If you have oily skin, you’re probably familiar with acne, clogged pores, patchy makeup, and so on.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a few plus sides to having oily skin. The oil creates a protection barrier against the sun, and the excess oils mean that oily skin has its own natural moisturizer.
But dealing with oily skin can sometimes be tricky because any product you use can potentially cause a breakout.
I’ve been seeing a lot of talk and hype around niacinamide for a while now, especially about how it rebalances oily skin and prevents acne breakouts.
So I decided to test the theory myself and give you a verdict. Here is what the experts have to say about using niacinamide for oily skin.
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Niacinamide for Oily Skin
Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B-3 that’s found in plenty of foods, both plant-based and animal-based.
In poultry and meat, it’s found as niacinamide. Meanwhile, it’s found in the form of nicotinic acid in green veggies and nuts.
The vitamin is known for its ability to regulate the production of oil, preventing excess sebum and in turn, preventing clogged pores and minimizing the size of enlarged ones.
The question is, does niacinamide help with oily skin?
It definitely does. If your skin overproduces oil like mine does, you probably suffer from blocked pores and acne breakouts often.
By using niacinamide consistently, your pores will seem smaller and your skin won’t overproduce sebum. Eventually, you should stop seeing acne and its blemishes on your skin.
The Best Niacinamide Serum for Oily Skin
It’s easy to incorporate niacinamide serum into your skincare routine. After cleansing and toning, apply it and wait a while before using a heavy moisturizer or an oily product.
The question is, which niacinamide serum is the best for oily skin? Here’s my top pick:
Effaclar Anti-Acne Salicylic Acid Serum

If you have acne-prone skin, you can benefit from this La Roche Posay Effaclar serum in more ways than one.
It contains glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which both have exfoliating properties. It’ll reduce the appearance of blackheads on your skin and prevent them from growing back.
On top of that, the niacinamide in it controls oil production and keeps your skin balanced.
Other Skincare Ingredients for Oily Skin
Side by side with niacinamide, you need hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid. These are the holy grails of oily skin!
The salicylic acid exfoliates the dead skin cells, preventing clogged pores and removing blackheads. Meanwhile, the hyaluronic acid locks the moisture in and keeps your skin hydrated without greasing it.
If you don’t want to use both ingredients, you can replace them with vitamin C instead.
It brightens your skin and fights off free radicals, leaving the oil regulation to niacinamide. They’re the perfect duo for oily skin.
Final Thoughts
Does niacinamide help with oily skin?
In my opinion, yes it absolutely does. Niacinamide helps combat most issues associated with oily skin, including clogged pores and acne breakouts.
It rebalances the sebum production in your skin and minimizes the appearance of large pores.
Do you use niacinamide in your skincare routine? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!