9 of the best niacinamide serums to add to your skincare routine
Rachael Martin
Beauty & skincare
Reading time: 5 minutes
Here’s the lowdown on the all-star ingredient
Niacinamide is having a moment - and for good reason. Not only does it support the skin barrier (skin’s first line of defence against environmental aggressors), but it can also help with uneven skin tone and help balance oil levels, too. No wonder, then, that dermatologists and beauty editors alike ensure it’s always in their toolkit.
With such a buzz around the ingredient, chances are you’ll already be familiar with it - it can be found in a variety of products, ranging from targeted spot treatments to nourishing moisturising creams. But if you’re looking for a more potent way to get your fill, a face serum is the way to go. So here, we’re shining a spotlight on nine of the best niacinamide serums available at Boots, from budget-friendly picks to high-end heroes.
But first, we’re answering all the most-searched-for questions on the wonder ingredient. Scroll on for the lowdown on what niacinamide is and how it can help you achieve your most glowing skin yet.
Find more top application tips (and how to find a product to match all needs) in our 101 guide to face serums.
What is niacinamide?
Let’s start off with the basics.
“Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and is considered an essential nutrient in the body,” explains Dr Unnati Desai, medical director at Skinfluencer London. Skincare-wise, it can be found in everything from moisturisers to face masks, due to its multitude of benefits...
What are the benefits of niacinamide in skincare?
Skincare products formulated with niacinamide can benefit the skin in a range of ways, according to both Dr Desai and several scholarly studies.
1. Niacinamide can help strengthen the skin barrier
“Niacinamide can help the skin form keratin, which can increase the strength of the skin barrier,” explains Dr Desai.
2. Niacinamide can help improve skin's moisture levels
“It can help the skin build a lipid barrier,” which protects the body from pathogens, chemicals and other unwanted substances from the environment, continues Dr Desai. “This can help to maintain the skin’s moisture levels and restore skin hydration.”
3. Niacinamide can help regulate sebum production
“There’s evidence to suggest that the ingredient can help to regulate the amount of oil the sebaceous glands produce in some individuals,” says Dr Desai. Sebaceous glands are the microscopic glands in our hair follicles which secrete sebum into the skin. Regulating production can minimise the look of enlarged pores.
4. Niacinamide can reduce redness
If red patches are your MO, a niacinamide serum could be just the ticket. Research has found that as well as being well tolerated, it can help calm and soothe skin.
5. Niacinamide can help lighten dark spots & pigmentation
“Research has found that some topical niacinamide concentrations can be helpful in lightening dark spots.”
Talk about a multitasker and then some.
How can you choose the best niacinamide serum for you?
“Generally speaking, niacinamide is a very light ingredient and doesn’t cause irritation to skin,” explains Dr Desai. “Its concentration can vary across products, though most formulations sit between 5% and 10%.”
For extra-sensitive skin, however, it can be a good idea to start with a low concentration and check for product sensitivities by doing a patch test first.
How do you use a niacinamide serum?
“Think of serums as extra treatments that address individual skin concerns outside of regular cleansing, toning and moisturising,” says Dr Desai. “Your niacinamide serum should be applied after toning but before moisturising,” she recommends.
As for what can be good to pair with it, Dr Desai highlights “teaming your niacinamide serum with a hyaluronic acid.” This can be great for those of us looking for the calming and rejuvenating benefits of niacinamide and the hydrating, plumping perks of hyaluronic acid.
To find out how to layer your skincare, including your serums, like a pro, watch our step-by-step tutorial.
9 of the best niacinamide serums available at Boots
Fancy getting in on some niacinamide action? We don’t blame you. Here are nine of our favourite niacinamide serums to add to your shopping cart.
Best niacinamide serum for mature skin
Try: Olay Niacinamide24 + Vitamin E Day Serum
• Size: 40ml
• Fragrance-free
Olay have long garnered a reputation for their pioneering formulas - and this serum is no exception. Brimming with soothing vitamin E and niacinamide, just one sweep helps to improve skin’s appearance. Our top tip? Don’t forget to apply down to the neck and chest for further-reaching results.
Best for glowing skin
Try: Fenty Skin Watch Ya Tone Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Fragrance-free
• Non-comedogenic
• Vegan-friendly
• Refillable
Brimming with créme de la créme actives like niacinamide and vitamin C, this glow-boosting face serum could be a great addition to your nighttime skincare routine if dark spots are your main concern. The end result? A brighter and more even-looking complexion.
Best niacinamide serum for oily skin
Try: The INKEY List™ Niacinamide Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Cruelty-free
Famed for their no nonsense, no frills approach to skincare, The Inkey List’s serum packs a punch, thanks to its blend of 1% hyaluronic acid and 10% niacinamide to help balance the look of oily skin while boosting hydration in drier areas. A little goes a long way, too.
Best niacinamide serum for sensitive skin
Try: La Roche-Posay Niacinamide B10 Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Suitable for sensitive skin
Beloved by dermatologists, this minimalist hypoallergenic formula with 10% niacinamide concentrate has been developed with the needs of sensitive skin types in mind. Gently exfoliating and hydrating, with continued use you’ll see an improvement in the appearance of dark spots, pigmentation and uneven skin tone.
Best niacinamide serum for congestion-prone skin
Try: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
• Size: 30ml
• Oil-free
• Vegan-friendly
• Cruelty-free
• Boots Beauty Award winner
Winner of the prestigious ‘Niacinamide Essential’ at our Boots Beauty Awards 2022, this pick is kind to skin and wallets. 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc combine for the perfect hard-working duo for the congestion-prone, to help skin look smoother and brighter.
Best niacinamide serum for dark spots
Try: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Niacinamide Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Cruelty-free
If you’re on the hunt for a brightening treatment but you aren’t sure where to start, this lightweight serum could be your first and last stop. 4% niacinamide joins forces with 1% ethyl vitamin C to help restore radiance and reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Best budget niacinamide serum
Try: Boots Ingredients Niacinamide Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Vegan-friendly
Healthier looking skin for a fiver? We kid you not. Boots Ingredients Niacinamide Serum helps improve the appearance of redness and balance oil levels, without breaking the bank. We love a beauty bargain.
Best niacinamide serum for men
Try: Revolution Man Niacinamide Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Fragrance-free
• Vegan-friendly
• Cruelty-free
While skincare shouldn’t be gendered, consider this an easy way to introduce the men in your life to an important element in their skincare routine. Housed in an incredibly chic bottle, just one pump leaves skin looking mattified and hydrated.
Best niacinamide & retinol serum
Try: Olay Retinol 24 Night Serum with Retinol & Vitamin B3
• Size: 40ml
• Fragrance-free
A standout serum that contains two gold-standard skincare ingredients - retinol and niacinamide - what could be better? Best used at night, it helps improve the appearance of both skin texture and tone, for a more radiant and rested complexion the next morning.
Find more great skincare with niacinamide in our full skincare range.
