Complete Niacinamide Skin Care Guide
Do you suffer from enlarged pores, uneven skin tone or fine lines? Find out why skin care products containing niacinamide are best for you. Here is your complete Niacinamide skin care guide.
Whether it’s vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid or CBD (cannabis extract and oil), these buzzwords have taken center stage in recent years. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is also part of this trend, but it’s definitely an underrepresented ingredient among superstars.
One of the many reasons niacinamide should earn accolades is that it’s literally a skincare multitasker. Who doesn’t love using a single product that can treat multiple skin issues at once, like pigmentation, wrinkles, pimples, and redness?
Thanks to its unparalleled benefits, many brands and companies have used this “everything ingredient” in their skincare products. Now check out your favorite serums, moisturizers and boosters, chances are you’ve found nicotinamide lurking in some of these products.
But if you’re still not sure what niacinamide is or what it does in your moisturizer, you’re not alone. Here’s what you need to know before adding it to your skincare routine.
What exactly is niacinamide?
Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a water-soluble vitamin B3 and is one of the two main forms of this vitamin, the other being niacin (nicotinic acid). It is an essential nutrient for the development and functioning of cells in your body.
Niacinamide is found in B-complex supplements, in foods such as fish, meat, milk, yeast, eggs, beans, vegetables, and grains.
The skin easily absorbs it and it works brilliantly when applied topically in skin care for acne, eczema and other skin conditions.
What is the difference between niacin and niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a water-soluble amide form of niacin—or vitamin B3—and your body can convert niacin to nicotinamide.
Niacin and nicotinamide have similar effectiveness when used as vitamins; however, their pharmacological properties differ, as large doses of niacin can cause flushing.
In contrast, nicotinamide is marketed as a form of niacin that does not cause flushing, making it a more appropriate component in cosmetics or when a physician is preventing or treating niacin deficiency or pellagra.
What are the benefits of niacinamide in skin care ?
As a skin care product, niacinamide has a long list of benefits, including supporting the skin barrier (the outer surface of the skin), increasing skin cell turnover, restoring moisturizing and protecting the skin against environmental damage such as sun exposure and pollution.
Plus, it helps improve your skin’s texture by visibly minimizing and tightening pores and correcting blemishes, while softening fine lines and wrinkles and diminishing dullness, blackheads and pigmentation issues.
Vitamin B3 has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and can inhibit excessive sebum production that leads to breakouts. It also helps unclog pores and prevent unwanted hair growth and acne.
Benefits of vitamin B3 for skin care include:
- Strengthens the skin barrier
- Regulate oil production
- Improve skin texture
- Improves uneven skin tone
- Fade hyperpigmentation
- Reduce the signs of aging
- Reduce enlarged pores
- Reduce blackheads
- Improve skin hydration
- Soothes rosacea and eczema
- Brighten the skin and improve its dull appearance
- Reduce inflammation in moderate acne
- Protect against oxidative stress
- Reduce redness and spots
- Stimulate collagen production
- Ideal for all skin types
Does niacinamide fade dark spots and acne scars?
Nicotinamide is a powerful antioxidant that can help improve skin tone and reduce the appearance of discolorations, acne scars, and dark spots, resulting in a more even skin tone. Studies have shown that nicotinamide may also be effective against melasma.
What skin types will benefit from niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a multitasking gloss that can benefit most people of all ages and skin types. Because different aspects of this ingredient can benefit each of the skin types and concerns.
For example, if you have oily or combination skin, you will appreciate its property of reducing excess sebum. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory, so it’s great for calming irritated skin, which is ideal for people with sensitive skin and those who suffer from acne.
Dry skin can also benefit from it as it helps to improve skin hydration by preventing the evaporation of moisture from the skin into the environment. Topical vitamin B3 is also a great choice for mature skin, as it helps lighten age spots and reduce wrinkles after prolonged use.
How long does it take for niacinamide to work?
It really depends on the product you use, its formula and its concentration. For a mild skin problem, you will notice visible effects within two weeks; however, for more stubborn issues like hyperpigmentation, results may take 8-12 weeks.
Can you layer niacinamide and hyaluronic acid?
Yes, you can absolutely use niacinamide and hyaluronic acid together, as they are both water-based treatments designed for all skin types, especially those with dehydrated, oily, and blemish-prone skin. acne.
Just remember that you should always apply hyaluronic acid first to trap the high volume of water in the skin cells, then nicotinamide to keep the skin hydrated and prevent moisture loss.
Can you use niacinamide with vitamin C?
There is some debate on the subject but niacinamide cannot be mixed with vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a misconception. This pair can be a particularly powerful combination, making your skin look more radiant and smoother.
In particular, a product that contains both vitamin C and niacinamide was probably specially formulated, so they should work wonders on the skin.
However, if you are using two separate products containing these ingredients, wait 15 to 20 minutes between applications or incorporate one in the morning and the other at night.
This is because the combination of these two ingredients converts niacinamide to niacin, which is not harmful but can cause short-term effects like skin redness, irritation, and stinging in people with sensitive skin. rosacea.
Can you use niacinamide with glycolic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA)?
Yes, it is possible if you stagger applications to avoid negative reactions and maintain the effectiveness of alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids. Because combining niacinamide with AHAs or BHAs will affect the effectiveness of acids due to their pH levels.
Vitamin B3 has a much higher pH, around 6.0, while glycolic acid and salicylic acid generally have a pH between 3.0 and 4.0. This means that niacinamide raises the pH of hydroxy acids so that they are no longer acidic when used together. It can also lead to redness and flushing of the skin.
Can niacinamide be used with retinol?
The combination of these two amazing ingredients can enhance the benefits of each, from improving fine lines, pallor, skin tone and texture to neutralizing the harmful effects of environmental stressors.
In fact, dermatologists say retinol and niacinamide is a recommended combination for getting faster results.
If you decide to layer them, it is recommended that you apply niacinamide first to help moisturize the skin and protect it from the effects of retinol.
What can you layer niacinamide with?
Nicotinamide can be compatible with other active ingredients for optimal results. For these acne-fighting benefits, nicotinamide is often combined with the acid
salicylic acid (beta-hydroxy acid), copper, folic acid, zinc, centella asiatica, which is a mainstay of anti-acne treatments.
If it’s plumper, younger-looking skin you’re after, you can combine it with retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid and other stable and potent antioxidants, such as catechins, quercetin and tocopherol (vitamin E), and Camellia Sinensis (green tea).
Can niacinamide cause rashes?
Skin purging refers to your skin’s temporary reaction (acne breakout) to an active ingredient that triggers cell turnover.
Some people may experience irritation and breakouts when starting to use a product containing vitamin B3, but niacinamide is unlikely to cause bleeding. In general, vitamin B3 products are not purges.
If you experience a breakout after using a vitamin B3 product, take a look at the formula to see if something else might be triggering your skin. The most common ingredients that trigger skin purging are retinoids, vitamin C, AHAs, and BHAs (glycolic, malic, lactic, and salicylic acid).
When and how often should you use niacinamide?
For best results, you can apply a niacinamide leave-in product twice a day, morning and night. Because in general, it is well tolerated by all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Niacinamide is one of two forms of vitamin B3 – the other being nicotinic acid. Vitamin B3 is also known as niacin.
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is a form of vitamin B3 – an essential nutrient that aids in the growth and development of the human body.
What is the best niacinamide dosage?
When shopping, look for a product with 2 to 10 percent niacinamide, as many studies have used a range of two to ten percent for topical use.
If you want to be on the safe side, stick to formulations with a concentration of 10 percent or less, which is enough to improve acne, enlarged pores.
However, if you want to treat more advanced and stubborn issues like enlarged pores or orange peel-like skin texture, you can try with a higher dosage like 15-20%.
Be careful, however, it may cause tingling or redness on sensitive skin. It is best to start with a lower dosage and increase gradually if you have never used this active ingredient.
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