The Best Niacinamide Serums for Brighter, Smoother, and Bouncier Skin

Do the best niacinamide serums still deserve a place in your skin-care routine? In short, it depends on your skin type. But before we get into that, let’s backtrack for a moment. Niacinamide may be a tongue-twister, but it’s simply another name for a water-soluble form of vitamin B3—and, as board-certified dermatologist Margarita Lolis, MD, explains, a powerful antioxidant. “It keeps your skin healthy by fighting against environmental insults,” Dr. Lolis tells Vogue. That said, it’s not an ingredient to add to your routine without intention; instead, it’s best used to target specific concerns. “Niacinamide serums tend to be geared toward fighting or treating problems like acne, rosacea, and pigmentation,” Ashley Magovern, MD board-certified dermatologist and medical advisor for Dermstore, tells Vogue.

There are other notable benefits too—which is why board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic formulator Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, calls niacinamide a “true all-in-one.” As fellow board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD explained in our guide to collagen-supportive ingredients, niacinamide helps reduce inflammation-induced collagen degradation. It also stimulates dermal fibroblasts, which can increase collagen production while supporting a healthy skin barrier. That said, niacinamide is a common sensitizer for those with allergies—so it’s always best to patch test first.

Personally, niacinamide has held a regular place in my routine for years to treat my oil-prone, reactive skin. “For those with more sensitive skin, niacinamide is an excellent alternative to ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to regulate oil production,” board-certified dermatologist Noah Gratch, MD explains.

But as niacinamide evolved from a dermatologist’s recommendation to a household-name ingredient, it became almost impossible to avoid. These days, it seems like nearly every product contains it—from skincare and makeup to body care, hair care, and beyond. No, seriously: even my favorite foundation contains niacinamide, along with my go-to K-beauty moisturizer. Now that my skin is mostly under control, I keep my actives to a minimum. Still, whenever I need an extra balancing boost, I’ll reach for a dedicated niacinamide serum.

Ahead, discover a tight-edit of the best niacinamide serums to consider, plus everything you need to know about incorporating the sought-after ingredient into your skin-care routine.

Dr. Lolis describes niacinamide as “wonderful for all skin types,” including oily and acne prone. “I love recommending it to all my patients, whether they’re looking for an antiaging serum or something to improve their acne, rosacea, or pigmentation,” Dr. Magovern says.

What are the benefits of using niacinamide in a skin-care routine?

“Niacinamide has so many uses—anyone can benefit from adding it to their daily routine,” Dr. Magovern adds. “It helps to prevent and repair sun damage and can improve pigmentation.” It can also treat redness and acne, as it helps control oil production and has anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, according to Dr. Lolis, niacinamide can boost collagen production to minimize fine lines and wrinkles.

“With niacinamide, the percentage and purpose are important,” says Dr. Bhanusali. He breaks down the different concentrations of the ingredient and how they work.

The percentage of niacinamide impacts its efficacy for skin.

In terms of texture, Dr. Lolis recommends looking for a lightweight, quick-to-absorb serum that won’t leave any residue or pill.

Unlike certain ingredients that are most effective on their own, niacinamide can be used in conjunction with a host of other actives, hydrators, or antioxidants for improved results. “I love combining ingredients because the more mechanisms of action to combat a specific skin concern, the better and more successful you will be,” Dr. Magovern says. “Most ingredients pair well with niacinamide, and this speaks to why it is such a superstar ingredient. You can pair it with other skin-lightening ingredients like kojic acid or azelaic acid or use it as a soothing ingredient with your retinol. It even pairs great with AHAs. It can be added to other antioxidants like vitamin C, resveratrol, or green-tea.

When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue's vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry's standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.

As it relates to niacinamide serums, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, packaging, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology here.