The 17 Best Niacinamide Serums to Brighten, Smooth, and Clarify Skin, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum

$59 at Amazon $65 at Nordstrom View on Nordstrom

Why We Love It: This is the first niacinamide serum we’d ever tried, and it completely blew every other skin care formula we’ve previously used out of the water. Though we found the texture of this product to be just a little too fluid for our tastes, its results were worth that minor inconvenience—besides which, it spread and absorbed easily, with a little bit going a long way. We’re prone to blemishes, but this serum brightened and cleared up our skin throughout the testing period, leaving it looking and feeling fresh.

Who It's For: This comprehensive serum is formulated to be used by all skin types (though it’s worth noting the high dose of niacinamide could potentially cause irritation if you have very sensitive skin). In addition to the B vitamin, the product features potent antioxidants like resveratrol and epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside (EGCG) to help defend skin from dark-spot-forming free radicals. It also boasts a lab-created ingredient called Brightenyl, which works with the skin’s microbiome to prevent the development of dark spots, reduce redness, and shrink pore size.

Key Ingredients: Trans-resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside, Brightenyl｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 1 oz

Natalie, Combination Skin | Tester: “My skin definitely improved during the testing period. My skin was much clearer, softer and brighter. The product prevented me from breaking out…my skin was softer and smoother.”

Best Budget

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

$6 at Nordstrom $6 at Sephora $6 at Ulta

Why We Love It: Don’t be fooled into thinking that the brief ingredient list or low price point of this product makes it a pass! The serum is incredibly effective, noticeably taming excess oil, fading dark spots, and subduing stubborn breakouts in three weeks. After using it for eight weeks, we found we weren’t even halfway through the bottle after using it twice daily on our face and neck, which makes this budget-friendly formula even more so.

Who It's For: It’s not easy to find a serum that’s more affordable than a cup of coffee, but this one is—and it’s really effective, too, so it’s a must for those looking to save money. It’s especially ideal for those with oily and acne-prone skin due to the blend of the serum’s star ingredients, a high concentration of niacinamide and zinc, which Dr. Murphy-Rose says is known to fight blemishes; it kills breakout-causing bacteria while reducing oil production and inflammation.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Morning and night｜Size: 1 oz

Hannah, Dry, Acne-prone Skin | Tester: “There’s a reason for the hype. I’ve tried other niacinamide serums before but this is one I plan to repurchase.”

Best for Hyperpigmentation

ISDIN Melaclear Advanced

$180 at Amazon $180 at Dermstore View on Isdin.com

Why We Love It: Quite frequently, it’s near impossible to fade old dark spots, especially acne scars, but this formula started fading ours in four weeks. In just two weeks, the serum started smoothing out uneven skin texture and shrinking our supersized pores. Instantly, though, it made our skin more radiant. We liked the gel texture, which absorbed quickly and layered well with other products in our routine, never pilling or clumping.

Who It's For: This formula features a powerhouse blend of skin-brightening ingredients—in addition to niacinamide, it contains known dark-spot-destroyers tranexamic acid and licorice root extract, as well as exfoliating phytic and mandelic acids to slough away discoloration. This makes it a must-try for those who are struggling with all forms of hyperpigmentation. However, it’s worth noting that this formula may be too strong for sensitive skin; it also contains fragrance which could sensitize reactive skin types, though we didn’t really notice a scent when testing it.

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid, licorice root extract, phytic acid, mandelic acid｜Fragrance-Free: No｜Application: Morning and night｜Size: 1.7 oz

Cara, Dryness-prone Skin with Acne Scars | Tester: “I'm pleased with the results…I like that this faded my old acne scars and made my pores appear smaller….and made my skin look smoother overall.”

Best Korean

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum

$18 at Amazon $14 at Yesstyle.com View on Beautyofjoseon.com

Why We Love It: Though this formula initially felt sticky on the skin, it absorbed very rapidly without leaving residue, instantly boosting hydration levels to leave our skin looking moist and soft. We thought it was very soothing and despite our highly sensitive skin, we never experienced any irritation. We also liked that it layered well with the other products in our routine.

Who It's For: This is a nice option for those with sensitive skin because of the high concentration (60 percent!) of propolis extract, a resin-like material made by bees that has powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which supports the soothing benefits of niacinamide. It also contains hydrating sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, as well as brightening turmeric extract. The formula is quite clean, so those who are picky about the ingredients in their products will appreciate this, too.

Key Ingredients: Propolis extract, sodium hyaluronate, turmeric extract｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 1 oz

Juliet, Dry, Sensitive Skin | Tester: “I really like the product overall…I felt like my skin was bouncier after consistent use…there was no smell whatsoever, which was really nice, and the product in no way irritated my skin. I saw results mostly overnight when I woke up in the morning.”

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Cosrx The Niacinamide 15 Serum

$20 at Amazon View on Nordstrom $25 at Ulta

Why We Love It: We were wildly impressed by the results—we didn’t realize how well this formula worked until examining our before and after photos. We had significantly less breakouts while using this product than we usually did and dark spots seemed to disappear. Most noticeably, it erased acne scars that we’d had for years that we thought we’d need medical intervention to address. Though the packaging is small, only a dime-sized amount of the serum is needed for a full application and we had plenty of it left at the end of our testing period; we enjoyed that this product played well with the others in our daily routine.

Who It's For: This is for someone who wants to dramatically transform acne-prone skin. The “15” in the name refers both to the steep percentage of niacinamide in the product as well as the number of ingredients in the bottle. Two of them are soothing allantoin and N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG), a chemical found in the body that’s been proven to be a powerful skin brightener. It’s worth noting that all three of these ingredients are known for being well tolerated (or even comforting to the skin), so this product is worth a try by those that struggle with breakouts and have very sensitive skin.

Key Ingredients: N-Acetylglucosamine, zinc, allantoin｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 0.67 oz

Drea, Acne-scarred Skin with Large Pores | Tester: “I can't think of anything that I would change about this product…It is easy to use and has great results…This took care of some acne scarring that I really thought was going to be an issue and possibly need additional attention. My skin seemed to even out and looks healthy.”

Best for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin

Glossier Super Pure Serum with Niacinamide + Zinc

$34 at Amazon $34 at Sephora $34 at Glossier.com

Why We Love It: This formula was quite easy to integrate into our regular routine as it was featherlight and absorbed quickly—and while we didn’t think it was doing anything at first because it was so lightweight on the skin, we realized that wasn’t at all the case once we saw our selfies after testing. We loved the brightening and clarifying effects of this serum as well as how it provided ample hydration, even in winter. Our overall skin tone was improved, with less redness, and we had no breakouts throughout the entirety of the testing period.

Who It's For: If you love a high-maintenance, multistep routine, this formula is made for you—it’s quite literally designed to be layered with a variety of serums, and features a water-like texture that absorbs rapidly and is undetectable on the skin. This aspect is also part of what makes it a nice pick for those with oily, acne-prone complexions; it’s refreshing and comfortable. The other reason it’s a good choice for those skin types is because of the inclusion of zinc in the formula, which helps tame excess oil and kill acne-causing bacteria.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, zinc, allantoin｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 1 oz

Jackie, Dry, Mature Skin with Large Pores | Tester: “It's the most lightweight, thin, and water-like product I've ever used…it still felt hydrating though. My skin looked brighter and clearer after using this product consistently, with lighter freckles/redness on my face and some slightly smoother texture on my forehead.”

Best for Sensitive Skin

Dr. Barbara Sturm Niacinamide Serum

$160 at Amazon $160 at Sephora View on Drsturm.com

Why We Love It: We refer to ourselves as an “acne survivor,” having completed three rounds of Accutane to clarify our skin. Though the treatment worked, it decimated our skin barrier, leaving our complexion very dry and easily irritated. Though we were wary of testing a new product for fear of a negative reaction, our skin adored this serum. For the first 10 days of testing, we noticed no change to our skin, but on the eleventh day, we woke up to dramatically better-looking skin—the best our skin had ever looked. Our complexion had a more even texture and tone and just an overall healthy glow—not grease, not oil, not shine, but a genuine, radiant glow.

Who It's For: This is best for someone who has sensitive skin; while niacinamide has soothing properties, so do other actives in this product, including ectoin, purslane and marine plankton extracts, and fellow B vitamin panthenol. It’s also ideal for someone who isn’t on a budget, as it’s kind of pricey. That said, we loved how this formula made our skin look so much that we’d give up our lattes and avocado toast forever if we had to.

Key Ingredients: Marine plankton extract, purslane extract, ectoin, panthenol｜Fragrance-Free: No｜Application: Morning and night｜Size: 1 oz

Kaitlin, Very Sensitive, Redness-prone Skin | Tester: “My skin is deeply sensitive—it’s one of my life's biggest challenges—and shows its displeasure by making my face bright red for hours. This didn't happen one bit with the serum…My face felt calmer, less red, and my pores shrunk. It looked all around healthier…and was just bright and radiant, like I am a wellness icon.”

Best for Pores

Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment

$55 at Amazon $55 at Sephora $55 at Dermstore

Why We Love It: We saw a true difference in how this serum improved our skin’s plumpness, clarity, texture, and tone. It made our skin extremely clear—no breakouts, which isn’t typical for us—and our pores appeared much, much smaller. We combined the use of this serum with tretinoin, which absolutely transformed our regimen for the better. It had a clinical-grade feel to it, melting into our skin to revive it overnight to make it bouncy and smooth.

Who It's For: Though our skin is sensitive, we didn’t experience any irritation from this 20 percent niacinamide serum—the highest concentration of the active on this list!—except when we layered it directly without prescription retinoid (we avoided that after the first few attempts), so those with sensitive skin can consider giving it a shot, especially because it also contains soothing allantoin, licorice root extract, ascorbyl glucoside, and epigallocatechin gallate, the latter of which have skin-brightening and antioxidant benefits. This makes it a good choice for those aiming to improve overall skin damage, especially that induced by UV exposure.

Key Ingredients: Acetyl glucosamine, licorice root extract, epigallocatechin gallate｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 0.67 oz

Mollie, Combination, Sensitive Skin | Tester: “This is the first niacinamide I've ever used that I feel truly works…this is a product I would buy on my own over and over after these results.”

Best for Rosacea

PCA SKIN Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$100 at Amazon $125 at Nordstrom $100 at Dermstore

Why We Love It: The first thing we noticed about this formula is how quickly it absorbed—we time our morning routine down to the minute and incorporating this serum didn’t disrupt our schedule at all, sinking into our skin to deliver hydration within 30 seconds while making a nice canvas for subsequent skin care and makeup products. Though we’re prone to redness, this formula didn’t exacerbate it or cause any irritation. In fact, at the end of the testing period, we were surprised by how well this formula evened out our complexion.

Who It's For: This is ideal for someone who wants to completely even out their skin tone—reduce dark spots, fade redness, brighten a sallow appearance—without causing sensitivity. Six percent niacinamide works to soothe the skin and calm redness while a blend of extracts (green tea, mulberry, and plankton) help brighten up discoloration. The formula is also hydrating, thanks to glycerin.

Key Ingredients: Mulberry extract, plankton extract, glycerin｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Morning and night｜Size: 1 oz

Danielle, Dry Skin with Severe Redness | Tester: “I really like how it felt on my skin…I was pleased with the results…I can tell that the dark spots are much less visible.”

Best for Beginners

Olay Super Serum

$30 at Amazon $44 at Ulta $22 at Walmart

Why We Love It: This formula was easy to integrate into our routine, with a hydrating, slightly runny texture that absorbed as soon as we massaged it into our skin. While other serums we’ve tested have left our skin feeling dehydrated or sensitive to the sun if we weren’t religious about applying sunscreen on our face, this one actually smoothed away several long-standing dry patches in just a few days of use. It made our skin look and feel like we’d just gotten a moisturizing facial after every application, with a brighter tone instantly and over time.

Who It's For: If you want a do-it-all serum that’ll make your skin look smoother and brighter with very little effort, this one’s for you. In addition to niacinamide, it features vitamin C and lactic acid to even out the skin’s tone and texture. But it’s also worth noting this formula offers a subtly luminous finish, which is what delivers that immediate radiance upon application. We loved it (it wasn’t sparkly at all) but it may not be for everyone.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, collagen peptide, lactic acid｜Fragrance-Free: No｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 1 oz

Sheila, Combination Skin with Dry Patches | Tester: “I was surprised by and happy with how well this product absorbed and worked on my skin—it’s a product I would repurchase or gladly recommend to a friend. My skin looked more hydrated, brighter, and softer, and felt plumper.”

Best Dermatologist-Tested

SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3 Face Cream with Niacinamide

$130 at Dermstore $130 at Skinceuticals.com $130 at Bluemercury.com

Why We Love It: Melasma is notoriously challenging to treat, but this potent formula from SkinCeuticals was up to the challenge. The serum was able to brighten up some of our darker patches of melasma in addition to smoothing out fine lines, making our skin look brighter and healthier overall. The gel serum also gave our skin a matte finish (which we appreciated!) that looked good when worn solo or under makeup.

Who It's For: Beyond the fact that it’s a nice choice for those looking to address discoloration (including melasma!) and uneven texture, SkinCeuticals is one of those brands that’s beloved by dermatologists, so give this one a shot if you want a gold star at your next appointment. Like all the products from this company, this serum is formulated with well-studied and hardworking ingredients, including three firming peptides and five percent niacinamide. It’s also clinically tested.

Key Ingredients: Peptide blend, glycerin, algae extract｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Morning and night｜Size: 1.7 oz

Hilary, Dry Skin with Melasma | Tester: “I noticed more change to my skin texture and fine lines using this than I have with other products…my skin brightened and I noticed some fading of the darker melasma spots on my skin. Day to day, I didn't notice much difference, but with consistent use, there is payoff in vibrancy, texture, and discoloration.”

Best Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Westman Atelier Skin Activator Serum with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide

$189 at Amazon $125 at Nordstrom $125 at Sephora

Why We Love It: We were instantly drawn to this treatment due to its unique and luxe packaging—a refillable canister topped with a cooling rollerball that helped spread the serum across our face (without wasting any on our fingertips!) while depuffing and debloating, which we especially appreciated in the mornings. We genuinely looked forward to using this product every day as a little self-care moment. But it was the results that had us coming back for more: noticeably brighter, smoother, and more hydrated skin that had an effortless glow.

Who It's For: Try this formula if you have very dry skin that’s in need of a brightening boost. In addition to niacinamide and peptides to illuminate and smooth, it contains four different forms of hyaluronic acid to deliver deep hydration to multiple layers of the skin. It also features ceramides to help condition and soften.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, four types of hyaluronic acid, peptides, adenosine｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Morning and night｜Size: 0.67 oz

Joie, Combination Skin | Tester: “I was super pleased with the results after consistently using this serum. The product did more than I was even expecting and really made a difference to my overall complexion—making it glow! I could honestly see results even after the first use and from there, it consistently helped keep my skin glowing and moisturized during the height of a Midwest winter.”

Best for Dry Skin

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

$34 at Amazon $20 at Sephora $20 at Glowrecipe.com

Why We Love It: We’ll admit that we enjoyed how this product made our skin feel so much that we often slicked on more than necessary. (It's very cooling and smooth as you apply it, and once it absorbed, it left our skin feeling very soft, hydrated, and illuminated…we actually wanted to touch our face throughout the day because of this!) ​​Despite that, though, it never made our skin feel sticky or tacky, just comfortable and fully hydrated. It also provided a pretty radiance and, with regular use, made our complexion more even.

Who It's For: Because of the blend of hydrating watermelon, hyaluronic acid, and moringa seed oil, this is an ideal choice for someone who has dry skin and is looking for more moisture without weighing down their skin. It’s also a nice pick for someone that wants instantly glowy skin, which comes courtesy of all that hydration rather than any shimmer or pearlescence. Lastly, it’s for someone that doesn’t mind fragrance. It’s only 0.5 percent natural fragrance, and it didn’t irritate our skin, but the serum does smell like watermelon candy (we loved this, to be honest).

Key Ingredients: Watermelon, hyaluronic acid, moringa seed oil｜Fragrance-Free: No｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 1.35 oz

Arnesia, Dry Skin with Hyperpigmentation | Tester: “Overall, my skin looked brighter and healthier. I struggled a bit with some texture issues in my skin over the course of testing, and anytime I used this, it helped to smooth it out and make it appear much more even…and just more dewy and glowy.”

Best for Uneven Skin Tone

Alpyn Beauty Wild Nettle & Niacinamide

$58 at Amazon $58 at Sephora $58 at QVC

Why We Love It: This silky, lightweight gel works similar to a gentle retinol, giving our skin an instant radiance while providing a noticeable tightening effect—and it improved the firmness of our skin throughout the testing period. We’re confident that contributed to the smoothing of the fine lines around our eyes, which helped us look more revitalized and awake. Though our skin is prone to acne, this formula never irritated our skin, and it did a great job moisturizing our dry patches without feeling heavy.

Who It's For: This is best for someone who wants to treat the effects of aging as one of the star ingredients, rambutan, is considered a retinol alternative (just like bakuchiol) and helps smooth and brighten the skin (as does niacinamide, of course). It’s also one to consider if you’re passionate about sustainability. In addition to being packaged in a fully recyclable component, the serum features sustainably harvested plant extracts.

Key Ingredients: Nettle extract, rambutan extract, squalane｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 1 oz

Chantia, Combination Skin with Old Acne Scars | Tester: “The serum did an excellent job in improving the texture of my skin [and] I am very pleased with how vibrant my skin looks now…my friends also weren't telling me I look tired and sleepy as much as they used to.”

Best Hydrating

First Aid Beauty Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum

$30 at Amazon $42 at Nordstrom $42 at Nordstrom

Why We Love It: Our skin is prone to dryness in winter, which is when we tested this formula, and we greatly appreciated how it immediately left our skin feeling significantly more hydrated as well as revitalized due to a subtle and soothing cooling sensation. It also made for a wonderful foundation base, and could very see a clear difference in the appearance of our skin on days we skipped this serum—it made our skin look more lively. Though we wouldn’t say it dramatically faded our dark spots, it did leave our complexion looking more even overall, and at no point did it cause any irritation (which we’ve experienced from other products in the past).

Who It's For: We felt this was a great product for beginners, especially those wanting more hydrated and healthier-looking skin, as it seamlessly integrated into our routine and wasn’t too much of a splurge. In addition to being a niacinamide serum, it also functions as a vitamin C serum of sorts as it contains kakadu plum, a potent antioxidant that contains 75 times more vitamin C than oranges. It’s also best for someone who doesn’t mind a bit of pearlescence in their skin care—there’s mica in the formula, which gives your skin a radiant finish.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, kakadu plum, mica｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Morning and night｜Size: 1 oz

Gibreel, Combination Skin | Tester: “I was pleased with the overall results. I do see myself repurchasing this product because of the way it wears and feels on the skin…my skin looked brighter and even glowy upon the first use, but after two weeks, I noticed a consistently clearer complexion.”

Best for Redness

Typology 12% Niacinamide Serum

View on Typology.com

Why We Love It: This serum is very simple (just 10 ingredients!), but it delivered serious results. Before testing this formula, one of our biggest gripes about our skin was its inconsistent tone, most notably our redness, and this formula dramatically evened everything out, calming redness and fading dark spots. Though it contains a high concentration of niacinamide, we experienced zero irritation while testing this product (and a little of it went quite a long way).

Who It's For: This is ideal for someone who wants a fuss-free and effective formula to even out their skin tone. The only real active in this serum is the 12 percent niacinamide, but because the ingredient is such a powerhouse, you’ll see a transformation in your skin. The glass packaging is also recyclable.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide｜Fragrance-Free: No｜Application: Morning and night｜Size: 1 oz

Taylor, Combination Skin with Some Discoloration | Tester: “Looking back at the before photos, I was shocked at how much the color in my face evened out. My skin is less red and my sun spots have faded…I noticed a slight change in the fine lines around my eyes…My skin just looks more even overall.”

Best for Glowing Skin

Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops

$38 at Amazon $38 at Sephora $38 at Ulta

Why We Love It: We were admittedly skeptical of this product after initially seeing the golden pearlescence of the formula (it looks more like a highlighter than a serum), but we fell in love with its instant and lasting effects. Just a pea-sized amount was enough to cover our entire face and add a radiant (not sparkly) glow. Over the course of the testing period, we observed our skin getting brighter and smoother, with fewer hormonal breakouts and reduced discoloration left behind by any errant pimples.

Who It's For: This is absolutely for someone that wants something of a makeup-skin care hybrid, as the formula adds a golden glow to the skin. But if you’re looking to use it as a makeup alternative, that works, too—the nourishing properties provided by the squalane and jojoba oil make it a great substitute for a tinted moisturizer. It’s also worth trying if you don’t want to take any products out of your existing regimen, as it’s meant to be mixed with your favorite serums, creams, or oils.

Key Ingredients: Diglucosyl gallic acid, squalane, mulberry leaf extract｜Fragrance-Free: Yes｜Application: Once or twice daily｜Size: 1 oz

Alexa, Uneven Combination Skin with Large Pores | Tester: “I am very happy with the results! The product looked very cosmetic to me when first using it—I thought it would have no effect on my skin, but in the end, it helped even more problems than it advertises.”