10% Niacinamide Serum — $23.99, 1 fl oz. The only facial serum in our range carrying a fragrance-free badge, which makes it the default choice for sensitive skin.
10% is the strong end, not the beginner end
Niacinamide is deservedly popular — it is well tolerated by most people and does not cause sun sensitivity. But concentration matters, and higher is not better.
Most niacinamide products sit somewhere between 2% and 10%, and a good deal of the research sits at the lower end of that range. 10% is at the top.
What that means for you: some people get flushing, redness or a tingling sensation from high-percentage niacinamide. If your skin is reactive, start every other day rather than twice daily, and see how it settles. If it flushes, that is a sign to use it less often or look for a lower percentage — not to push through.
What is in it
Aqua, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Ferment Filtrate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Allantoin, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide.
Niacinamide sits third, after only water and glycerin — consistent with a 10% claim.
The supporting ingredients, briefly
- Sodium hyaluronate — hydration. The same family of ingredient as our Hyaluronic Acid Serum, so if you own both there is some overlap.
- Allantoin — a well-established soothing ingredient.
- Chamomile extract — soothing. Note: chamomile is in the daisy family, so if you have a ragweed or daisy-family allergy, be aware.
- Ferment filtrate — a fermented ingredient included for skin resilience in the product description. No specific claim is attached to it and we are not adding one.
- Propylene glycol — a common humectant and solvent. A small number of people are sensitive to it; if you know you are, it is here.
What niacinamide is actually credited with
Our label is appropriately cosmetic: it targets the appearance of enlarged pores and uneven tone, and supports the skin barrier.
Two honest clarifications:
- Nothing shrinks pores. Pore size is largely genetic. Products can affect how visible pores look — which is what "minimise pore visibility" means — but no serum changes the structure.
- It does not treat acne or rosacea. Niacinamide appears in research connected to both, but this is a cosmetic product and does not make those claims.
The good news about niacinamide
Compared with the other actives we sell, it is the easy one:
- No sun sensitivity, unlike retinol
- No stability problem, unlike vitamin C — it does not oxidise and turn brown
- No pregnancy concern of the kind retinol carries, though checking with your own clinician is always sensible
- Fragrance-free
- It layers comfortably with most things
The old internet advice that niacinamide and vitamin C "cannot" be combined has been largely walked back — but if you are new to both, separating them (vitamin C morning, niacinamide evening) is still the simplest way to tell what your skin is responding to.
How to use it
A pea-sized amount to face and neck, in small gentle tapping motions. That is the whole dose — a 1 fl oz bottle should last months.
Morning or night. See the layering guide for where it sits in a routine.
For external use only, not to be ingested. Avoid contact with eyes. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Keep out of reach of children; store cool and dry.
Badges: cruelty-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, phthalate-free, mineral-oil-free.
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