The Tiam Vita B3 Source Serum

TIAM Vita B3 Source is a brightening serum with 10% niacinamide and 2% arbutin that effectively fades dark spots and evens skin tone while being lightweight and fungal-acne safe.

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Rankings by Sentiment Analysis

Reddit Rank

Total Upvotes

212

Editorial Summary: This serum's a solid pick for fading dark spots with a nice lightweight feel in the OG formula. Heads up though, the newer bottles can get sticky and some folks see flaking or irritation. Color shifts with oxidation but that’s normal. Pricey but many swear by it for quick brightening.

Pros

✓Fades dark spots and hyperpigmentation effectively
✓Lightweight, non-sticky texture (original version)
✓Safe for fungal acne-prone skin
✓Visible brightening effect within weeks
✓Good alternative to similar niacinamide serums

Cons

✗Newer/yellow bottle version can be sticky and heavy
✗Some users experience flaking or whiteheads
✗Serum color oxidizes and changes tint over time
✗Not suitable for sensitive skin for some users
✗Pricey, not always worth full price

Methodology: Analyzed 48 quotes from Reddit discussions across 20 subreddits including AsianBeauty, SkincareAddiction, and Blackskincare, collected between March 2020 and June 2026, synthesizing key themes on pros, cons, and user experiences with TIAM Vita B3 Source serum.

Asked by Redditors

What are the main active ingredients?

10% Niacinamide and 2% Arbutin for brightening and fading dark spots.

Is it good for sensitive or acne-prone skin?

Generally safe and effective, but some users report irritation or whiteheads.

Does the serum oxidize or change color?

Yes, it changes from red to more orange with oxidation over time.

Is there a difference between bottle versions?

Yes, the newer yellow bottle version is reported to be tackier and heavier.

Can it replace other niacinamide serums like The Ordinary?

It is considered a cosmetically elegant alternative with similar or better effects by many users.

Reddit Reviews:

Calculated by the the number of posts or comments that have an opinion on this product

Positive

Neutral

Negative

•TIA'M - Vita B3 Source

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 104

TIAM Vita B3 Source – Has 10% Niacinamide + 2% Arbutin, which I think helped fade my dark spots faster than other serums I’ve tried. Super lightweight, non-sticky, and layers well.

u/OPSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 43

Sample - TIAM Vita B3 Source

u/OPSentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 39

laa based serums are a hard no for me if there's no vitamin e or ferulic acid...also, they must think they're really sneaky having the serum as orangey/reddish colour so you don't realise when the laa has oxidised. it's so annoying when brands do that

u/rosehipseedoilSentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 37

So I decided to try this after my Axis-Y serum ran out, and I swear this brightened my skin way faster than the serum did. However, it's small and I don't think it's worth getting full price. If it was on a time deal for less than $9 I definitely would get it again though. However, I do think once I stopped using it my skin also immediately seemed a little duller overall, so I feel like this may be better for an immediate fix vs I feel the Axis-Y serum was better for overall skin health? IDK if that makes sense but I feel like the serum helped achieve that glow from within even when I stopped using it vs the T'iam B3 basically was a great immediate overnight brightening but once I stopped using it that brightening effect was gone.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 35

The Tiam Vita B3 Source Serum! Though I find this serum works best on fresh acne related hyperpigmentations. The older ones take quite a bit longer to fade away but eventually they do.

u/berrymelon118Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 28

That is while they had their red sticker packaging, at least. Not sure if there has been a reformulation, don't quote me on that—the only thing I know is I opened a new one a couple of weeks ago, in the yellow bottle this time, and now it leaves my face extremely sticky every time I use it. I've tried isolating other products to see if it was something else, but nope. Whenever I use it my skin remains sticky no matter which moisturiser I use (and it's a problem because the moisturiser never ends up sinking in). It got to the point where if I went to bed, even hours after doing my skincare, my cheek sticks to the pillowcase LOL.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 25

I used to love the Tiam Vita B3 niacinamide + alpha arbutin serum because it was such a good alternative to The Ordinary, with similar or better effects than their niacinamide and much more cosmetically elegant and nice to use.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 25

Tia'm Vita B3 Source (FTP) — Meh. Didn't do anything. Not a good replacement for TO Niacinamide+Zinc :(

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 24

Oh no I’ve been using this for years, and have two unopened bottles in my stock that I bought last year from Jolse! My current one, yellow bottle as well, seems normal though.

u/Aikea_Guinea83Sentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 20

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