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Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum for oily acne-prone skin

High

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by niacinamide, which regulates sebum and reduces inflammation, alongside glycerin for hydration, making it ideal for managing acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The serum offers moderate benefits for oiliness and shiny skin due to niacinamide's concentration, which helps control excess oil production and reduce inflammation.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Niacinamide and Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
  • Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 600+ reviews

This 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 oily acne-prone skin?

Sunday Riley B3 Nice Niacinamide Serum is a great fit because it uses niacinamide to regulate oil production and calm inflammation, alongside glycerin for light hydration that helps manage breakouts. It has an excellent safety profile with soothing ingredients like aloe, making it unlikely to irritate your skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit for your oily skin because niacinamide helps control oil and calm redness, while glycerin provides light hydration. Soothing ingredients like madecassoside and aloe extract also help keep skin calm without causing irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Resveratrol do for oily acne-prone skin?

Resveratrol helps calm oily and acne-prone skin by reducing extra oil, inflammation, and breakouts. Daily use is unlikely to irritate and may significantly clear up blemishes over time.

International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2022American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2011

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some skin types may also use it in the morning. Niacinamide helps control excess oil and calm blemishes without causing irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first in your routine and following it with your retinol. This approach helps manage oil and blemishes while keeping your skin calm, as the soothing ingredients are unlikely to cause irritation.

How often should I use this serum?

This treatment is used in the evening, applying it in your PM routine as part of the recommended schedule for your oily acne-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation, and you may use it daily while monitoring how your skin responds.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it features a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like niacinamide and aloe to help calm inflammation. It does not cause purging because it lacks strong exfoliating acids or retinoids that push trapped debris to the surface.

Is this serum 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, 2017
  • An 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, 2019
  • A 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
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2024
  • Topical 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, 2020
  • A 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, 2014
  • Topical 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, 2017
  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009
  • Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
  • Diglucosyl 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, 2022
  • Topical 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, 2020
  • Moisturizer 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
  • Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2008

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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