Acne-prone skin just needs a little extra help, amirite? To be honest, if your breakouts stop at your face, I might even consider you lucky. Body breakouts are a whole other ball game to deal with and can be just as persistent as the ones you get on your face. As someone with highly sensitive skin, I've struggled with breakouts all over, and it wasn't until I started using an exfoliating body treatment and lotion with a certain skincare ingredient that things started to change for the better.
That superstar ingredient is niacinamide—it really helps curb breakouts in unwanted places and has also helped fade dark spots I've had on my back for years. Talk about a dramatic transformation. Being the curious beauty editor that I am, I decided to dive into why niacinamide makes a great addition to your body care routine with a dermatologist. If you're interested in trying it out to clear up your body breakouts, too, keep reading! There's lots of key information ahead.
Can niacinamide help treat body acne?
According to board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, the answer is yes! I've written about this particular ingredient quite a bit because it has so many different benefits and is great for every skin type. Niacinamide can treat acne and dryness while also benefitting those with oily skin because it keeps your skin from overproducing oil throughout the day. Camp says, "Niacinamide is a vitamin B derivative that is included in skincare products because of its beneficial impacts on skin health, such as reducing inflammation, pore size, and the appearance of blemishes. It is also well tolerated by all skin types."
If you struggle with body breakouts, it can definitely help to use an exfoliant a few times a week (my favorite is Nécessaire's Body Exfoliator), but finding a body lotion that contains niacinamide may provide further acne-clearing benefits. "It may help treat body acne because of its anti-inflammatory properties, ability to fortify the skin barrier, and ability to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone," Camp explains. This makes it great for both acne and the dark spots that tend to follow. I found that adding it to my daily bodycare routine helped fade so many dark spots on my back from previous breakouts. I also won't lie—I hit the gym a lot and tend to break out around my butt area, and adding niacinamide into the mix really reduced the number of bumps I was getting and the dark spots there too. Check out a few of our recs below.
The Best Niacinamide Body Lotions, Listed
- Best for Firming Effect: Nécessaire The Body Lotion
- Best for Skin Barrier Support: Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum
- Best for Reducing Dryness: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ M
- Best for Compromised Skin: EltaMD Skin Restore Body Cream
- Best for Addressing Hyperpigmentation: Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Body Treatment
Best Firming Effect: Nécessaire The Body Lotion
Size: 6.8-oz tube
Fragrance: None
Pros: Intensely moisturizes and firms with five peptides
Cons: Does not immediately absorb into skin
"In addition to niacinamide, this fragrance-free body lotion contains antioxidants like vitamins C and E and peptides to moisturize and fortify skin." — Camp
Best for Skin Barrier Support: Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum
Size: 4.0-oz bottle
Fragrance: None
Pros: Uses a lightweight formula that targets patchy, dry skin
Cons: Texture is slightly sticky, and does not absorb quickly
"Niacinamide is coupled with another vitamin B derivative, panthenol, in this lightweight body serum to effectively treat uneven tone and strengthen the skin barrier." — Camp
Best for Reducing Dryness: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ M
Size: 13.5-oz bottle
Fragrance: None
Pros: Provides 48-hour hydration while replenishes the skin's essential lipids
Cons: None
"This nourishing body moisturizer contains prebiotic thermal water that offers antioxidant properties, shea butter to seal in moisture, and niacinamide to restore the skin barrier." — Camp
Best for Compromised Skin: EltaMD Skin Restore Body Cream
Size: 8.0-oz tube
Fragrance: None
Pros: Features a non-greasy and noncomedogenic formula that's lightweight and fast-absorbing
Cons: Has a slight medicinal odor
EltaMD may be known for its dermatologist-loved sunscreen formulas, but this rich body cream is designed for sensitive skin and still provides an incredible amount of hydration. I've definitely found that some cleaner-formulated body lotions aren't very moisturizing, but this one has hyaluronic acid, mango-seed butter, and niacinamide, which are all great noncomedogenic hydrators.
Best for Addressing Hyperpigmentation: Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Body Treatment
Size: 4.0-oz bottle
Fragrance: None
Pros: Promotes bright, even-toned skin with gentle exfoliation and nourishing ingredients
Cons: Does not deliver fast results
To treat those pesky dark spots that can follow a bad body breakout, try Good Molecules' Discoloration Correcting Body Treatment. It contains tranexamic acid to lift pigmentation, niacinamide, and caprylhydroxamic—an ingredient that supports skin's cellular turnover process for a smoother, firmer feel.
Best for Boosting Moisture: Minimalist Niacinamide 05% Body Lotion
Size: 6.3-oz tube
Fragrance: None
Pros: Formula stimulates ceramide synthesis while improving moisture levels in skin
Cons: Has a sticky texture upon initial application
This budget-friendly option from Minimalist contains a well-balanced formula of emollients, occlusives, and humectants to keep skin deeply hydrated throughout the day. Niacinamide helps repair barrier function, and shea butter and glycerin dramatically increase moisture levels and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
Size: 8.0-oz bottle
Fragrance: None
Pros: Strengthens moisture barrier to boost hydration levels for healthier skin
Cons: None
Cetaphil's hydrating lotion is another great option for sensitive skin because the formula is hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and fragrance-free. It instantly soothes red or inflamed breakouts with glycerin, vitamin B5 (panthenol), and vitamin B3 (niacinamide).
Best for Gentle Exfoliation: Mizo Niacinamide Smoothing Body Lotion
Size: 10.1-oz bottle
Fragrance: None
Pros: Improves skin tone and promotes glow using vitamin C and AHA
Cons: Lightweight, watery formula does not provide deep hydration
A potent combination of niacinamide, vitamin C, and AHAs makes this body lotion worth a go if you have acne-prone skin. Vitamin C is another powerhouse anti-inflammatory ingredient, and AHAs gently exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin cells within the pores.
Best for Restoring Skin Health: Nécessaire The Body Cream
Size: 6.8-oz jar
Fragrance: None
Pros: Supports skin barrier with niacinamide, five essential ceramides, and hyaluronic acid
Cons: Moderately priced
If you love Nécessaire products like I do but find the brand's body lotion to be lacking in rich hydration, look no further than its newer offering, The Body Cream. It's packed with five essential ceramides to repair the skin barrier, 5% niacinamide, and 1% linoleic acid to help soothe sensitivity. If you do struggle with body breakouts, you might also want to try the brand's Body Retinol ($62). It's definitely on the stronger side, but once you get used to it, it helps to use it a few times a week in addition to any of your favorite body lotions.
Best for Promoting Cellular Turnover: Advanced Clinicals Retinol Advanced Firming Cream
Size: 16.0-oz bottle
Fragrance: None
Pros: Visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and crepey skin
Cons: None
This option from Advanced Clinicals is great for body acne since it contains both retinol and niacinamide to speed up cell turnover, prevent clogged pores, and nourish the skin barrier.
Best for Increasing Softness: Iota Supermatcha Body Lotion
Size: 6.1-oz tube
Fragrance: No
Pros: Has a pH of 5.0 to 5.5 and can also be used as a facial lotion
Cons: Moderately priced
If you name it, this nutrient-packed body serum probably has it! Matcha (a super antioxidant), caffeine, rambutan, vitamins, snow mushroom, prebiotics, and probiotics make up this formula. It resets the skin microbiome and leaves it balanced, hydrated, and healthy.
How I Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To identify the 12 best niacinamide lotions on the market, I leaned on perfumer insights and our knowledge as beauty experts. I also considered several factors, including formulation, pricing, and the product absorption speed. We're aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.
Why Trust Who What Wear
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.