Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Dipropylene Glycol
Betaine
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Offers moderate benefits for your combination skin and acne concerns, as niacinamide helps regulate sebum production and reduce inflammation while glycerin provides essential hydration.
- The formulation is highly suitable for combination skin, with niacinamide addressing pore appearance and evening skin tone.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like niacinamide and glycerin.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly regarded for its lightweight, non-sticky feel and its effectiveness in visibly reducing pores and smoothing skin texture, all at an accessible price. Many users found it beneficial for controlling oil and redness. A smaller number of users reported experiencing breakouts or irritation, indicating it might not be suitable for all sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Affordable price Mostly Mentioned
- “great value”
- “inexpensive”
- “worth every penny”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “improved skin texture”
- “refine skin tone”
Minimizes pores Often Mentioned
- “pores are much smaller”
- “reduction in pore size”
- “less visible pores”
Controls oil/redness Sometimes Noted
- “calm my skin”
- “helping with oil production”
- “improvement in redness”
Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs right away”
- “not sticky or greasy”
- “layers seamlessly”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “gave me little white bumps”
- “breaking out a ton”
- “caused acne”
No visible results Rarely Noted
- “don't see much difference”
- “no obvious improvement”
- “did nothing”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper is difficult”
- “hard to dispense”
- “bottle design flaws”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “skin started tingling”
- “irritation on my face”
- “burning sensation”
Sources: lovi.care, beautylish.com, target.com, walmart.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Good Molecules Niacinamide work for acne-prone skin?
Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, as niacinamide helps regulate oil and calm redness while glycerin keeps skin hydrated. Treatments that fit this skin better typically include targeted breakout-fighting ingredients like propolis or zinc PCA alongside soothing agents to balance oiliness without causing dryness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and glycerin make this serum work for acne-prone skin by helping regulate oil and provide essential hydration. To fit this skin even better, acne-prone skin needs ingredients like propolis or zinc PCA that control breakouts and balance oil without causing irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, as treatments with actives are placed in the pm for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It helps calm your skin and manage breakouts, though acne-prone skin often does better with a product that includes stronger blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with a retinol, applying the treatment after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation, as it has a very safe formulation with soothing ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin.
How often should I use it?
Use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Because this product offers an average fit for your skin, acne-prone skin needs products with ingredients that balance oil and soothe redness while keeping skin hydrated.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Yes, this serum may occasionally cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as some reviewers have reported. To work better for this skin type, a product needs ingredients that deeply clear pores and keep oil completely under control.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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, 2017Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 2005The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical dry mouth products containing olive oil, betaine, and xylitol significantly increased unstimulated whole salivary flow rates, reduced xerostomia complaints, and improved quality of life in adults with polypharmacy-induced xerostomia compared to their normal routine care, with no clinically significant adverse events.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003A 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Disodium Edta, Triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol
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
How does it fit your skin?
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