Vitamin C serum without niacinamide

Each serum is listed only because we read its whole ingredient list, below, and it has no niacinamide (also called nicotinamide or vitamin B3).

• Buy Geek & Gorgeous C-Glow for most people: 15% L-ascorbic acid for $14.90 (30 mL). It also has ferulic acid and vitamin E, and it is our pick in the mature skin guide.
• Buy The Ordinary 23% suspension if you want the lowest price ($8.10). It is a water-free formula at 23%, above 20%, where our percentage guide found more vitamin C adds irritation risk, not results.
• Buy Timeless 20% if you want the top of the useful range with vitamin E and ferulic acid.
• Buy Mad Hippie if you want sodium ascorbyl phosphate instead of L-ascorbic acid. The brand does not publish a percentage.
• Want to see what niacinamide does or how much works? See the niacinamide percentage guide and the niacinamide page.

• 

  Geek & Gorgeous C-Glow · $14.90 on Amazon

  Vitamin C: 15%, L-ascorbic acid. Brand lists pH 3-3.4.

  Aqua (Water), (L-)Ascorbic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Butylene Glycol, Peg/Ppg/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Ferulic Acid, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide

• 

  The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% · $8.10 on Amazon

  Vitamin C: 23%, L-ascorbic acid. Water-free suspension with a squalane base. The brand says the list can differ from the box by region and date.

  Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Coconut Alkanes, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trihydroxystearin, Bht

• 

  e.l.f. Cosmetics Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Serum · $16.97 on Amazon

  Vitamin C: 15% vitamin C, (3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid; split not stated). The brand gives one 15% figure for vitamin C and does not say how much is each form.

  Water (Aqua), Dipropylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Laureth-23, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Ferulic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Bisabolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

• 

  Timeless Skin Care 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum · $27.95 on Amazon

  Vitamin C: 20%, L-ascorbic acid.

  Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L-Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Alpha Tocopherol, Polysorbate 80, Panthenol, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzylalcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid

• 

  Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum · $27.99 on Amazon

  Vitamin C: percentage not stated, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a gentler, more stable form). The brand does not publish the strength.

  Water Deionized, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Alkyl Benzoate, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea), Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis Seed Extract), Hyaluronic Acid, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Vitamin E (Tocotrienol), Ferulic acid, Chamomile Flower Extract (Recutita Matricaria), Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl cellulose

• 

  Maelove Glow Maker Vitamin C Serum · $39.90 on Amazon

  Vitamin C: 15%, L-ascorbic acid.

  Water (Aqua), Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Callus Culture Extract, Ethylhexyglycerin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate

Common questions

Which vitamin C serum has no niacinamide?

Geek & Gorgeous C-Glow ($14.90), The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% ($8.10), e.l.f. Cosmetics Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Serum ($16.97), Timeless Skin Care 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum ($27.95), Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum ($27.99), Maelove Glow Maker Vitamin C Serum ($39.90). We read the full ingredient list of each on October 29, 2026 and none contains niacinamide.

How do I check a vitamin C serum for niacinamide?

Read the full ingredient list on the box or the brand's product page and look for "niacinamide". It appears in ingredient lists under that name. The front of a bottle can leave it out, so use the full list, not the front label.

What vitamin C percentage should I pick?

For L-ascorbic acid, 8% to 20% is the range our vitamin C guide found works, and going above 20% adds irritation risk, not results. Geek & Gorgeous's 15% is inside that range. See What percentage of vitamin C actually works.

What is the cheapest vitamin C serum without niacinamide?

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% at $8.10 on Amazon (30 mL), checked Nov 3, 2026. It states 23% L-ascorbic acid.

Is there a gentler form of vitamin C on this list?

Mad Hippie uses sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a more stable form than L-ascorbic acid. The brand does not publish a percentage.

Can a serum add niacinamide later?

Yes. Brands change formulas, and The Ordinary and e.l.f. both say their lists can differ from the box depending on when and where you buy. Check the list on the box you receive.

1. Geek & Gorgeous: C-Glow (brand product page, "full INCI list"), read October 29, 2026. Vitamin C claim: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid - 15%).
2. The Ordinary: Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% (brand product page, "Ingredients"), read October 29, 2026. Vitamin C claim: Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% (product name).
3. e.l.f.: Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Serum (brand product page, "Ingredients"), read October 29, 2026. Vitamin C claim: Key Ingredients: 15% Vitamin C, 1% Vitamin E, 0.5% Ferulic acid.
4. Amazon listing for Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum ("Ingredients" field; Timeless's own site did not load), read October 29, 2026. Vitamin C claim: 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum (product name).
5. Mad Hippie: Vitamin C Serum (brand product page, "Ingredients"), read October 29, 2026. Vitamin C claim: Mad Hippie names the form (sodium ascorbyl phosphate) and gives no percentage.
6. Maelove: Glow Maker (brand product page, ingredients), read October 29, 2026. Vitamin C claim: 15% l-ascorbic acid (the most effective form of vitamin C), vitamin E, and ferulic acid.
7. Prices, sizes and stock: Amazon product data, November 3, 2026. Strength range: What percentage of vitamin C actually works?