The Internet Is Obsessed With Niacinamide Products—These Are Our 15 Derm-Approved Faves (2024)

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Type: Illuminating serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, diglucosyl gallic acid, morus alba leaf extract

Tester: Alexa, age 25-34, has combination skin with uneven texture and enlarged pores.

Review: “This product looked like makeup at first, so I thought it would do nothing for my skin. It ended up exceeding my expectations by addressing more problems than I thought was possible. It helped a lot with breakouts (even around that time of the month), uneven texture, and hyperpigmentation, making my skin feel softer and appear more vibrant, healthy, and balanced.”

The formula’s consistency is lightweight, and never made her skin feel anything but light, clean, and refreshed. It had no scent and didn’t irritate her skin in the slightest. It’s on the runny side, but Alexa found that by mixing it into her moisturizer or foundation, it was easier to spread. Plus, all she needed to use was a pea-sized amount to cover her whole face. Immediately after using it, her skin looked luminous (thank you, golden illuminating pigments).

Type: Serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc

Tester: Hannah, age 25-34, has acne-prone skin with acne scars and dry spots.

Review: “This product is definitely worth the hype. I’m convinced my skin looks different after just eight weeks of testing this serum, some acne scars have disappeared and my acne has toned down a bit. My complexion is more radiant overall.”

Though slightly slimy at first, Hannah the serum absorbs into the skin nicely after about two minutes and layers well with other serums, creams, and SPF. A little goes a long way—Hannah isn’t even halfway done with the bottle after using it morning and night on her face and neck twice a day for two months. Also nice: It never made her break out (which she says is very common when she tries new products), which we chalk up the zinc in the formula, a mineral that has anti-inflammatory and skin-healing properties.

Type: Serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, provitamin B5

Tester: Ali, age 25-34, has combination skin and occasionally deals with breakouts, post-acne hyperpigmentation, and dryness.

Review: “My skin became significantly more radiant—there’s now a luminous quality to it. My favorite part about the serum is how the results build over time. I’ve grown more confident about my bare skin and it’s because this product gave me a more radiant, even complexion.”

This product has two major pros: it’s lightweight and effective. The consistency of the serum is thin and milky, but never runny. While the serum is gentle—it contains provitamin B5, an ingredient that protects the skin’s barrier and shields it from irritation. Ali experienced a slight tingling sensation when she first started using it, but that went away within a few minutes. The sensation disappeared altogether when her skin became acclimated to the serum. After a few weeks, her complexion was rejuvenated and some of her hyperpigmentation marks had faded. While she would still lean on vitamin C for more intense marks, she said that the product was well worth it for how well it softened and smoothed out her skin’s texture.

Type: Serum | Size: 0.67 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc, allantoin

Tester: Drea, age 45-55, has combination skin with acne scarring and large pores.

Review: “This serum took care of acne scarring that would have otherwise taken a long time to heal. My skin evened out and there are fewer spots, scarring, and active acne breakouts. I recommend this to anyone who has acne scarring, post-acne hyperpigmentation, or large pores.”

This formula is a real winner when it comes to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (aka the redness left behind after a breakout) as it contains niacinamide (duh), anti-inflammatory zinc, and allantoin, an extract with potent healing and soothing properties. The initial consistency of this product is thin and somewhat tacky right out of the bottle. However, once it comes in contact with the skin, it spreads easily and sinks in quickly. A dime-sized amount is more than enough, and it layers beautifully with other skincare products. She raved about how easy it was to use and the fact that she saw such noticeable results in such a short time.

Type: Serum | Size: 0.67 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C

Tester: Mollie, age 25-34, with combination skin prone to hormonal acne.

Review: “I’ve found that while using this serum with my prescription skincare, my skin has been very clear and my pores look much smaller. It softened and smoothed my texture and controlled inflammation better than anything similar that I’ve tried. My skin looks glowy, clearer, and more plump after using this product.”

Although it feels like your typical serum (smooth, not too sticky, and spreadable), it’s so much more than that. It melts into the skin, plays well with other skincare products, and offers a plumping and radiance-boosting effect that’s unrivaled. “When I wore the serum overnight, I woke up with bouncier-looking skin,” she said. “When I wore it during the day, it added life to my skin.”

Type: Serum | Size: 0.5 oz., 1.35 oz., and 2.7 oz.| Key Ingredients: Watermelon extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid

Tester: Arnesia, age 25-34, has dry skin with under-eye discoloration and some skin texture.

Review: “My skin looked more radiant and even-toned. I struggled with some texture before testing, but this made my whole face feel smoother and softer. Plus, the discoloration on my cheeks is less noticeable. I loved applying this every day—it’s very cooling and smooth to the touch—and it imparts a dewy finish that made my skin instantly look better.”

The consistency is that of a light to medium-thick gel. It’s not runny but once you spread it, it thins out and goes on very smoothly. “Because it’s on the thicker side, it took a couple of minutes of patting it into the skin for it to fully absorb,” she said. “It wasn’t a drawback necessarily because I liked the cooling sensation and the subtle glow it left behind.” Best of all: Her skin never appeared oily or shiny and she found that it helped soothe dryness on contact. Oh, and the pump bottle ensured a mess-free experience every time. The formula features watermelon extract (an ingredient rich in skin-plumping amino acids and vitamins A and C), niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, which contains moisture-binding properties that promote bouncy skin.

Type: Serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide

Tester: Taylor, age 25-34 age group, has combination skin with fine lines and an uneven skin tone.

Review: “I noticed a change in the fine lines around my eyes and the color of my face—it appears less red and the sun spots I had faded away. My skin looks so much more even and glowy.”

This serum is easy to use and even easier for the skin to absorb with its light, liquid texture. It slowly ran down Taylor’s face (giving her enough time to put the dropper back in the bottle) and absorbed rather quickly. Her one complaint is that it initially made her skin feel sticky, but once she piled on moisturizer, the feeling went away completely. A little bit went a long way; she only needed a tiny droplet on each cheek, one on her forehead, and one on her chin.

Type: Serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, licorice root, golden kiwi fruit

Tester: Gibreel, age 25-34 age group, has dry skin.

Review: “This serum was consistently hydrating and illuminating—whenever I applied it, my skin looked healthier instantly. It made my skin look smoother and more lively after each use. I’m pleased with the long-term results as well; my skin is clearer and more glowy.”

A soft, creamy liquid, this serum is a dream to apply. It glides over the skin effortlessly and it pairs nicely with a rich moisturizer. “Two to three drops cover the entire face and ensure skin prep is top tier before makeup,” she adds. Although she didn’t love the dropper (she found that it got clogged with product due to the small size), the results were worth dealing with. This formula is chock-full of skin-loving elements, like licorice root extract, which helps soothe and illuminate, as well as golden kiwifruit extract, which the brand says helps the skin retain moisture and has radiance-boosting properties similar to vitamin C.

Type: Serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Brightenyl, trans-reservatrol

Tester: Natalie, age 18-24, has combination skin and occasional acne.

Review: “I’m happy with the results. My skin definitely improved over the testing period; it looks much clearer, softer, and brighter. I think the product prevented me from breaking out, too.”

It took a week or so to start seeing real progress, which is very fast compared to the rest of the products on this list. While Natalie shared that the serum felt slightly tingly on pimples and acne-prone areas at first, the feeling dissipated after about a week once her skin adjusted. The fast-acting serum and tingly feeling make sense to us, given that the product contains several potent actives, including niacinamide, Brightenyl (the brand’s biotechnologically created molecule that illuminates the skin and soothes sensitivity), and trans-reservatrol, a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and partners well with niacinamide to lighten dark spots.

Type: Serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, wild nettle, rambutan

Tester: Chantia, age 18-24, has combination skin prone to cystic acne.

Review: “My skin has gotten a lot more firm, especially my undereye area. [It’s] softer and more plump, which came as a surprise to me. Plus, the serum did an excellent job of improving the texture of my skin.”

The serum has a creamy and silky texture that felt soft and gentle to the touch. Its lightweight consistency helps it layer well with other skincare and makeup. Her only gripe was that it needed to be patted into the skin to really sink deeply into pores; if she didn’t take the time to pat it in, she felt like it stayed on top of her face. That aside, she loved the results, which can be attributed to the blend of niacinamide, wild nettle (which hydrates and nourishes), and rambutan (a natural retinol alternative that reduces the look of texture and fine lines) in the formula.

Type: Serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc

Tester: Jackie, age 35-44, has dry skin with fine lines and dark spots.

Review: “This product is so lightweight that at first, I didn’t even think it was doing anything. But after the testing period, it brightened up dark spots in a gentle way, making my skin appear more clear and even.”

The serum feels like you’re just splashing water on your skin. “It felt easy and refreshing,” Jackie said. “The consistency is on the watery side, but that makes it easy to spread and layer with other products.” She only used two to three drops each time but felt like she ran out rather quickly. However, when she considered how luminous and even-toned her skin looked, she felt she could overlook the bottle size.

Type: Serum | Size: 1 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Melasyl, thermal spring water

Tester: Kimberly, age 35-44, has combination skin with dark spots and fine lines.

Review: “After consistently using this product, I’ve noticed a difference in the appearance of dark spots and the texture of my skin. My spots have faded slightly in color and my skin is smoother and softer to the touch.”

This formula feels hydrating and smooth on the skin and sinks in a matter of seconds with a consistency that’s like a cross between a serum and a cream. Kimberly didn’t have to waste any time waiting for the serum to absorb and applied her moisturizer and SPF directly on top without missing a beat (so this is a win for those looking to shorten their skincare regimen). While she’s pleased with the results, she wishes she could have seen even more dramatic results, like some of the other participants in the test.

Type: Serum | Size: 1.0 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5

Tester: Sheila, age 25-34, has combination skin with a dull tone and rough patches.

Review: “My skin is softer, more hydrated, and less dull after testing this product. My dry patches are almost completely gone and the serum made my skin feel like I’ve gotten several hydrating facials—my skin is that much softer.”

Drugstore niacinamide products can absolutely perform comparably with more expensive options, and this one from Olay is proof. With a formula made from a blend of hydrating ingredients—shoutout niacinamide, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5—it’s no surprise that Sheila saw such great results. While the product didn’t sit on top of the skin, per se, it did leave behind a slight shiny finish. If you have dry skin, you might like the dewy look, but if you have oily skin, you might not be a fan of the added shine.

Type: Serum | Size: 1.7 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, tri-peptide concentrate, glycerin

Tester: Hilary, age 25-34, with dry skin with hyperpigmentation.

Review: “I noticed some fading of the darker melasma spots on my skin. Day to day, I didn't notice much difference, but with consistent use, I saw quite a payoff in the vibrancy, texture, and tone of my skin.”

Right off the bat, Hilary appreciated the texture of the serum, noting that its gel consistency felt nice on the skin. It did require a tiny bit of massaging to absorb, but she enjoyed the process. Once it was rubbed in completely, it was undetectable if not for a mattifying effect that Hilary liked. With such a hefty price tag, you might expect immediate results, but Hilary assured us that the results were worth it, they just took some time to be noticeable. With ingredients like niacinamide, the brand’s proprietary firming tri-peptide concentrate, and glycerin (a humectant that hydrates skin), there’s a lot to love about this formula.

Type: | Size: 0.67 oz. | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, prickly pear cactus extract, ceramides

Tester: Joie, age 25-34, has skin prone to dryness and hyperpigmentation.

Review: “I could tell a difference in the overall smoothness and brightness of my face after using this serum consistently. After weeks of testing, it helped with hyperpigmentation, especially around my eyes. (Plus, the rolling applicator has helped with puffiness around the area, which was a huge added bonus.) Overall, my complexion is more luminous and younger-looking, and the feel of my skin is soft and smooth.”

The perfect base for skincare and makeup, this serum is easy to work into an existing routine. “The consistency felt luxurious and cool to the touch, instantly de-puffing my face—truly such a treat in the morning.” In this formula, you’ll find niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides (aka lipids that help the skin barrier stay hydrated and strong), and prickly pear cactus extract, an ingredient that calms the skin. Joie genuinely looked forward to using the roller every day since it felt like a self-care moment.

FAQ

• Can I use niacinamide every day?

  Yes. You can apply products with niacinamide both in the morning and in the evening.

• Is niacinamide or vitamin C better for skin?

  Both niacinamide and vitamin C are used to address hyperpigmentation and are usually well-tolerated by many skin types, though vitamin C has been known to cause mild irritation. They are often used together in many product formulas. If your skin is very sensitive, you might want to stick with niacinamide versus vitamin C.

Edited byAlly Hirschlag

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