17 Best Niacinamide Serums for Bright, Glowy, Even Skin

Unlike other harsh acne-treating products with, say, salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, this niacinamide serum with bacteria-regulating prebiotics and zinc won’t dry out your skin or cause redness and flaking. "It's great for acne prone skin," says Gallo. "It contains zinc to gently controls excess oil production, while niacinamide helps reduce discoloration from old breakouts."

THE REVIEW: "I've only been using this for a week, but I can already tell that it will be a staple in my daytime skincare routine. It really helped control oil production and also keeps my skin calm."

Seeing sun spots or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and acne scars from old breakouts? This is the niacinamide serum for you. It combines niacinamide with vitamin C to gently fade existing spots and prevent new ones from forming in the future.

THE REVIEW: "I have been using this product for several months now and have repurchased it multiple times. It is a staple in my morning and evening skincare routines because it gently fades hyperpigmentation. Once you start using it, you'll start to see results in a few days."

A few months ago, my sensitive skin had a serious freakout after a bad reaction to a product I was testing, and I swear this calming niacinamide serum made everything better. The formula is full of anti-inflammatory niacinamide and soothing plant extracts to reduce redness and irritation. It's a great option for anyone dealing with rosacea and/or eczema too, BTW.

THE REVIEW: "I have been using this for a little over two weeks now and it’s already made such difference for my sensitive rosacea face," says one tester. "I barely use makeup to cover up my redness anymore."

Along with niacinamide, this potent serum contains a cocktail of antioxidants—like vitamin B5, C, E, and green tea extract—making it the perfect first-step in your morning skincare routine. A few drops protect skin from environmental aggressors and free radical damage for a healthy glow.

THE REVIEW: "This serum is a must-have in any skincare routine—it made my skin so hydrated and smooth and helped brighten my skin tone too. I use it every morning and my skin is so happy."

If you’re dealing with stubborn discoloration, like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or melasma, def give this brightening niacinamide serum from Allies of Skin a try. In addition to niacinamide, it uses a combo of powerful skin brighteners (like tranexamic acid and alpha arbutin) to suppresses excess melanin production to keep skin looking even and bright.

THE REVIEW: "This has been a game-changer for my melasma. I use morning and night in tandem with daily sunscreen and the patches on my cheeks and forehead finally look less noticeable," says one reviewer.

This face serum is ideal for anyone who is starting to see the first signs of aging (aka fine lines and wrinkles). It combines niacinamide and retinol to increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen and elastin production to plump lines and smooth skin texture.

THE REVIEW: "This is one of the few serums with retinol I've tried that doesn't make my face feel like a raisin. My skin doesn't feel dehydrated in the morning—just smooth and glowy."

All skin types can benefit from the hydrating effects of this lightweight niacinamide serum. In addition to niacinamide (vitamin B3), it uses hyaluronic acid and glycerin—two humectants that draw moisture to the skin—to hydrate and plump your face without leaving behind any greasy or tacky residue.

THE REVIEW: "The pluming effect this has on my skin is unreal," says a tester. "It immediately hydrates and softens my skin and it's perfect for under makeup too."

True to its name, this niacinamide serum is perfect for anyone with inflamed, irritated, or stressed-out skin. In addition to soothing niacinamide, it uses superfoods to strength your skin's protective barrier, says Gallo. The effect? Skin that's more resilient and better equipped to protect itself from external stressors, like pollution, blue light, and debris.

THE REVIEW: "I have very sensitive, eczema-prone skin and perioral dermatitis," says a reviewer, adding that "within a week of using this the redness around my nose and mouth is essentially disappeared—I am beyond impressed."

Part highlighter and part serum, these niacinamide-infused "dew drops" make your skin look glowy as hell. Tap a few pumps onto the high points of your face to instantly hydrate, plump, and reflect light for that glassy skin look. FYI, they'll even help minimize hyperpigmentation with continued use.

THE REVIEW: "I’ve been using this product for a year now and have seen a definite improvement in my skin's brightness and clarity," writes a tester. "It leaves a nice dewy sheen on my skin and does not feel sticky either."

In addition to niacinamide, this clean beauty serum uses all-natural ingredients, like nourishing wild nettle and anti-aging rambutan, to help firm and plump skin, soften fine lines and wrinkles, and minimize pore size over time.

THE REVIEW: "I love this product and the way it hydrates and plumps my skin to give it a radiant, glowing look," says a tester. "It goes on smoothly with quick absorption with no greasy or oily residue."

Oily skin types, listen up (and feel free to throw away your blotting papers while you’re at it). This mattifying niacinamide serum regulates your skin’s sebum production so you never look overly greasy or shiny. And regulated oil production can also mean fewer blackheads and breakouts.

THE REVIEW: "This serum does a great job at controlling the oil on my face," says one tester. "It absorbs well and doesn't feel sticky at all—I absolutely love it."

You don’t have to radically switch up your skincare routine to reap the benefits of niacinamide. Just mix a few drops of this niacinamide booster serum with your current day cream, night cream, or sunscreen to experience all the glow-boosting benefits of the antioxidant.

THE REVIEW: "One of my favorite products and a definite repurchase. It’s not irritating and gentle enough to be paired with other actives. I like how light it is and that you can easily mix it with other products or use it on its own without making your skin feel greasy," says a tester.

Perfect for skin that looks dull or blah, this niacinamide face serum makes your face look glowy, refreshed, and well-rested thanks to (duh) niacinamide, plus brightening licorice root extract and antioxidant-rich golden kiwifruit.

THE REVIEW: "You have to be consistent with it, but I've definitely see a huge huge difference in my skin after finishing my second bottle of this serum," says one reviewer. "My jaw used to be completely covered in dark spots and now there’s barley two dark spots left."

This 15 percent niacinamide serum has a lightweight gel-like texture that instantly soaks into skin (no greasy or sticky residue) and leaves your face looking firm, smooth, and practically poreless. And because it's so lightweight, it layers nicely with your other skincare and makeup products without pilling.

THE REVIEW: "I have to admit this is a stellar product," says one reviewer. "It's non-sticky, smells great (despite having zero fragrance), and made a visible difference in the size of my pores after one week of use."

For when you are hungover, haven’t slept, or just feel stressed and your skin is paying the price, try this multitasking niacinamide serum. It brightens, hydrates, and de-puffs to give your tired skin a healthy glow thanks to niacinamide, CBD extract, peptides, and caffeine.

THE REVIEW: "This has been a lifesaver for my dull skin," writes one reviewer. "The niacinamide gives me a nice, even-toned glow and the hydrating ingredients make my skin look revived and plump too."

Whether your skin is sensitive, oily, or dry, you can safely use this niacinamide serum to brighten up your face and improve your skin texture. The gentle, lightweight formula uses niacinamide along with hydrating glycerin and smoothing antioxidants for a powerful, effective serum.

THE REVIEW: "This serum is thick and luxurious and feels really nice on the skin. I've been using it along with vitamin and retinol and my melasma is significantly less noticeable. Plus, it never breaks me out and is moisturizing enough to be used on its own for those with oily skin."

Niacinamide isn't just a gem for your skin, it's great for your scalp too. The ingredient is combined with exfoliating AHAs and BHAs in this clarifying scalp serum to nix flakes, dryness, and product build-up, along with curb excess oil production the more you use it.

THE REVIEW: "I’ve tried a lot of products for my dry, itchy scalp and this is by far the best," writes one reviewer. "In particular, the texture on this product has a great consistency—it’s super easy to massage into your scalp without any mess or dripping."