Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
On the label: Niacinamide · Active
What it is
A form of vitamin B3 used in serums and moisturizers, typically at 2 to 10 percent. One of the most studied cosmetic actives; well tolerated by most skin.
Actives: Actives are the ingredients a product is built around: acids, retinoids, vitamins and the like.
Wikidata: Chemical compound: amide form of vitamin B3. Q192423 →
In the research
412 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Management of Refractory Facial Melasma Using the NewMelan Topical Protocol Following Multiple Unsuccessful Treatment Modalities: A Case Report · Cureus, 2026
- Development of a Pigment-Correcting Serum Addressing Key Pathways in the Melanin Life Cycle · Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2026
- The Safety of Melasma Treatment in Vitiligo Patients: An International E-Delphi Study · Pigment cell & melanoma research, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
3 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USAOther actives
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.