This Holy-Grail Ingredient Targets Acne, Rosacea, Fine Lines, and Wrinkles

When you’re shopping for skincare, you want to make sure the products you’re buying feature ingredients that really do the work for your skin. If they don’t, then what’s the point of spending your money (or sometimes splurging) on them? That’s why it’s so important to arm yourself with knowledge about common skincare ingredients so you know which ones will work best for your specific skin type and concerns. Of course, a dermatologist might be your best source for figuring all of this out, but you can do your own research too.

One powerhouse ingredient that you might have heard of before is niacinamide. It’s starting to gain traction much like hyaluronic acid, which has been a popular skincare buzzword for years. But what is the ingredient, and why is it so beneficial? Well, I asked a derm to explain.

“Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin that helps support repair mechanisms in the body’s cells. It can help to reduce damage from free radicals, reduce inflammation, and support the skin barrier,” explains Michele Farber, MD, FAAD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Take a look at some niacinamide serums below.

1. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

2. SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense

3. Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum

4. Glossier Super Pure

5. Alpyn Beauty Wild Nettle & Niacinamide Firming Serum

6. Olay Wrinkle Correction Serum

7. Naturium Niacinamide Serum

8. Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

9. PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

10. The Inkey List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum

11. First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum

12. TruSkin Niacinamide Facial Serum

13. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

What to look for in a niacinamide serum

When choosing a serum, Farber recommends looking for one with a percentage between 2% to 10%. She also suggests looking for it in combination formulas. When it’s paired with kojic and tranexamic acids, it targets pigmentation; with vitamin C, it’s for brightening; with hyaluronic acid for hydration; and with retinol, for acne.

Who can use niacinamide?

For the most part, pretty much all skin types can use niacinamide because it’s generally well-tolerated. Farber says it’s best for people dealing with inflammatory skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema. But it’s important to note that it may be irritating on sensitive skin in higher concentrations.

“While it has many benefits, niacinamide is best as an adjunct treatment,” Farber explains. “Most people with acne, rosacea, or pigment changes will need other ingredients and possibly prescriptions to complete a skin regimen.”

How to use niacinamide for best results

Farber says that niacinamide can be used topically as an anti-inflammatory for conditions like acne and rosacea. It can help support hydration, improve the skin barrier, brighten skin, and reduce dark pigment. It also can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

“Niacinamide can also be used orally for reducing the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in the appropriate setting and also for acne when other oral medications are contraindicated or not tolerated,” says Farber.

Using a serum is also a great addition if you’re dealing with acne, rosacea, redness, and generally sensitive skin. “It’s ideal in combination with other ingredients depending on skincare goals, but it’s also a nice option for people who have trouble tolerating other products,” she adds.

How We Chose

As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best niacinamide serums, we leaned heavily on our expertise as beauty editors and took several factors into consideration including price, product size, key ingredients, and the overall formula. We’re aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.