What is Niacinamide and Why You Should Add It Into Your Skincare Routine
Delving into the skincare world of buzzy ingredients, you may or may not have come across the term niacinamide. Besides retinol and vitamin C, niacinamide is another standout ingredient touted for its versatility and multiple uses. But if you’ve probably have heard the word thrown about a lot, yet know very little about it, you’ve come to the right place.
Niacinamide’s best claim to fame is being a potent skin brightener. But this powerful antioxidant is more than that, with abilities ranging from addressing enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, and dullness.
Scroll ahead to find out more about this powerhouse, and why you should incorporate it in your skincare routine.
What is it?
Niacinamide is an antioxidant that is also known as Vitamin B3 and nicotinamide, a water-soluble vitamin. It is also pH neutral, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
What does it do?
Unlike other newer buzzy skin ingredients such as Bakuchiol, this ingredient has been well researched for its effects and benefits.
Niacinamide’s main benefits are brightening, preventing the signs of aging, and reducing acne, thanks to it’s potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
It’s effects on improving an aging facial skin appearance, such as wrinkles, elasticity, and even skin sallowness has been well researched. For instance, in a 2005 study published in the Dermatologic Surgery, female subjects who applied 5% niacinamide to their face twice daily for twelve weeks witnessed significant skin appearance improvement effects.
It’s also great for both dry and oily skin conditions. Dry skin can find it incredibly restorative, as niacinamide helps to boost the skin’s own natural production of ceramides, strengthening the skin barrier, and reducing overall dry skin.
For oily skin, it helps to reduce excessive sebum production and acts as an anti-inflammatory, calming redness and breakouts, and visibly reducing pore size for overall smoother skin.
Finally, niacinamide can help to greatly fade those pesky acne scars and pigmentation in the long run, as it helps to improve skin pigment regularity.
Who is niacinamide best for?
Anyone! B3 is great for anyone who wants to brighten their skin, prevent aging, or both.
However, do note that niacinamide is not as active as other ingredients out there, so it takes a longer time to witness the results. And as always, when testing out a new ingredient or product, it’s best to conduct a patch test, even if it works wonders for others.
How to use it
Niacinimide combines well with almost everything, so you can apply it with other beneficial ingredients – think of this multi-ingredient approach to skincare like your diet. Sure, spinach is great on its own, but pairing it with other powerfoods makes for a balanced, richer diet for a stronger body.
Niacinamide also works well with retinol. By helping to strengthen your skin barrier, niacinamide can help to reduce some of the irritation associated with retinol.
And, if you’ve heard somewhere that niacinamide should not be paired with Vitamin C, rest assured. Articles that have this claim were referenced from studies more than 40 years ago, and a lot more research has been done since then – they can complement each other in improving your skin’s overall radiance, according to cosmetic chemist Stephen Ko on The Klog.
Ready to give it a go? Here are a few standout products featuring niacinamide in their ingredients:
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% High Strength Vitamin and Mineral Blemish Formula, $9.50
This serum contains a potent 10 per cent niacinamide for increasing skin elasticity and one per cent zinc to mattify, for a visibly clearer and refined complexion. Pores appear smaller and skin is brightened after a few weeks of use.
10% Niacinamide Booster, $63
This 10% niacinamide booster comes with blended with soothing and hydrating ingredients to replenish and restore skin radiance. Simply add a few drops on your moisturiser to get its skin-boosting benefits.
