes, though the watery texture might feel too thin for some. If you tend to get pimples all over, you can coat the entire face without feeling like it's suffocating your skin. This formula is ideal for oily skin types as it can also help cut down on excess oil production while minimizing the appearance of pores.
More sensitive individuals will probably want to tread more carefully — reviewers report that the formula can be drying and sensitizing.
"I have combination skin with perioral hormonal acne which is occasionally cystic. My skin was reacting very poorly at the beginning of winter, and I was breaking out more frequently. Started using this once daily in the AM maybe 3-4 months ago, and my skin is much clearer/breakouts are less frequent and less severe," writes one Sephora reviewer.
The product is a popular pick with consumers and experts; it has a 4.2 rating on Sephora based on 847 reviews. It's also been recommended by Allure as a top serum under $30, and featured on StyleCaster and Health.
Pros: Extremely affordable, high concentration of actives, good for oily or acne-prone skin
The best niacinamide booster
The Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is designed to slot easily into your existing skin-care routine as it can be used alone as a serum or mixed in with other skin-care products. If you already have a serum or moisturizer you love but want to give your skin a little boost, this could be a great pick.
Formulated with licorice root extract to help with hyperpigmentation, antioxidants to help repair free radical damage and prevent premature aging, and 10% niacinamide to, well, do everything, this is a simple yet effective formula. The consistency is very thin and blends easily with thicker creams or serums.
I've used this alone and mixed it into other products, and have found it effective at preventing blemishes from fully taking root — even when they've already started to form.
"My skin loves Niacinamide, it makes a huge difference in my pore size. I have oily skin. I have used other niacinamide boosters that I loved, but did not play well with others and would ball up, so I couldn't use them during the day. This one I can use straight on my skin and it soaks in and never balls up," writes one Dermstore customer.
Overall, the product has a 4-star rating based on 32 reviews on Dermstore. It's also been featured on StyleCaster, Health, StyleCraze, and MyDomaine, which says it will "make your pores appear nearly invisible."
Pros: Can be mixed with other skin-care products, lightweight, fragrance-free
The best niacinamide serum for sensitive skin
Glossier Super Pure is a great option if redness or rosacea are top concerns, or if you've experienced irritation with other niacinamide serums. The formula contains 5% niacinamide and zinc.
Don't let the lower percentage of actives fool you — this stuff is really effective at nipping blemishes in the bud and cutting down on the redness on my cheeks. Sometimes a slightly lower percentage can be beneficial for those who might be sensitive to an ingredient in higher concentrations.
I tend to use this as a spot treatment on areas where I notice breakouts most frequently, but I find it gentle enough to apply all over the face. The texture is quite thin, so one bottle will last a long time.
And speaking of bottles, the company reformulated its serums in May to be more effective than the original and doubled the bottle sizes to justify shopper complaints of the $28 price tag for a tiny .5-ounce bottle.
"While I am blessed enough to have naturally good skin, the one thing that has always bothered me is the redness on my cheeks. I have been using this for about a month now and have noticed a definite difference - my cheeks are no longer red, but pleasantly rosy," writes one Glossier reviewer.
The product currently has a 4.1 average rating on Glossier based on more than 500 reviews.
Pros: Reasonably priced, gentle enough for sensitive skin, fragrance-free
Cons: Might not be strong enough for seriously acne-prone skin
The best niacinamide serum for dry skin
Niacinamide, like many acne-fighting ingredients, can be drying.
The Amazon blockbuster InstaNatural Niacinamide Serum combats this with a heaping dose of hyaluronic acid and avocado oil, making it a great pick for people with dry skin dealing with breakouts or hyperpigmentation.
Like Glossier, this is a 5% niacinamide concentration, so it's on the gentler end of the spectrum. In addition to the hyaluronic acid, the formula is packed with soothing avocado oil and rosemary extract.
But don't let the inclusion of avocado oil scare you off if you're breakout-prone; The Inventory praised this serum for its acne-fighting abilities, and it's been featured on Health and The Strategist. It also has an average 4.4-star rating on Amazon, based on more than 1,000 customer reviews.
One happy reviewer says, "I have large pores even though my skin is drying with age. i started using this wonderful serum and my pores snap shut, and my skin has a look of shiny youth! I put moisturizer on top, I noticed the difference by day of 2 of using it and I will use it for the rest of my life."
Pros: Good for dry skin because of hydrating ingredients, affordable
What else we considered:
These niacinamide serums are still great options, but they didn't quite make the cut for our top five. Here's why:
- Murad Rapid Age Spot Correcting Serum ($75): This is another highly-rated serum that specifically targets age spots and hyperpigmentation. While several experts rave about this pick, it boasts similar claims as our top pick but is less widely available online. It's also pricey compared to some of our other picks.
- Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel ($54): This eye-specific serum is less versatile than the other ones on this list, but it's a fantastic option if you're looking for something to specifically target puffiness and dark circles. It contains squalane, niacinamide, and swiss apple stem cell extract to help brighten and hydrate the thin skin under eyes.