The best skin care products with niacinamide
We talked to experts about the best serums, toners and creams with niacinamide that help maintain and improve your skin’s barrier.
Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner
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$55.00
When shopping for skin care products with niacinamide, our experts recommend keeping in mind the following factors:
There are several skin care products on the market that contain niacinamide, including toners, lotions and serums. We asked experts for their favorite products and sought out highly rated options that align with their guidance. We also rounded up products our NBC Select staff loves.
If you want to include niacinamide in your toner, consider this option recommended by Garshick and Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York. Unlike other exfoliating toners, this one is acid-free and instead has gentler ingredients like prickly pear to support skin cell turnover, says King. It also helps hydrate and support the skin barrier as well as improve tone and texture, according to King.
This gentle, lightweight serum has just over 1% niacinamide, as well as zinc and willow bark to help soothe skin, decongest pores and calm breakouts, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ryan Turner. Apply two to three drops of the serum in a patting motion and, if possible, make sure your skin is still slightly damp from cleansing and toning so the product absorbs better into the skin, according to the brand.
This niacinamide serum is an affordable option that helps address acne and controls oil, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Annie Chiu. The water-based serum helps brighten the skin tone, reduces the appearance of acne and regulates sebum, which is an oily substance created by our bodies to moisturize the skin, according to the brand.
If you’re looking for a combination of niacinamide and zinc, consider this serum, which has a 4.2-star average rating from over 900 reviews at Glossier. With 5% niacinamide, this option helps improve tone and texture and reduces irritation associated with unwanted breakouts, while zinc will help reduce irritation and hydrate the skin, according to the brand. The serum also has hydrating ingredients like glycerin and allantoin, which absorb quickly into the skin, according to Glossier.
This Charlotte Tilbury serum is a multipurpose option that hydrates, brightens and plumps your skin, according to the brand. Not only does the niacinamide reduce the appearance of pores and uneven tone and texture, but it also has humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, according to King. This serum also includes vitamin C, which can give your skin a brighter, more even complexion, according to the brand. “It has a very subtle iridescence, not enough to look shiny or glittery, but enough to make the skin look luminous,” says King.
This serum has a concentration of 10% niacinamide — a higher dose than most other options on this list — to help enhance any existing skin care product in your regimen, according to Turner. “It’s designed to be mixed into other products, which is a fantastic concept — not everyone wants to completely change up their routine,” she says.
If you want to combat dark spots, redness and oiliness, consider this Sunday Riley serum. It has a combination of antioxidants and hydrating ingredients to address common skin care concerns like discoloration. You can use this serum once or twice a day, both morning and night, according to the brand. The serum has a 4.7-star average rating from over 900 reviews.
Through its combination of ingredients, including niacinamide, vitamin C, collagen peptides, vitamin E and alpha hydroxy acids, this 5-in-1 serum helps improve texture and tone, firms the skin, smooths fine lines and hydrates all at once, according to the brand. The lightweight daily formula, which has a 4.4-star average rating from over 1,500 reviews, is made for all skin types and is free from common skin care irritants like parabens, according to Olay.
This Drunk Elephant option is a fun take on a niacinamide serum, according to Turner. In addition to 5% niacinamide, it has a sheer golden pigment to add a glow to the skin, says Turner. For the best results, shake your bottle before adding one or more drops to your favorite serum or facial moisturizer, according to the brand.
This antioxidant-rich serum is like a green smoothie for your skin: It has carrot, lemon and kale extract, which are sources of vitamins A, E and C, niacinamide to improve discoloration and reduce redness, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, according to the brand. You can use this serum, which has a 4.4-star average rating from over 100 reviews on Amazon, on your face and neck, according to The Honest Company.
This lightweight lotion, recommended by Chiu, combines niacinamide with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to retain moisture, support the skin barrier and boost hydration, according to the brand. The noncomedogenic and fragrance-free formula is suitable for all skin types, according to CeraVe. The brand recommends using this lotion at nighttime.
This moisturizer corrects environmental damage while improving fine lines and wrinkles, says Chiu. Suitable for all skin types, the lightweight cream strengthens the skin barrier, firms the skin, evens out skin tone and texture, and hydrates with ingredients like niacinamide, peptides and glycerin, according to the brand.
This moisturizer combines humectants (ingredients that attract water) and emollients (ingredients that help the skin barrier) to hydrate and support the skin, says King. It has niacinamide, allantoin and bisabolol to soothe the skin, help with oil regulation and improve tone and texture, according to King. It’s also noncomedogenic, so it’s less likely to clog pores. Apply a dime-sized amount to your face and neck, according to the brand.
In addition to offering broad-spectrum coverage, this sunscreen contains niacinamide to reduce inflammation and redness that may be associated with acne flare-ups, according to Garshick. This sunscreen is especially good for those with acne-prone skin, says Garshick. It’s also great for all skin tones because it doesn’t leave a white cast behind, according to experts in our guide to sunscreens for dark skin tones.
“Niacinamide has benefits for almost every skin issue, making it the super star ingredient it is,” says Idriss. Below are some of the key benefits of niacinamide, according to Chiu:
If you want to get the benefits of niacinamide in your daily skin care routine, our experts recommend keeping in mind the concentration of the ingredient and the type of product.
You can find niacinamide in various concentrations, ranging from 1% to 20%.
“Concentrations of 5% niacinamide have been shown to [improve] skin appearance with little risk of sensitivity, though it’s always best to start with a lower concentration first to see how it works for you and your skin,” says Turner. Concentrations of 5% niacinamide or higher may cause irritation, so it’s important to remember that “more” does not always equal ‘better,” according to Turner.
Niacinamide is found in a variety of formulations, including toners, serums, moisturizers and masks. However, in order for you to get the most effective results, consider choosing a leave-on product like serums and moisturizers so that it has enough time to work on the skin, says King.
Moisturizers may have lower concentrations, and they’ll absorb slower than serums, which tend to absorb quickly and have a more concentrated dose of active ingredients, says Turner.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Bianca Alvarez is an associate reporter covering skin care and hair care, whose recent stories include roundups of the best body washes for sensitive skin and retinol alternatives. For this story, she interviewed experts and researched highly rated products containing niacinamide that were in line with expert guidance.
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