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The Best Niacinamide Serum: 3 Picks for Pores, Oil and Dark Spots

A niacinamide-and-zinc serum for oil, a simple fragrance-free 10% serum and a dark-spot serum with tranexamic acid and arbutin.

By BeautyFounded Editorial Team · Updated · 7 min read

The best niacinamide serum for most people is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, a water-based serum the brand pitches for oil control, texture and the look of pores. If you want a fragrance-free 10% serum with nothing else in the headline, Good Molecules is a simple choice. For dark spots and uneven tone, Anua pairs 10% niacinamide with 4% tranexamic acid and 2% arbutin.

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. The best-known clinical trial we found used a 5% cream, so all three of these 10% serums go well beyond the strength that study tested.

Our 3 picks at a glance

  1. Best OverallThe Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% dropper bottle

    The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

    Check price on Amazon for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (opens in a new tab)
  2. Best Fragrance-Free BasicGood Molecules Niacinamide Serum bottle

    Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum 10%, 1 fl oz

    Check price on Amazon for Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum 10%, 1 fl oz (opens in a new tab)
  3. Best for Dark SpotsAnua Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4 serum bottle

    Anua Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4 Serum, 1.01 fl oz

    Check price on Amazon for Anua Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4 Serum, 1.01 fl oz (opens in a new tab)

How we picked

We searched Amazon's Beauty department for niacinamide serum, set aside sponsored results, and opened listings from established skincare brands. We chose three serums with different jobs: oil and texture, a plain fragrance-free formula and dark spots. They don't repeat products from our vitamin C serum guide.

Every product detail comes from the Amazon listing on the day we checked it. Results promised on the listings (such as "in one week") are brand claims, and we label them that way. Pair any serum with our tinted sunscreen picks.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% dropper bottle
1. Best Overall

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Shipped and sold by Amazon.com

This serum pairs 10% niacinamide with 1% zinc PCA in a lightweight, water-based formula. The Ordinary says it helps control oil in three days, visibly improves radiance and smooths texture in one week, and that clinical testing showed the look of pores minimized in four weeks.

Use a few drops morning and evening, per the listing, which also says to patch test before use and to avoid broken skin. It is pitched at blemish-prone skin.

What the listing says

  • 10% niacinamide + 1% zinc PCA
  • Water-based, lightweight serum
  • Oil, texture and pore claims, per The Ordinary
  • Shipped and sold by Amazon.com

Keep in mind

  • The timelines (3 days, 1 week, 4 weeks) are the brand's claims
  • The listing advises a patch test first
  • Avoid broken skin, per the listing

Best for: Oily or blemish-prone skin and the look of pores.

Check price on Amazon for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (opens in a new tab)
Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum bottle
2. Best Fragrance-Free Basic

Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum 10%, 1 fl oz

Sold by Good Molecules US and shipped by Amazon

If you want a straightforward niacinamide serum without zinc or other actives in the headline, Good Molecules is 10% niacinamide in a 1-ounce bottle. The brand says it refines the look of skin texture and improves the appearance of enlarged pores with continued use.

It is fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty-free, says Good Molecules, and the listing claims it won't clog pores and suits all skin types. Apply a few drops morning and night before moisturizer; the brand says it layers well under other skincare and makeup.

What the listing says

  • 10% niacinamide
  • Fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free, per the brand
  • Layers under moisturizer and makeup
  • 1 fl oz bottle

Keep in mind

  • "Won't clog pores" is the brand's claim
  • Results are described for continued use, with no timeline given
  • Patch test if your skin is sensitive

Best for: A simple, fragrance-free niacinamide step for any skin type.

Check price on Amazon for Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum 10%, 1 fl oz (opens in a new tab)
Anua Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4 serum bottle
3. Best for Dark Spots

Anua Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4 Serum, 1.01 fl oz

Sold by Anua and shipped by Amazon

Anua combines three ingredients aimed at uneven tone: 10% niacinamide, 4% tranexamic acid and 2% arbutin. The brand says the trio helps improve the look of dullness, dark spots and enlarged pores, and adds ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep skin comfortable.

It has a watery, lightweight texture that Anua says layers under moisturizer and sunscreen. The listing says it is fragrance-free with no artificial coloring, and asks you to patch test first because individual skin can react.

What the listing says

  • 10% niacinamide, 4% tranexamic acid, 2% arbutin
  • Ceramides and hyaluronic acid
  • Fragrance-free, no artificial coloring
  • Watery, lightweight texture

Keep in mind

  • Dark-spot results are Anua's claims
  • Patch test first, the listing says
  • Pair with daily sunscreen: sun can undo progress on dark spots

Best for: Dark spots, post-breakout marks and uneven-looking tone.

Check price on Amazon for Anua Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4 Serum, 1.01 fl oz (opens in a new tab)

Side by side

SerumOur pick forKey actives (per listing)FragranceSold by
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%OverallNiacinamide 10%, zinc PCA 1%Not statedAmazon.com
Good Molecules Niacinamide SerumFragrance-free basicNiacinamide 10%Fragrance-freeGood Molecules US
Anua Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4Dark spotsNiacinamide 10%, tranexamic acid 4%, arbutin 2%Fragrance-freeAnua

Figures are taken from each Amazon listing on October 1, 2026 and can change.

What to look for

Your goal

Oil and pores: niacinamide with zinc. Simple daily care: a plain 10%. Dark spots: a formula with tranexamic acid or arbutin.

Strength

All three are 10%. The 2005 clinical trial we found used 5% niacinamide, so higher isn't proven to be better.

Patch testing

Two of the three listings ask you to patch test first. Try a small area before using it all over.

Sunscreen

For dark spots, daily sunscreen matters. See our tinted sunscreen picks.

The bottom line

  • Best Overall: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, for oil, texture and pores.
  • Best Fragrance-Free Basic: Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum 10%, a simple daily step.
  • Best for Dark Spots: Anua Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4, with tranexamic acid and arbutin.

Questions, answered

What does niacinamide do for skin?

In a 12-week, split-face trial of 50 women published in Dermatologic Surgery in 2005, a 5% niacinamide cream improved the look of fine lines, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness and sallowness compared with the untreated side. Brands make further claims about oil and pores.

Is 10% niacinamide better than 5%?

Not necessarily. The clinical trial we found used 5%, and we didn't find good evidence that 10% works better. All three of our picks are 10%; patch test first.

Can I use niacinamide every day?

The Ordinary and Good Molecules both direct you to apply a few drops morning and evening. Anua suggests 1 to 2 drops before moisturizer.

Can I use niacinamide with vitamin C?

The listings we checked don't warn against it. If you use both, apply each as directed and watch for irritation. Our vitamin C serum guide has three options.

Which niacinamide serum is best for dark spots?

Anua pairs niacinamide with 4% tranexamic acid and 2% arbutin and pitches it for dark spots and uneven tone. Whatever you use, daily sunscreen is key, since visible light can worsen dark spots, according to the AAD.

Sources

Listing details were captured from Amazon on October 8, 2026 and can change. Brand claims are attributed; we have not tested these products ourselves. This guide is not medical advice; see a board-certified dermatologist about skin conditions.

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