In the past couple of years, the skincare industry has seen a major boom, with consumers becoming more aware and skincare routines becoming more targeted. Many skincare ingredients have come and gone but one that has dominated the market is niacinamide, which is a form of vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin that is not synthesised in our body. It's generally found in foods like meat, fish, milk, eggs, green vegetables, and cereals. Coming to its use in the beauty industry, various researches have shown that topical application of niacinamide has numerous skin benefits like skin brightening, anti-ageing and improving skin barrier. Its a versatile ingredient that is used in many creams, serums, body wash, toners and more. Keep reading to know the benefits of this miraculous ingredient that is safe to use on all skin types.
Here's Why Niacinamide Will Quickly Become Your Best Friend
Protects Skin Barrier
We all know that the key to healthy and radiant skin is maintaining a healthy skin barrier. To achieve a healthy skin barrier you have to ensure that it's hydrated at all times, and niacinamide helps improve skin hydration and skin barrier, thus reducing the tissue stress associated with poor barrier (1).
Reduces Hyperpigmentation
Niacinamide is one ingredient that truly helps in tackling hyperpigmentation. It has an inhibitory role for melanin (pigment responsible for skin colour), which helps in reducing existing dark spots and preventing newer ones to form (2).
Regulates Sebum Production
Anti-Ageing Benefits
As we age, our skin's ability to produce collagen reduces, and adding niacinamide to your routine can help boost collagen, maintaining your skin's elasticity and firmness (5). It also has antioxidant properties, which helps fight free radicals and oxidative stress, overall fighting premature signs of ageing (6).
Calms Inflammation
As we mentioned earlier, niacinamide is well tolerated by most skin types (always good to patch test before though). Multiple studies reveal that has anti-inflammatory properties (7) and helps soothe redness and other signs of irritation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can all skin types use niacinamide?
Yes, niacinamide is generally considered safe to use for all skin types however one should always be careful about using high percentage of niacinamide, especially if you're just introducing it in your skincare routine. You can start with a low percentage and gradually go upwards.
Is niacinamide safe to use with other skincare ingredients?
Niacinamide is quite versatile and goes well with most skincare ingredients. It can safely be combined with retinoids, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and AHAs/BHAs without any issues. In fact, when paired with complementary ingredients, it can enhance the overall effectiveness of your skincare routine.
How often should I use niacinamide?
You can start by using it every other day and gradually increase the frequency to once or twice daily, depending on your skin's tolerance. Generally speaking, it's safe to use daily.
Can I use niacinamide during the daytime?
Yes, Niacinamide is non-photosensitising, which means it does not make your skin more susceptible to sun damage. However, it's crucial to always follow up with a broad-spectrum sunscreen for added protection against harmful UV rays. Learn more about the benefits of sunscreen here.
Product Recommendations
There are a lot of products with niacinamide in the market, but serums usually are one of the easiest ways to incorporate it into your routine. Check out 12 of the best niacinamide serums for you.
Pro-Tip
Want to learn more about skin-care ingredients? Here are 10 top ingredients you could potentially add to your skincare routine.
