What Is Niacinamide
Few “miracle” ingredients ever stand up to the hype, but this water-soluble version of vitamin B3 (which your skin needs) is a beauty cabinet wonder we should all be using, thanks to its ability to minimize wrinkles, fight acne and even out skin tone. It’s a fountain of youth and Photoshop rolled into one!
What Does Niacinamide Do?
Firstly, it helps slow down the aging process by increasing cell turnover, microcirculation, and antioxidant protection, as well as stimulating fibroblasts which make collagen. Elixir of life, anyone? In addition, it strengthens our skin’s barrier, boosting its first line of defense against things like pollution, UV rays, chemicals, and other environmental aggressors.
At the same time, this brilliant all-rounder prevents water loss, so our skin stays hydrated. A powerful antioxidant, niacinamide also has impressive anti-inflammatory properties – it soothes redness, calms breakouts and banishes blemishes, which is great news if you suffer from acne.
And the benefits don’t end there; this hard-working ingredient also improves uneven skin tone and reduces hyperpigmentation. It even minimizes the appearance of pores while balancing oil production, for a shine-free complexion – a dream come true for oily skin.
Who Should Use Niacinamide?
The definition of versatile, everyone and anyone will benefit from working this skin-replenishing ingredient into their beauty regimen. Whether your complexion is oily or dry, dehydrated or dull, it works wonders. The best bit? Adverse reactions to niacinamide are super rare, plus it’s safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Posts You'll Love:
How To Use Niacinamide In Your Routine
Ideally, niacinamide should be applied twice daily. We recommend looking for leave-on formulas like serums and anti-acne treatments, for maximum absorption.
What To Avoid Mixing Niacinamide With
Niacinamide may affect the integrity of vitamin C, so if you’re using both in your skincare routine, alternate them. For best results, use niacinamide in the morning, and vitamin C at night.
Our Fave Niacinamide Skincare Products:
Source: Glossier
Glossier Super Pure, $28: This super-absorbent formula harnesses the power of niacinamide and zinc (a match made in skincare heaven), to calm breakouts and flush out impurities without over-drying.
Source: Garden of Wisdom
Garden of Wisdom Niacinamide Serum, $13: Trust us, this all-natural bestselling gel goes the extra mile to regulate oil production, soothe inflammation and give collagen production a much-needed boost.
Source: The Ordinary
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, $6: Featuring Zinc (another blemish-battling ingredient), this potent 10% formula swiftly soothes skin and fights congestion to target breakouts, minimize pores and transform uneven skin tone – trust us, you’re going to want to stock up on this.
For more skincare ingredients that your skin will thank you for, check out our Beauty Glossary.
Leave a comment