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12 best niacinamide serums for soothing redness, fighting breakouts and brightening the skin
Say it with me "Ni-A-Cin-A-Mide"
I'll admit it, when it comes to refining my skincare routine I find it tricky to narrow down my wish list. But one ingredient I'll never skip? A niacinamide serum (aka vitamin B3).
Yup, whilst I love my vitamin C for getting a glow, hyaluronic acid for moisturising and retinol for targeting those ever-present fine lines, niacinamide has become my go-to for preventing breakouts and brightening up my skin. And I'm not alone, the ingredient has been growing in popularity as more and more beauty brands embrace its benefits.
If you're thinking about adding a little niacinamide to your skincare shelfie, here's all you need to know...
The best niacinamide serums
What is niacinamide?
Let's get down to the details, what actually is niacinamide? "Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3, which has a wide range of excellent benefits for the skin" explains Dr Mary Sommerlad, Consultant Dermatologist for the online dermatology platform, Dermatica.
It's most commonly used in serums and can be found in percentages of 4%, 10% and 20%. "It is generally very well tolerated by all skin types however, I would always suggest using a lower percentage as a leave-on product if you have never tried it before" says Sommerlad.
What does niacinamide do to the skin?
Turns out, it does quite a lot. "Firstly, it can help treat acne by balancing oil production, reducing inflammation and helping even out skin tone imbalance," says Sommerlad.
"It can also help those with eczema as it supports the skin barrier, helps boost hydration and is anti-inflammatory. Finally, it's also great for those interested in reducing the signs of premature ageing, as it works to minimise pore size, even out pigmentation and smooth out fine lines."
BTW, our Beauty Special dedicated to skincare is on newsstands on the 27th of August. Don’t miss your chance to grab our beauty bible full of skincare tips and product recs for now to keep forever.
Cosmo's top niacinamide serums
Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.
Clare Stephenson is a Beauty Ecommerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Red and Good Housekeeping, covering all things makeup, skincare and hair care, as well as deals events including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
Clare has been an ecommerce writer since 2022, writing matter-of-fact reviews such as deep dives into skin concerns and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need.
Before working at Hearst UK, she received a BA degree in Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on the world of magazines and editorial. From there, she worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events like Fashion Week and interviewing reputable brand founders, including Rea Ann Silva creator of Beautyblender.
When she’s not testing the latest and greatest products, you can find Clare sifting through vintage clothing stores in the city or horseback riding in the countryside.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
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