Niacinamide is best known as a brightening ingredient. (It interferes with the transfer of melanin, or pigment, in the skin—meaning any melanin created from sun exposure or inflammation doesn’t make it to your skin’s surface.) This particular serum, recommended by Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and MOHS surgeon in New York and New Jersey, puts that feature to work to deliver antiaging benefits, reducing the number, size, and color of dark spots, sun spots, and other types of discoloration. Since it’s an antioxidant, it’ll also keep free radicals from further damaging skin. Plus, it offers hyaluronic acid with the brand’s soothing thermal water to keep skin calm.
“This lightweight serum has done wonders in reducing my dark spots and the stubborn post-acne marks around my nose, chin, and cheeks. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel sticky—instead, it gives me a fresh, bright glow and over time (I’ve been using it on and off for about a year now) I’ve noticed my skin is more even-toned. The only thing I’m not crazy about is the fact that it’s fragranced, but otherwise, my skin drinks it up,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary.
- Key ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, melasyl, thermal spring water
- What we love: The texture is lightweight and easy to massage in
- What could improve: The fragrance can be a bit much
- Size: 1 oz.