10% Niacinamide + NAG + Succinic + Zinc 8.5 / 10

The full breakdown

An excellent, tightly evidence-aligned acne, sebum and pore formulation — arguably the best-value oil-control serum in this file.

Ingredient breakdown

• Niacinamide
  Moderate evidence

  Commonly used to help improve skin barrier hydration, reduce visible redness and support a more even skin tone; efficacy is most often demonstrated in multi-ingredient formulations rather than in isolation.

• Acetyl Glucosamine
  Moderate evidence

  In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled split-face trial, 2% topical N-Acetyl Glucosamine reduced the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation over 8 weeks, with a greater effect when combined with 4% niacinamide.

• Succinic Acid
  Moderate evidence

  Commonly used, typically combined with other ingredients like niacinamide, to help address acne and skin microbiota imbalance. An open-label clinical study of 44 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne found a cream gel containing succinic acid, niacinamide and a biotechnological phytocomplex improved skin bacterial diversity and clinical acne severity over 8 weeks.

• Zinc PCA
  Moderate evidence

  Commonly used to help regulate sebum production, particularly on the scalp and oily skin. A prospective cohort clinical study found a Zinc PCA-containing scalp gel, combined with salicylic acid and piroctone olamine, improved symptoms of moderate-to-severe seborrheic dermatitis, a condition linked to sebum secretion and skin microbiota dysbiosis.

Best suited to

Oily, Acne-prone