Niacinamide Guide: What It Does, Which Strength, and How to Use It
Ingredient guide · Al Mahara · Updated 1 Nov 2026
Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B3. It's one of the best-researched ingredients in skincare and appears across Korean ranges, from serums and toners to creams and pads.
Here is what the research says and how to use it. Sources are linked at the end.
What niacinamide does
A 2021 review in the journal Antioxidants found that topical niacinamide, alone or combined with other ingredients, slowed signs of skin ageing and reduced hyperpigmentation in clinical trials, and that it is well tolerated by skin. The review also describes it supporting the skin barrier.
A review in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology lists further effects, including reducing oiliness, and notes that its effects depend on concentration.
What people use it for
Uneven tone, dark spots and post-blemish marks; oily skin and the look of pores; and as a gentle all-round ingredient for skin that feels dry or easily irritated.
Choosing a strength
Products range from a few percent to 20%. A higher number isn't automatically better: if your skin is sensitive, start with a lower-strength serum or a niacinamide toner, and move up only if your skin is happy.
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How to use it
- Apply a niacinamide serum after cleansing and toner, morning or night.
- Follow with moisturiser. A niacinamide cream can do both jobs.
- In the morning, finish with sunscreen; if you're treating dark spots, daily sun protection matters as much as the serum.
- Test new products on a small area first, as the American Academy of Dermatology suggests.
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Sources
Product facts are taken from these pages and our product listings. This is a product guide, not a personal review.
- Boo — Nicotinamide (niacinamide) for skin aging and pigmentation (Antioxidants, 2021)
- Wohlrab & Kreft — Niacinamide: mechanisms of action and topical use (Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2014)
- American Academy of Dermatology — How to test skin care products
- American Academy of Dermatology — How to apply sunscreen