Niacinamide: the easy add-on, minus the hype

A form of vitamin B3 that slips into almost any routine, morning or night. In studies, it helped with shine, uneven tone and dry skin. Here’s what the research backs, and what to leave to other products.

Nubia3 min read

An unlabelled glass dropper bottle stands beside milky serum on frosted glass.

What it’s good at

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, and one of the better-studied skincare ingredients. In lab and skin studies, it helped skin make more of its own ceramides, the fats that hold water in, and dry skin lost less water. In one trial, a 2% niacinamide moisturizer lowered facial oil compared with a plain one. In another, 5% niacinamide made dark patches look lighter than the same moisturizer without it.

What it doesn’t do

It won’t make pores disappear. Nothing has been shown to change their actual size, though less oil can make them look less noticeable. It isn’t an exfoliant, so it won’t do an acid’s job, and it doesn’t protect you from the sun, so sunscreen stays. A higher percentage isn’t automatically better either. Most products sit at 5% or less, and the studies above used 2% and 5%.

Adding it this week

  1. After cleansing

    Morning, evening or both. A few drops or a thin layer.

  2. Then moisturizer

    Your usual one goes on top.

  3. Mornings: sunscreen last

    Niacinamide doesn’t protect you from the sun, so this step stays.

Common questions

Can I use it with vitamin C or retinol?

Yes, for most people. It’s often paired with both, and with ceramide moisturizers too. If you’re adding more than one new product, bring them in one at a time.

Is it OK for sensitive skin?

It’s generally well tolerated. Start with a lower strength if your skin reacts easily, and patch test on your forearm for a day first.

Sources

  1. Niacinamide: What It Is and Skin BenefitsCleveland Clinic, accessed October 18, 2026
  2. Nicotinamide increases biosynthesis of ceramides as well as other stratum corneum lipids to improve the epidermal permeability barrierBritish Journal of Dermatology (Tanno O et al.), accessed October 18, 2026
  3. The effect of 2% niacinamide on facial sebum productionJournal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy (Draelos ZD et al.), accessed October 18, 2026
  4. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transferBritish Journal of Dermatology (Hakozaki T et al.), accessed October 18, 2026
  5. Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide (Niacinamide) to Control Skin Aging and PigmentationAntioxidants (Boo YC), accessed October 18, 2026

Reviewed for content and safety by Nubia editorial team. Next review: January 2027.

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