Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

We’ve discovered the secret to perfect skin.

With a name that sounds like a nutrient that should be in your morning smoothie, niacinamide packs a punch with a multitude of skin-nourishing benefits. A derivative of vitamin B3, this star skincare ingredient strengthens and protects the skin barrier, soothes and calms inflammation, helps fight acne, regulates oil production, improves skin texture, lessens fine lines and wrinkles, reduces hyperpigmentation, brightens and evens the complexion, increases hydration, and boosts collagen—phew! Its multitasking properties make niacinamide a superhero for all skin types.

While highly effective, niacinamide is also gentle and safe on dry to sensitive skin. “Niacinamide offers the similar skin-restorative benefits as retinol, except it fortifies without the irritating qualities,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, at Shafer Clinic in NYC. “It also acts as an antioxidant by limiting free radical damage.”

“Niacinamide is among the more widely researched ingredients for topical skincare,” says Sandra Chiu, L.Ac., traditional chinese medicine practitioner and founder of Lanshin skincare studio in NYC. And although used in products from eye creams to moisturizers, niacinamide-based serums can offer the best results due to its concentration.

“Niacinamide is beneficial in all topical forms; however, I personally like serums for this powerful ingredient, as they are able to absorb better into the skin and go to work for you versus washing the benefits away if in a cleanser,” says celebrity facialist Candace Marino, based in Beverly Hills.

Use a niacinamide serum during both your morning and evening skincare routines, recommends Gina Marí, Los Angeles-based celebrity aesthetician and Noble Panacea facialist adviser. “Apply it right after cleansing and toning, since you want to layer your products from lightest to thickest, and then follow with your moisturizer and eye cream,” says Mari.

Click ahead to see our picks of niacinamide serums from skin brighteners and pore refiners to hydrators and wrinkle fighters.

“Niacinamide is great for the lipid barrier of the skin, which is everything,” says Candice Miele, Beverly Hills–based celebrity esthetician and PCA SKIN peel ambassador. “It keeps the complexion bright and skin texture healthy and treats hyperpigmentation.” This antioxidant-rich spot corrector improves skin barrier function while reducing discoloration and dullness.

This hardworking serum uses patented encapsulated technology to combine niacinamide, vitamin C, and non-nano zinc oxide SPF 40 to create an all-in-one skin brightener, tinted base, and sunscreen for an easy skincare routine. And the lightweight, clean formula (available in three complexion-complementing shades) hydrates and nourishes without feeling greasy.

This bi-phase, triple-action peel works to gently brighten, smooth, and soothe skin. “Its niacinamide formula also contains chestnut extract to naturally exfoliate and cica to calm skin and nourish the skin barrier,” says Engelman.

A luxurious, lightweight serum that combines niacinamide with bakuchiol (a gentler retinol alternative), glycolic acid, and malachite extract to hydrate, brighten, and protect skin. The single-dose, recyclable packaging keeps each application pure and potent to strengthen skin health and boost radiance.

“I like to use niacinamide products on patients with sensitive-reactive skin who also suffer from a compromised skin barrier, chronic redness and inflammation, or stubborn dryness,” says Chiu.“This serum is a good choice for calming irritation and strengthening skin barrier while boosting topical hydration.”

A concentrated niacinamide-based emulsion with collagen-boosting tripeptides that fights the early signs of wrinkles and premature skin aging from sun damage by stimulating cell turnover to resurface skin, help even skin tone, and improve elasticity.

This hyperpigmentation-fighting niacinamide serum is also formulated with 1 percent of ethyl vitamin C, which is well-tolerated even by sensitive skin, to reduce dark spots and discoloration—including age spots and melasma—and improve skin’s overall clarity.

A powerful 12 percent of niacinamide along with 2 percent of zinc PCA keep excess oil at bay while reducing congestion and the look of enlarged pores, improving skin texture, and promoting healthy skin. Incorporate it into your acne-treatment routine for better blemish-fighting results.

Made with clinical-grade, yet clean ingredients, this serum offers expert-level results at home. “Niacinamide along with vitamin C, kojic acid, and licorice root extract make this a powerhouse serum for brightening and treating sun damage and discoloration while boosting collagen and improving the skin’s strength and resilience,” says Marino.

Niacinamide does wonders for oily, acneic, and breakout-prone skin because it helps regulate the overproduction of sebum, which can lead to acne and inhibits melanin production to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Niacinamide in this serum works with salicylic acid to clear up breakouts and white shiitake mushroom for brighter, even skin tone.

This niacinamide-based serum is also packed with skin-loving pro-vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid to increase hydration and enhance the skin barrier, plus peptides and chia seed to reduce moisture loss and boost collagen production.

This serum’s three main active ingredients—niacinamide, vitamin C, and licorice extract—work together to help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, smooth skin texture, and improve uneven skin tone. Add it to your other favorite serum or moisturizer for extra benefits.