Glow Up Your Skincare Routine: Best Niacinamide Serums for Clear & Balanced Skin

Looking to add a brightening, oil-balancing serum to your skincare routine? We’ve rounded up the best niacinamide serums-complete with links, descriptions, and pro tips to get glowing, balanced skin.

Top Niacinamide Serums for Clear & Balanced Skin!

Introduction

If your skincare goals include smoother texture, fewer breakouts, and a brighter complexion, niacinamide should be on your radar. This multitasking form of vitamin B3 helps reduce redness, refine pores, and balance oil-making it a favourite for nearly every skin type. In this blog, we explore the top niacinamide serums available on Amazon UK, break down their benefits, and share expert tips to help you choose the right one for your skin needs.

Who Should Use Niacinamide (And What It Really Does)?

Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, is a powerful yet gentle skincare ingredient suitable for nearly all skin types. Whether you’re dealing with breakouts, uneven tone, dullness, or signs of ageing, niacinamide can help restore balance to your skin.

Here’s what niacinamide can do:

Minimise pores and refine texture: It helps regulate oil production, which in turn can reduce the appearance of large pores and smooth out uneven skin texture.

Calm inflammation and redness: Especially helpful for those with acne, rosacea, or sensitive skin.

Brighten dull, uneven skin tone: Niacinamide interferes with the transfer of pigment to skin cells, which can help fade dark spots and discolouration over time.

Strengthen the skin barrier: It boosts the production of ceramides, which help lock in moisture and protect against environmental damage.

Reduce fine lines and signs of ageing: With consistent use, it can improve skin elasticity and reduce oxidative stress.

Who should use it?

Oily or acne-prone skin for its oil-balancing and anti-inflammatory benefits

Sensitive or reactive skin due to its barrier-strengthening and calming properties

Dry or dehydrated skin when paired with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid

Dull or pigmented skin looking for gentle brightening without harsh acids

In short, niacinamide is one of the most versatile skincare actives-safe for daily use and easy to layer with most products in your routine.

Pro Tips for Using Niacinamide Serums Righfuly in Your Skincare Routine!

Patch test first: Especially if your skin is sensitive to active ingredients like vitamin B3. Apply a small amount behind your ear or on your inner arm and wait 24 hours to check for any irritation.
Apply after cleansing, before moisturiser: Use on clean, slightly damp skin for better absorption. Follow up with your regular moisturiser to seal in hydration.
Use once or twice daily depending on tolerance: Start with once a day, ideally in your morning routine. If your skin reacts well, you can increase to twice daily.
Pair with SPF in the daytime: Niacinamide can enhance your skin barrier, but it doesn’t replace sun protection. Always use a broad-spectrum SPF in the morning.
Avoid layering with strong actives like pure Vitamin C or retinoids in the same routine: These combinations can cause irritation. Instead, use niacinamide in the morning and actives like vitamin C or retinol at night, or alternate days.

Bonus Tip: If your skin feels dry or tight after applying niacinamide, follow up with a serum containing hyaluronic acid or a barrier-repair moisturiser.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10 % + Zinc 1 % Serum

A true Amazon UK bestseller: this water-based serum combines 10% niacinamide with 1% zinc PCA to regulate sebum, reduce blemishes, tighten pores, and brighten skin tone. Customers report visible improvements in clarity and texture within weeks.

The Ordinary View on Amazon
COSRX Niacinamide 15 % Face Serum

Cream of K‑beauty: a 15% niacinamide formula with zinc PCA designed to tackle acne scars, textural irregularities, and enlarged pores. Lightweight and non-comedogenic, it’s a standout with customers who prioritize skincare results.

COSRX View on Amazon
Glow Recipe Niacinamide Dew Drops Face Serum

It is a cult-favourite serum that combines niacinamide with antioxidant-rich watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid to deliver visibly glowing, hydrated skin. Known for its lightweight, gel-like texture and radiant finish, it acts as both a skincare treatment and a makeup primer, making it perfect for achieving a dewy, glass-skin look.

Glow Recipe View on Amazon
Simple 10% Niacinamide Booster Serum

Vegan‑friendly and fragrance‑free, this serum calms redness, minimizes pores, and regulates oil with a blend of 10% niacinamide and 1% B5. Extremely gentle and ideal for sensitive skin.

Simple View on Amazon
The INKEY List 10% Niacinamide Serum

Formulated to control oil and reduce redness, this lightweight vitamin B3 serum blends niacinamide with hyaluronic acid and squalane. Great for blemish-prone or oily skin types

The INKEY List View on Amazon
Minimalist Niacinamide Face Serum 10% or 5%

Available in both 10% (for blemishes) and 5% (for hydration-sensitive skin) strengths, these serums refine pores, improve tone, and incorporate hyaluronic acid to soothe and hydrate.

Minimalist View on Amazon
Eclat Skincare Niacinamide Serum

Blends niacinamide with zinc PCA to balance oily areas, visibly refine pores, and even skin tone. Lightweight and oil-absorbing-ideal for combination or oily skin.

Éclat Skincare View on Amazon
ANUA Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

A Korean-style glass-skin formula combining niacinamide with tranexamic acid and arbutin-brightening pigmentation and tightening pores, while hyaluronic acid hydrates deeply. Fragrance-free and suitable for daily use.

ANUA View on Amazon
The INKEY List Niacinamide 20% Serum

A higher‑strength variant aimed at oily or reactive skin, combining 20% niacinamide with zinc PCA and squalane. Users with redness or flare-ups report soothing, texture-smoothing effects without irritation.

The INKEY List View on Amazon
Revolution Skincare 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc Serum

A highly rated dermatologist-favourite on Amazon UK, this vegan-friendly serum is praised for refining large pores, reducing blemishes, and regulating oil-with a lightweight texture and budget-friendly price.

Revolution Skincare View on Amazon

Budget or Luxe: What to Look for in a Niacinamide Serum?

Not all niacinamide serums are created equal-and choosing the right one depends on both your skin’s needs and your budget. From affordable essentials to high-end glow-boosters, here’s what to keep in mind when comparing formulas:

Niacinamide Concentration Matters:

5%: Ideal for sensitive or dry skin types. Offers gentle brightening and barrier support without irritation.

10%: The most common and balanced strength-great for reducing pores, oiliness, and improving skin tone.

15%+: Targets stubborn dark spots and textural issues. Best for experienced users, as higher percentages may cause irritation on sensitive skin.

Key Supporting Ingredients to Look For

Zinc PCA: Helps calm inflammation and reduce excess sebum-great for acne-prone skin.

Hyaluronic Acid or Panthenol (B5): Boosts hydration, especially for dry or dehydrated skin types.

Tranexamic Acid or Arbutin: Often included in luxe options for brightening pigmentation.

Squalane or Ceramides: Nourish and protect the skin barrier.

Budget vs Luxe Options:

Budget-Friendly Picks (e.g. The Ordinary, Revolution, The INKEY List):

Affordable, minimal formulas that focus on core ingredients-perfect for beginners or oily skin types.

Mid-Range/Luxe Picks (e.g. Glow Recipe, Paula’s Choice, COSRX):

Tend to include multiple actives for brightening, hydration, or anti-ageing in one serum. Great for more targeted concerns or layered routines.

If you’re new to niacinamide or have sensitive skin, start with a 5–10% formula that includes hydrating ingredients. If you’re targeting more specific concerns like dark spots, go for a serum with additional actives-just be sure to patch test and introduce it gradually. Whether you go high street or high-end, there’s a niacinamide serum out there to suit your skin and your budget.