Grums 10% Niacinamide Face Serum: The Eco Skincare Upgrade Your Routine Needs

Published by Lift & Leaf | Natural Skincare

If you've been looking for a niacinamide serum that goes beyond the basics, the Grums Renew Niacinamide Booster is worth your full attention. It's not just another vitamin B3 formula — it pairs a full 10% concentration of niacinamide with something genuinely clever: caffeine sourced from recycled coffee grounds. The result is a serum that's as good for your skin as it is for the planet.

Here's everything you need to know about what's inside, why it works, and how to use it.

What Is the Grums Niacinamide Serum?

Grums is a Scandinavian eco-skincare brand built around a simple but ingenious premise: repurposing spent coffee grounds — one of the world's most-wasted by-products — as a source of active skincare ingredients. Their Renew Niacinamide Booster Serum is a concentrated treatment designed to improve skin texture, minimise pores, reinforce the skin barrier, and balance uneven pigmentation.

It's vegan, allergy-tested, and formulated without harsh synthetics, making it a standout option for those who want results without compromise.

👉 Shop the Grums Niacinamide Serum at Lift & Leaf

The Key Ingredients — And Why They Matter

10% Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

Niacinamide is one of the most well-researched active ingredients in modern skincare. At 10% — the highest concentration typically used in serums — it delivers a broad range of benefits:

• Pore minimisation: Niacinamide helps regulate sebum production, which in turn reduces the appearance of enlarged pores over time
• Skin brightening: It works by inhibiting the transfer of melanosomes (the cells that carry pigment) to the skin's surface, helping to fade dark spots and even out skin tone
• Barrier reinforcement: Niacinamide stimulates the production of ceramides — the lipids that hold your skin barrier together — reducing moisture loss and strengthening overall skin resilience
• Anti-inflammatory action: It's one of the gentlest actives available, calming redness and irritation rather than causing it, making it suitable for even sensitive skin types
• Fine line support: Studies show that topical niacinamide can visibly reduce yellowing, wrinkling, and blotchiness in ageing skin

Caffeine from Recycled Coffee Grounds (Coffea Arabica Seed Extract)

This is what makes the Grums formula genuinely distinctive. Rather than sourcing virgin caffeine, Grums extracts it from spent coffee grounds — diverting waste from landfill and turning it into an active ingredient.

In skincare, caffeine works as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, helping to protect skin from environmental damage. It also improves microcirculation at the skin's surface, which contributes to a more refreshed, less-tired appearance. When paired with niacinamide, caffeine has been shown to improve the penetration of other actives — meaning your skin gets more from every ingredient in the formula.

Sodium PCA

A naturally occurring component of the skin's own "Natural Moisturising Factor" (NMF), sodium PCA is a humectant — it draws water into the skin and holds it there. This is the ingredient responsible for the serum's hydrating effect without any heaviness or greasiness.

Inulin

Derived from plants, inulin acts as a prebiotic and skin-conditioning agent. It supports a healthy skin microbiome and helps soothe the skin, making the formula gentle enough for daily use on sensitive skin.

Betaine

A naturally derived amino acid (often from sugar beet) that provides additional calming and hydrating effects, helping the serum feel comfortable on application and reducing the potential for any mild tingling that can occasionally occur with high-concentration niacinamide.

Saccharide Isomerate

A cutting-edge hydration ingredient that bonds to the skin's surface and provides long-lasting moisture retention — sometimes referred to as a "biomimetic" humectant because it mimics the skin's own hydration processes.

What Skin Concerns Does It Target?

The Grums Niacinamide Serum is well-suited to anyone dealing with:

• Enlarged or visible pores — especially around the nose, chin, and forehead
• Uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation — including post-blemish marks and sun spots
• Dull or tired-looking skin — where the caffeine element is especially effective
• Oily or combination skin — niacinamide balances sebum without stripping the skin
• A weakened or sensitised skin barrier — from over-exfoliation, retinol use, or environmental stress
• Fine lines and early signs of ageing — the barrier-strengthening and antioxidant benefits both contribute here

Because niacinamide is one of the most tolerated active ingredients in skincare, it's also a good starting point for those new to serums or with reactive skin.

How to Use the Grums Niacinamide Serum

Step 1 — Cleanse Start with a clean face. The serum absorbs best on skin that's been gently cleansed and is still slightly damp.

Step 2 — Apply the serum Dispense 3–4 drops onto your fingertips or directly onto the skin. Press and pat gently across your face and neck — avoid rubbing, which can reduce absorption.

Step 3 — Layer correctly If you use other serums (like vitamin C or a retinol), apply the niacinamide serum first as it has a water-based, lightweight consistency. Follow with any thicker treatments or oils, then moisturiser.

Step 4 — Use consistently Niacinamide is a cumulative ingredient. Use it morning and evening for the best results — most people notice visible improvements in skin texture and tone after 4–8 weeks of consistent use.

Step 5 — Don't skip SPF (morning) Any brightening serum works harder when you protect your skin from UV damage during the day. Finish your morning routine with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher.

How Does It Fit Into Your Wider Routine?

Niacinamide plays well with almost everything:

One thing to note: at very high concentrations, niacinamide and vitamin C can theoretically reduce each other's effectiveness. In practice, at the concentrations used in most serums (including this one), this isn't a significant concern — but if you want to be cautious, apply them at different times of day.

Why Grums? The Sustainability Story

Grums was founded with sustainability at its core. Spent coffee grounds are one of the most-produced organic waste products globally — billions of kilograms are discarded every year. Grums captures this waste stream and transforms it into skincare ingredients: caffeine, antioxidants, and exfoliating particles.

The Renew Niacinamide Serum reflects this ethos — it's vegan, allergy-tested, and free from unnecessary synthetic additives, with a transparent ingredient list and an eco-conscious production process.

For Lift & Leaf customers who care about both results and values, Grums is a natural fit.

The Bottom Line

The Grums 10% Niacinamide Face Serum delivers one of skincare's most effective and well-researched ingredients at a concentration that actually makes a difference, enhanced by caffeine from a genuinely sustainable source, and supported by a thoughtful cast of hydrating and calming ingredients.

Whether you're tackling visible pores, working on pigmentation, or simply want a reliable daily serum that strengthens your skin over time — this one earns its place in the routine.

👉 Shop Grums at Lift & Leaf

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a 10% niacinamide serum every day? Yes — 10% niacinamide is well-tolerated for daily use by most skin types. If you have very sensitive skin, start with once daily (evening) and build up.

Will this serum help with acne scars? Niacinamide helps fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the flat dark marks left after spots), but it works gradually. Consistent use over 6–8 weeks is when most people see noticeable fading.

Is the Grums serum suitable for dry skin? Yes. The Sodium PCA, betaine, and saccharide isomerate in the formula provide meaningful hydration, making it effective for dry skin types as well as oily or combination skin.

Does niacinamide purge skin? Niacinamide does not cause skin purging — that's associated with exfoliating acids and retinoids. It's one of the gentler actives you can add to your routine.

Lift & Leaf stocks carefully selected natural and eco-conscious skincare brands from the UK and Europe. All products are chosen for their ingredient transparency, sustainability credentials, and effectiveness.

Explore our full skincare collection →