What does Niacinamide do?#
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is a water-soluble active that supports the look and feel of the skin's moisture barrier, helping skin stay comfortable and hydrated-looking. It also contributes to a more even-looking skin tone and a less shiny, more refined-looking complexion.
- Supports the look and feel of the skin's moisture barrier for a comfortable, hydrated finish
- Supports a smoother, more even-looking skin tone
- Helps skin look less shiny, for a smoother, more refined-looking complexion
How it works
Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 with decades of use in skincare. It supports the look and feel of the skin's moisture barrier, which is what keeps skin feeling comfortable and looking hydrated. It also helps promote a smoother, more even-looking skin tone over time, and a more balanced, less shiny appearance.
How to use Niacinamide#
- Morning or evening — niacinamide suits either, and both if you like.
- After cleansing. A niacinamide toner goes on first, straight after washing; a serum goes on after that, before moisturizer.
- Across the whole face. Keep it out of your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Every day from the start is fine. Unlike stronger actives, it does not need weeks of easing in.
- Follow it with a moisturizer — that is what holds the hydration in.
- If your skin feels dry or tight, drop to once a day or every other day rather than stopping altogether.
- It sits happily alongside almost everything else in a routine, so it does not need an evening of its own.
Niacinamide is gentle and suits most skin types, including sensitive skin. If your skin ever feels dry or tight, use it less often rather than stopping.
Forms you will see it in
Niacinamide toner
- Where it goes
- After cleansing, morning or evening
- How often
- Daily
- Strength
- Gentle
- Sun sensitivity
- None
Niacinamide serum
- Where it goes
- Before moisturizer, morning or evening
- How often
- Daily
- Strength
- Gentle
- Sun sensitivity
- None
Using Niacinamide with other ingredients
Pairs well with Niacinamide
Retinol
Works well togetherNo conflict between the two — they can be used in the same evening routine.
Hyaluronic acid
Works well togetherTogether they provide complementary hydration for a plumper, more comfortable feel.
Glycerin
Works well togetherNiacinamide supports the look and feel of the skin's moisture barrier while glycerin provides the water it retains.
Ceramides
Works well togetherNiacinamide supports the look and feel of the skin's moisture barrier while topical ceramides reinforce it.
Ferments / Probiotics
Works well togetherBoth support a healthy-looking moisture barrier through complementary approaches for additive benefits.
Ferulic Acid + Resveratrol
Works well togetherComplementary brightening support — together they help promote a more even, radiant-looking complexion from two different angles.
Tranexamic Acid
Works well togetherComplementary brightening support — together they help promote a more even, luminous-looking complexion from two different angles.
Kojic Acid
Works well togetherComplementary brightening support — together they help promote a more even, radiant-looking complexion from two different angles.
NAG (N-Acetyl Glucosamine)
Works well togetherA great pairing for NAG — together they support a more even, radiant-looking complexion.
4-Butylresorcinol
Works well togetherComplementary brightening support — together they help promote a more even, radiant-looking complexion from two different angles.
Vitamin E
Works well togetherComplementary support for a smoother, more even-looking complexion.
Peptides
Works well togetherBoth support a firmer, more resilient-looking complexion in complementary ways.
Caffeine
Works well togetherBoth support a brighter, more even-looking complexion.
Peptides (Eye Area)
Works well togetherBoth support a brighter, more resilient-looking eye area in complementary ways.
Salicylic Acid (BHA)
Works well togetherNiacinamide helps skin look less shiny and more comfortable following BHA cleansing.
What not to use with Niacinamide
Nothing flagged. None of the ingredients this wiki covers needs to be kept apart from Niacinamide — check the label of anything not covered here.
Who should avoid Niacinamide?#
Six situations change whether Niacinamide suits your skin right now. Each one is either a reason to skip it, a reason to go slowly, or nothing to watch for.
- Maternity & Nursing
- No caution
- Fragile or Sensitive
- No caution
- Recent Facial or Laser
- No caution
- Prone to Redness
- No caution
- Dry or Itchy Patches
- No caution
- Recent Shave or Wax
- No caution
Cosmetic strength limits for Niacinamide where you live#
| Region | Maximum strength |
|---|---|
| United States | No explicit cap |
| Canada | No explicit cap |
| European Union | No explicit cap |
| Great Britain | No explicit cap |
No cosmetic regulator in these four markets sets a maximum strength for niacinamide. That is a limit on the rules, not a signal to use more: how much goes into a product is the formulator's decision.
Products with Niacinamide#
We may earn a small commission when you buy through these links.
Niacinamide toner · 5
Niacinamide serum · 17
BEAUTY OF JOSEONGlow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide - 60ml$19.20
COSRXThe Niacinamide 15 Serum - 20ml$20.00
IsntreeHyper Niacinamide 20 Serum - 20ml$14.64
Mary&MayNiacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum - 30ml$15.12
Round LabVita Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum - 30ml$21.00
SKIN1004Madagascar Centella Niacinamide 10 Boosting Shot Ampoule - 30ml$13.69
The OrdinaryNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - 30ml$11.29
TIRTIRNiacinamide 20% Serum - 30ml$20.00
APLBLiposome Niacinamide LX Serum - 40ml$9.80
APLBZinc Niacinamide Ampoule Serum - 40ml$9.80
BiodanceRadiant Vita Niacinamide Serum - 30ml$21.90
BlitheTargeted Blemish Serum Niacinamide 5.0 - 30ml$22.95
BlitheTargeted Pore Serum Niacinamide 22 - 30ml$22.10
CARE:NELNiacinamide Zinc Serum - 30ml$6.60
CELDYQUENiacinamide Advanced Serum 20% - 30ml$10.69
Cos De BAHANiacinamide 20 Serum (NZ) - 30ml$9.90
Cos De BAHANiacinamide Serum (N) - 30ml$8.50Common questions about Niacinamide#
When should you apply Niacinamide?
- Morning or evening — niacinamide suits either, and both if you like.
Which form of Niacinamide should you use?
- Niacinamide toner — after cleansing, morning or evening, daily. Niacinamide serum — before moisturizer, morning or evening, daily.
How often can you use Niacinamide?
- Daily.
Where do you apply Niacinamide?
- All over the face. Keep it away from your eyes and lips.
Does Niacinamide make skin more sensitive to the sun?
- No. Niacinamide is not flagged as increasing sun sensitivity.
What should you not use with Niacinamide?
- Nothing flagged. None of the ingredients this wiki covers needs to be kept apart from Niacinamide — check the label of anything not covered here.
Is there a cosmetic limit for Niacinamide?
- No. No cosmetic regulator in the United States, Canada, the European Union or Great Britain sets a maximum strength for it. That is a limit on the rules, not a signal to use more.
Related ingredients#
How we check this#
Everything on this page traces to the sources listed below — regulators' own publications and published studies. Where the evidence does not answer a question, it is left unanswered.
Some sources below are the official product information for prescription medicines — some contain this ingredient at higher strengths, others are cited for how they interact with it. We use them for their safety and handling detail only. A cosmetic product is not one of those medicines and is not intended to treat any condition.
Our review is AI-assisted and is not a named expert's opinion. Last reviewed August 4, 2026.
Think something here is out of date or wrong? Email us at wiki@skinintelligence.ai with your reasoning and where you read it. We read what people send, and we update the page when the sources support it.
Regulators and official bodies · 8
- S1Freederm Treatment 4% w/w Gel — Summary of Product Characteristics. Nicotinamide 4% w/w. Diomed Developments Limited t/a Dermal Laboratories. PL 00173/0398. Revised 28/11/2024. MHRA/eMC.
- S2Freederm Gel — Summary of Product Characteristics. MHRA/eMC.
- S3Roaccutane 10 mg soft capsules — Summary of Product Characteristics. Isotretinoin. Neon Healthcare Ltd. MHRA/eMC.
- S4Differin Gel — Summary of Product Characteristics. Adapalene 0.1%. Galderma (U.K.) Limited. MHRA/eMC.
- S5Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products, Annex II (prohibited substances) and Annex III (restricted substances), as it forms part of assimilated UK law. legislation.gov.uk.
- S6Health Canada. Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist: List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients..
- S721 CFR Part 700, Subpart B — Requirements for Specific Cosmetic Products, §§700.11–700.35. eCFR.
- S8Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report of the safety assessment of niacinamide and niacin. Int J Toxicol. 2005;24(Suppl 5). PMID 16596767. (Corporate author; PubMed carries no individual author names for this record, so none are attributed. The vault's capture of this report is a failed fetch — cookie-consent boilerplate and an "Unable to display this attachment" notice, with no report content — and was not used.).
Studies and references · 32
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- S10Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA. Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatol Surg. 2005 Jul. PMID 16029679.
- S11Tanno O, Ota Y, Kitamura N, Katsube T, Inoue S. Nicotinamide increases biosynthesis of ceramides as well as other stratum corneum lipids to improve the epidermal permeability barrier. Br J Dermatol. 2000 Sep. PMID 10971324.
- S12Shalita AR, Smith JG, Parish LC, Sofman MS, Chalker DK. Topical nicotinamide compared with clindamycin gel in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris. Int J Dermatol. 1995 Jun. PMID 7657446.
- S13Khodaeiani E, Fouladi RF, Amirnia M, Saeidi M, Karimi ER. Topical 4% nicotinamide vs. 1% clindamycin in moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris. Int J Dermatol. 2013 Aug. PMID 23786503.
- S14Navarrete-Solís J, Castanedo-Cázares JP, Torres-Álvarez B, Oros-Ovalle C, Fuentes-Ahumada C, et al. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial of niacinamide 4% versus hydroquinone 4% in the treatment of melasma. Dermatol Res Pract. 2011. PMID 21822427.
- S15Draelos ZD, Ertel K, Berge C. Niacinamide-containing facial moisturizer improves skin barrier and benefits subjects with rosacea. Cutis. 2005 Aug. PMID 16209160.
- S16Draelos ZD, Matsubara A, Smiles K. The effect of 2% niacinamide on facial sebum production. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2006 Jun. PMID 16766489.
- S17Wohlrab J, Kreft D. Niacinamide — mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014. PMID 24993939.
- S18Kimball AB, Kaczvinsky JR, Li J, Robinson LR, Matts PJ, Berge CA, Miyamoto K, Bissett DL. Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation after use of moisturizers with a combination of topical niacinamide and N-acetyl glucosamine. Br J Dermatol. 2010 Feb. PMID 19845667.
- S19Soma Y, Kashima M, Imaizumi A, Takahama H, Kawakami T, Mizoguchi M. Moisturizing effects of topical nicotinamide on atopic dry skin. Int J Dermatol. 2005 Mar. PMID 15807725.
- S20Cannizzaro MV, Dattola A, Garofalo V, Del Duca E, Bianchi L. Reducing the oral isotretinoin skin side effects: efficacy of 8% omega-ceramides, hydrophilic sugars, 5% niacinamide cream. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Apr. PMID 29564872.
- S21Mohammed D, Crowther JM, Matts PJ, Hadgraft J, Lane ME. Influence of niacinamide containing formulations on the molecular and biophysical properties of the stratum corneum. Int J Pharm. 2013 Jan 30. PMID 23220080.
- S22Christman JC, Fix DK, Lucus SC, Watson D, Desmier E, Wilkerson RJ, Fixler C. Two randomized, controlled, comparative studies of the stratum corneum integrity benefits of two cosmetic niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers vs. conventional body moisturizers. J Drugs Dermatol. 2012 Jan. PMID 22206073.
- S23Sjöberg T, Fsahaye A, Nilsson EJ, Letasiova S, Namro I, Visdal-Johnsen L, Hrapovic N, Smiljanic S, et al. Niacinamide and its impact on stratum corneum hydration and structure. Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 10. PMID 39929949.
- S24Voegeli R, Guneri D, Cherel M, Summers B, Lane ME, Rawlings AV. Topical niacinamide enhances hydrophobicity and resilience of corneocyte envelopes on different facial locations. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2020 Dec. PMID 33038007.
- S25Xiong Y, Jiang X, Lai W, Gao X, You Y, Huang Y, Li X, Zhang J, Tao S, Chen J, Zhang W, Yu N, et al. Supramolecular salicylic acid combined with niacinamide in chloasma: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2024 Oct. PMID 38618759.
- S26Ahmad I, Sheraz MA, Ahmed S, Bano R, Vaid FH. Photochemical interaction of ascorbic acid with riboflavin, nicotinamide and alpha-tocopherol in cream formulations. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2012 Apr. PMID 22014159.
- S27Kaewsanit T, Chakkavittumrong P, Waranuch N. Clinical comparison of topical 2.5% benzoyl peroxide plus 5% niacinamide to 2.5% benzoyl peroxide alone in the treatment of mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021 Jun. PMID 34804354.
- S28Ghasemiyeh P, Haghighi NF, Dastgheib L, Ranjbar S, Mohammadi-Samani S. Safety and efficacy of niosomal and conventional tranexamic acid/niacinamide vs. hydroquinone creams in melasma. Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 28. PMID 41315336.
- S29Furmanczyk M, Brown A, Bustos J, de Henestrosa ARF, Trullas C, Granger C, Jourdan E. Efficacy and tolerability of a depigmenting gel serum comprising tranexamic acid, niacinamide, 4-butylresorcinol and phytic acid. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024 Jun. PMID 38549196.
- S30Bogdanowicz P, Bensadoun P, Noizet M, Béganton B, Philippe A, Alvarez-Georges S, Doat G, et al. Senomorphic activity of a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid: correlation with clinical improvement of skin ageing. Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 15. PMID 39009698.
- S31Hakozaki T, Wang J, Laughlin T, Jarrold B, Zhao W, Furue M. Role of interleukin-6 and endothelin-1 receptors in enhanced melanocyte dendricity of facial spots and suppression by niacinamide. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024 Jan. PMID 38116639.
- S32Kaczvinsky JR, Griffiths CE, Schnicker MS, Li J. Efficacy of anti-aging products for periorbital wrinkles as measured by 3-D imaging. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2009 Sep. PMID 19735523.
- S33Santos-Caetano JP, Gfeller CF, Mahalingam H, Thompson M, Moore DJ, Vila R, Doi R, Cargill MR. Cosmetic benefits of a novel biomimetic lamellar formulation containing niacinamide in healthy females with oily, blemish-prone skin in a randomized proof-of-concept study. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2020 Feb. PMID 31461548.
- S34Tempark T, Shem A, Lueangarun S. Efficacy of ceramides and niacinamide-containing moisturizer versus hydrophilic cream in combination with topical anti-acne treatment in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: a split face, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024 May. PMID 38299457.
- S35Ferreira MS, Sousa Lobo JM, Almeida IF. Sensitive skin: active ingredients on the spotlight. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022 Feb. PMID 34813665.
- S36Igarashi A, Abe M, Gunji Y, Nemoto O, Kawamura K, Yokozeki M, Saito A, Ookawara A. Evaluation of a dermocosmetic serum containing a multi-acid complex and niacinamide in Japanese women with mild acne. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2025 Apr. PMID 40256337.
- S37Farris P, Zeichner J, Berson D. Efficacy and tolerability of a skin brightening/anti-aging cosmeceutical containing retinol 0.5%, niacinamide, hexylresorcinol, and resveratrol. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016 Jul 1. PMID 27391637.
- S38Chiu PC, Chan CC, Lin HM, Chiu HC. The clinical anti-aging effects of topical kinetin and niacinamide in Asians: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007 Dec. PMID 18047609.
- S39Friedmann DP, Mehta E, Verma KK, Harris R. Treatment-refractory granulomatous reaction to microneedling with transepidermal drug delivery of vitamin C, niacinamide, and botanical extracts. Int J Dermatol. 2025 Jun. PMID 39425244.
- S40Zhu JR, Wang J, Wang SS. A single-center, randomized, controlled study on the efficacy of niacinamide-containing body emollients combined with cleansing gel in the treatment of mild atopic dermatitis. Skin Res Technol. 2023 Sep. PMID 37753690.
