Niacinamide: The All Star Ingredient

There’s no question that Niacinamide is an all-star ingredient and fan favorite.  Its many benefits are tolerated by almost every skin type.  If you aren’t using Niacinamide already, this could be your new best friend. 

Vitamin B3 capsules

What Is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide also known as vitamin b3.  A topical ingredient used in skincare that is water soluble.

Niacinamide is stable, meaning it doesn’t degrade quickly and maintains its active form.

It is very compatible with other ingredients and can be paired with basically any other skincare product.

I call it a no-nonsense ingredient because it’s gentle and effective.  It is very unlikely for anyone to experience any problems using a niacinamide product.

What products contain niacinamide?

Niacinamide is typically found in moisturizers and serums.  But it can also be formulated in pretty much anything like face wash, sunscreen, and face masks.

Who can benefit from niacinamide?

Niacinamide is tolerated by many skin types.  Sometimes people experience mild stinging that subsides quickly.  However, if the stinging does not go away, then the percentage might be too high for you.

People with oily skin that experience that extra shiny look throughout the day can benefit from using Niacinamide serum or moisturizer.

Niacinamide helps regulate sebum production in the pore, helping to make that “greasy look” less noticeable.

Individuals with acne can benefit from using ether a Niacinamide serum or moisturizer.  A study showing individuals with acne using a topical niacinamide moisturizer over an 8-week period significantly improved their spots.

If your acne heals with a dark mark, using niacinamide can help combat this hyperpigmentation.  Individuals with melasma can benefit as well.  Niacinamide can inhibit the pigment passed to keratinocytes, which are the skin cells you see that present this hyperpigmentation on the surface.

Niacinamide is also great for people who are experiencing sensitivity or irritation from other products.  It helps to repair and strengthen your skin barrier.

It can help calm and soothe the skin and help heal irritation.

Dryer skin types can benefit from using Niacinamide as well.  It can help retain moisture on top of your skin and prevent transepidermal water loss.

 

How often should I use Niacinamide?

You can use Niacinamide every day, am and pm.  Niacinamide helps suppress some UV damage so if you’re debating when to use it am is the way to go.

The great thing about Niacinamide is that it’s friends with everyone.  You can use it alongside any active ingredient.  It will not react or degrade anything that you pair it with.

If using a retinoid, you can apply Niacinamide beforehand, let it dry then apply your retinoid.  This will help yield irritation from the retinoid.

Pairing these two together is a win-win!  They both target multiple skin concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, acne and hyperpigmentation, so using both will boost those benefits for a better overall treatment.

Pairing it in the am with your Vitamin C serum is a great combination as well.

They work together to help fight off free radicals that damage skin cells leading to skin cancer and sagging skin.   For more info on Vitamin C you can refer to my other post Vitamin C: Get Glowing With Antioxidants.

Whatever way you choose to use it, you can’t go wrong!

With Love,

Nicole

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