What Does Niacinamide Do: The Holy Grail Skin Care Ingredient

Niacinamide benefits our skin in so many ways. It has many great attributes for your face that make niacinamide a popular ingredient used in hundreds of cosmetics items today. It can be found in moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, etc. These are only some of the common products you will find this beauty nutrient being added into their ingredients list. 

Niacinamide is an important skin care ingredient. It helps with hydration, texture, and elasticity for all skin types. Niacinamide also has many benefits for our skin including reducing pore size, evening complexion, and promoting collagen production.

Why is my skin care routine important?

Why is skin care important? To put it simply, because healthy skin looks and feels better. But what does that mean, exactly? Let's start with the basics: your skin is the largest organ in your body. It's responsible for protecting you from the elements and keeping all your vital organs covered and protected. Your skin care routine is essential because it helps us to take good care of our skin. Having naturally glowing and healthy skin makes us feel better inside and out.

We should be aware of what we apply on our skin and look for high quality ingredients, including natural substances, like shea butter and beeswax, as well as active ingredients like vitamin E and lavender oil to help improve your skin health.

Niacinamide is very beneficial for our skin and it should be included in every beauty product we use because it can help with many problems such as acne, oily skin, aging, and other common concerns. The benefits from niacinamide are quite great! If you haven't made niacinamide part of your daily routine yet then let me tell you more about this amazing ingredient that will boost collagen production, brighten your complexion while also soothing any irritation or redness on the surface of the skin.

It might sound too good to be true but everything I'm going to share with you next is worth reading and very useful for your skin care.

What is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B (vitamin b3), also called nicotinamide that helps us to maintain healthy-looking skin. Niacinamide is a nicotinic acid amide that is naturally found in the human body. This means that it can be used on its own or as part of a formulation to help reduce the appearance of aging on the surface of your skin. Niacinamide has been proven to provide numerous benefits for all different sorts of people which makes it one of the most popular ingredients out there!

Is Niacinamide and Niacin the same?

No, niacinamide and niacin are different. Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin B that is found in many foods such as chicken, beef, fish, legumes, nuts, and fortified cereals. Niacin works on multiple levels: it improves the barrier function of your skin; reduces inflammation; helps with hyperpigmentation (brown spots) and rosacea. Niacin has many benefits for the skin but it can cause discomfort like flushing (warmth/redness) of the face which lasts around 15 - 30 minutes. Niacinamide is the biologically active form of niacin and is mainly used for skin care purposes. It doesn't cause flushing side effects and is a great ingredient for all skin types.

How to use Niacinamide in my skincare routine?

Now that you know all about the benefits of adding this powerhouse ingredient into your daily routine, it's time for you to decide what niacinamide-containing products you will use. If you're not sure where to start, here's a basic niacinamide containing skincare routine:

Morning Routine:

- Makeup remover/cleanser 

- Niacinamide serum (get one with at least 2-3% niacinamide) (Glow Serum with Propolis and Niacinamide, CH-Nest 97 B-jo Serum)

- Moisturizer with SPF 20 or higher if staying out in the sun for long periods of time

Evening Routine:

- Face wash

-Toner (Some By Mi - Yuja Niacin Brightening Toner 150ml)

-Sheet Mask ( Snail Bee High Content Mask, Intensive Black Cotton Mask, La Rose De Versailles Face Mask, RiRe Real Nature Pearl Extract Mask Pack)

- Night moisturizer with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid before bedtime (one that has niacin around 5% or less).

Side effects of Niacinamide on skin

Although niacinamide is generally considered safe and well-tolerated, it can cause some mild side effects when applied topically on the skin.

The most common side effects with topical nicotinamide are mild and include skin redness, itching, and skin irritation.

Related article: 5 Reasons Why You Should Avoid Using Niacinamide In Your Skincare

Myths about Niacinamide

1. Niacinamide is not safe for pregnant women

There is no evidence that niacinamide is bad for pregnant women. In fact, niacinamide is sometimes recommended for pregnant women to help improve the skin's appearance. Pregnant women should always consult with their doctor before starting any new skincare regimen, though.

Related article: Top 8 Skincare Ingredients To Avoid While Pregnant 

2. Niacinamide is not safe for breastfeeding women

Again, there is no evidence that niacinamide is bad for breastfeeding women. In fact, niacinamide can help improve the appearance of skin while breastfeeding. Like with pregnant women, though, it's always best to consult with a doctor before starting any new skincare routine.

3. Niacinamide is not safe to use with Vitamin C

There is no evidence that niacinamide and vitamin C cannot be used together. Many people find that using niacinamide and vitamin C together provides better results than using either ingredient alone. However, it's always best to do a patch test before starting any new skincare routine to see how your skin reacts.

4. Niacinamide is not safe to use with retinol

There is no evidence that niacinamide and retinol cannot be used together. Many people find that niacinamide makes a good additive to their skincare routine with vitamin C, niacinamide, and retinol which can improve the appearance of skin further. However, it's always best to do a patch test before starting any new skincare routine as everyone's skin reacts differently.

5. Niacinamide bad for oily skin

In general, niacinamide is not considered an oil-controlling ingredient so those with oily skin may think this could worsen their problem – however, because niacinamide helps decrease sebum production over time it should help balance out the amount of oil.

What are the benefits of Niacinamide?

Niacinamide has a number of benefits for the skin, including:

• Has powerful antioxidants that help stimulate collagen production, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and improve the overall skin texture.
• When used daily, this ingredient can help reduce inflammation, treat hyperpigmentation, smooth your skin texture, and brighten your complexion, improve uneven skin tone and texture.
• Its anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
• It strengthens the skin barrier and overall skin texture which reduces acne
• Minimizes pore appearance - visibly minimize enlarged pores- regulate oil production.
• Diminish dullness, flaky skin, and moisture loss because of its hydrating ability

Related article: What is Niacinamide: What It Can and Can't Do To Your Skin

For which skin concerns is Niacinamide best used?

Niacinamide is a great ingredient for all skin types. It is especially good for those with oily or acne-prone skin, as it helps to control oil production and clears up blemishes. It can also be used on dry skin to help boost moisture levels and improve the overall appearance of the complexion.

Niacinamide soothes and rejuvenates skin, while being gentle enough for even the most sensitive complexions. There are a lot of products which have Niacinamide as their main ingredient but we still have to be cautious about what we apply to our skin.

If you have questions about using topical niacinamide, niacinamide supplements, or any supplement form, it's best to consult a Board Certified Dermatologist who can provide medical advice regarding all of your skin care concerns. 

So is Niacinamide indeed your ultimate skin care Ingredient?

Niacinamide is a powerful ingredient that can help improve the appearance of your skin. It’s an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which means it helps to reduce redness and soothe irritation. This vitamin B3 derivative also has cell turnover benefits for aging skin by helping to produce collagen over time. If you are looking for even more tips to care of your skin with niacinamide, check out Asian Beauty Essentials blog post about 15 questions about Niacinamide.