Ingredient guide
Niacinamide serum
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is one of the few ingredients that does several things at once: evens tone, calms redness, regulates oil and strengthens the barrier — and it suits almost every skin type.
- Ingredient
- Niacinamide, vitamin B3
- Typical strength
- 2–5% is enough for most
- Works on
- Pores, redness, uneven tone
- Combine with
- Peptides and hyaluronic acid
What niacinamide does
Niacinamide supports the skin's production of ceramides — the lipids that keep the barrier sealed. A tighter barrier loses less water and reacts less to cold, wind and cleansing.
It also slows the transfer of pigment to surface skin cells, which over time means a more even tone and less visible post-acne marks.
How much niacinamide do you need?
Studies show clear effects from around 2–5%. Serums at 10% do not give proportionally better results and more often cause redness and stinging.
If a niacinamide serum has irritated you before, a high percentage is usually the reason — not the ingredient itself.
What to expect
Less shine and calmer tone often show within 2–4 weeks. Pigmentation and pore appearance take 8–12 weeks.
Niacinamide does not permanently shrink pores, but reducing oil and slack pore edges makes them look smaller.
Combine correctly
Niacinamide works well with hyaluronic acid and peptides — they act on different parts of the skin and do not interfere with each other.
The old warning about mixing niacinamide with vitamin C applies to laboratory conditions, not modern finished formulas.
Niacinamide in the same formula
Our GHK-Cu serum combines niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and 2% copper peptide — one step instead of three.
See the serumFrequently asked questions
Can I use niacinamide morning and night?
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Yes. It is photostable and non-irritating at sensible strengths, so twice daily is fine.
Is niacinamide good for sensitive skin?
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Yes, at lower strengths. It strengthens the barrier, which often makes sensitive skin less reactive over time.
Does niacinamide help with acne?
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It calms inflammation and oil production and can fade post-acne marks, but it does not replace treatment for active acne.