Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum for dry sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Trans-Resveratrol
Egcg
Brightenyl
MadecassosideHigh
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best serums for dry sensitive skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your dry and sensitive skin, this serum effectively addresses dryness and improves skin barrier function with high concentrations of niacinamide and glycerin, complemented by hydrating betaine and nourishing argania spinosa kernel oil.
- The inclusion of diglucosyl gallic acid and various botanical extracts further enhances skin tone evening and provides antioxidant protection, supporting your goal of reducing dryness and flakiness.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like aloe barbadensis flower extract and avoids harsh or irritating components.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised for its ability to visibly reduce redness, minimize the appearance of pores, and fade post-acne dark spots, making it a favorite for those with oily or acne-prone skin. While most users love the milky, hydrating texture that layers well under makeup, some have raised concerns about the product oxidizing (turning brown) over time and its distinct scent.
Highlights
Hydrating texture Mostly Mentioned
- “milky and moisturizing”
- “sinks in quickly”
- “not sticky like others”
- “leaves skin soft”
Minimizes pores Often Mentioned
- “pores look smaller”
- “tightens enlarged pores”
- “texture is smoother”
- “helped with pore congestion”
Reduces redness Often Mentioned
- “calms redness immediately”
- “skin looks less angry”
- “reduction in surface redness”
Controls oil Sometimes Noted
- “less oily by noon”
- “balances sebum production”
- “great for combo skin”
- “matte but glowing finish”
Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
- “lightened acne scars”
- “helped with hyperpigmentation”
- “spots are fading faster”
- “evened out skin tone”
Color oxidation Sometimes Noted
- “turned brown quickly”
- “color changed to dark orange”
- “oxidized in the bottle”
- “looked unappealing after a month”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “smells a bit funky”
- “scent is off-putting”
- “has a weird odor”
- “smells like vitamins”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper is messy”
- “hard to get last drops”
- “bottle leaks slightly”
- “pipette doesn't hold product”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “too strong for sensitive skin”
- “stung upon application”
- “caused mild flushing”
Sources: lovi.care, sundayriley.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Sunday Riley B3 Nice Niacinamide Serum a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit because it targets dryness and strengthens your skin barrier with high levels of niacinamide and glycerin, alongside hydrating betaine and nourishing argan oil. It also uses soothing botanical extracts and diglucosyl gallic acid to calm your skin and even out your skin tone while keeping irritation at bay.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit for dry sensitive skin because it contains niacinamide and glycerin to improve moisture and barrier function, alongside hydrating betaine and nourishing argan oil. It also features soothing madecassoside and aloe extract to keep skin calm, and diglucosyl gallic acid for antioxidant protection and skin tone evening.
What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
What does Resveratrol do for dry sensitive skin?
Resveratrol helps soothe dry, sensitive skin by calming inflammation and protecting against everyday stressors that can trigger irritation. It also supports the skin barrier, keeping moisture locked in so your face stays soft and comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2022
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after your cleanser and toner, followed by a moisturizer. Putting treatments in the evening provides extra safety around sun exposure and keeps your routine simple.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying it before your retinol in your evening routine, as long as your skin tolerates both active ingredients well. Using a soothing and hydrating serum beforehand may help keep your dry and sensitive skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin and works well when used in the evening. It helps improve skin hydration and barrier function while keeping irritation low.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin because it avoids heavy oils and harsh ingredients. It also contains soothing extracts that help keep skin calm while improving hydration.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of an argan oil NLC-based hydrogel formulation increased skin hydration in healthy volunteers over a one-month period through a synergistic effect of NLC occlusion and argan oil hydration.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014Diglucosyl gallic acid exhibits stronger tyrosinase inhibition than VC with an IC50 of 2.68 mg/mL, and its application as a cosmetic ingredient improves skin brightness while reducing ultraviolet spots, melanin, and erythema in human volunteers.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2022A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical CE Ferulic plus resveratrol BE serum following ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment reduced erythema index (308.9 vs. 325.3), shortened complete scabbing detachment time (6.0 vs. 6.5 days), decreased melanin index (-7.4% vs. +0.2%), and improved skin hydration compared to normal saline in 51 Chinese patients.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical treatment with a combination of pyridine-2, 4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester and resveratrol significantly increased hair density in 79 Caucasian female subjects starting from 1.5 months compared to baseline.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020A nighttime topical antioxidant containing resveratrol, baicalin, and vitamin E significantly improved fine lines, wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, laxity, hyperpigmentation, radiance, roughness, and dermal thickness in subjects with mild to moderately photodamaged skin over 12 weeks.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Octyldodecanol, Resveratrol, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Boswellia Serrata Extract Resin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract Flower, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Betaine, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Peg-8, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Grapefruit Peel Extract, Tangerine Peel Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lemon Peel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Trideceth-6, Peg Ppg-18 18 Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Triethyl Citrate
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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