Niacinamide Uses & Benefits For Skin

What Is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide is a form or derivative of vitamin B3 - a water-soluble vitamin that engages primarily in metabolic reactions in human skin. The body can convert some amino acids, such as tryptophan, into niacin, but most vitamin B3 must be obtained through a diet rich in niacin. Fortunately, this vitamin is present in many foods from the niacin-rich group, such as fish, poultry, grains, nuts and legumes. Vitamin B3 comes in three different forms: niacinamide, niacin and nicotinamide riboside. Of these, niacinamide is the derivative used in skin care products.

What Does Niacinamide Do For Your Face? 

For that lit-from-the-within glow, consider incorporating niacinamide into your line-up. Also known as vitamin B3, this is generally known for the important skin restoration process. Hydrating and brightening make for a killer combo. No more worrying about temperamental, maybe even troublesome, skin. Say hello to this powerhouse ingredient, which can help gently with all skin types.

Here are just a few benefits of niacinamide for skin.

1. It Brightens Your Skin

Niacinamide is a godsent ingredient when it comes to achieving the coveted glow. The brightening effects are largely due to all those myriad effects it has for your skin. For instance, a dermatology study pitted niacinamide against its rival for retaining skin hydration, illuminating the appearance of redness, fading dark spots and protecting skin from damage.

2. Good for All Skin Types

Oily? Combination? Mature skin? Niacinamide hugs each type of skin type warmly, from sensitive skin onward. It's mild enough that it can generally be tolerated quite well, and it often receives the "recommend" stamp for those with sensitive skin or anyone looking for a gentle but effective thing for skin nourishment.

3. Keeps Skin Firm, Plump, and Supple

Keratin (the main structural protein in skin) is a vital determinant of how to keep skin looking firm, perfect, and healthy. Niacinamide has been shown to enhance keratin production in the skin, promoting a tighter, more youthful appearance.

4. Supports a Clearer Complexion

Individuals suffering with oily or blemish-prone skin should consider applying niacinamide to their daily regimen, as it might help treat both excess oil and the causes of breakouts. Niacinamide helps regulate the activity of oil-producing glands and inflammation so it can leave your complexion clear, smooth, and even-toned. According to a medical journal study summarizing previous niacinamide trials, topical niacinamide proves to be effective in significantly diminishing blemishes.

5. Diminishes the Visibility of Wrinkles and Fine Lines

This multifunctional benefit makes niacinamide the easy pick for any anti-aging routine in skincare. Skilled at promote youthfulness in the skin, it may also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with its great hydrating and skin-plumping charm. 

6. Minimizes the Appearance of Large Pores

Being an excellent skin-type normalizer, the cream that contains niacinamide gives you that lovely smooth and may diminish the appearance of large pores due to moisture and maintenance of the skin competently.

7. Helps Reduce Dark Spots

Niacinamide is responsible for somber matters, but if you tell us very loudly, that will be against the false appearance in dark spots. Skincare niacinamide and any other skin-whitening adjunct, if used together, help not only keep the skin adequately melted by maintaining moisture through other means, like hyaluronic acid, etc. One research also found that niacinamide also has the property to safeguard from age-pigmentation and symptoms of skin aging.

8. To Allow for Protection

Environment problems influence your skin daily, which eventually leads to premature ageing signs: fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation spots and sagging. Niacinamide protects as an antioxidant that bestows protective properties on the skin against free radicals that may damage it.

9. Reduces Regulating Oil

Hydration isn't only meant for dry skin! Using niacinamide is perfect for oily skin and also for combination skin. It can provide hydration and balance in the skin, helping to prevent an overcompensation of handsome oil on the surface in people with oily skin. It appears that even oily skin or skin that is prone to blemishes needs a good amount of hydration, and niacinamide is more than equipped to provide that for all skin types. 

10. Reduces blemishes

One of the key skin benefits of niacinamide is its ability to reduce blemishes and help improve skin texture. Thus contributing towards the gradual improvement of the texture of skin by shrinking the size of scars and blemishes. 

How To Use Niacinamide Product?

Niacinamide, the scientifically-dubbed vitamin B3, is one of the most coveted skincare agents, gaining a lot of traction due to its many beneficial effects. While using niacinamide in your skincare routine, follow these steps:

• Cleanser: Start with washing your face with a cleanser that wipes off the dirt, oil, and makeup. Go for a gentle cleanser that will not strip your skin of its natural oils.

• Toner: After cleansing, apply toner to restore the skin's pH and prepare it for the next steps in your skincare routine.

• Serum: On clean, dry skin, distribute a niacinamide serum all over the face. Choose a product with at least 5% niacinamide content. Massage it into the skin with gentle circular motions across your entire face.

• Moisturizers: Finish this stage by hydrating the skin with a moisturizer, or cream. As niacinamide can aid skin barrier function, application of a moisturizer will seal in the benefits of the serum.

• SPF: To protect your skin from the damaging effect of the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater.

It's also important to note that niacinamide can be used in the morning or evening, as it is a non-irritating and safe ingredient for all skin types. However, a patch test of new topical products is always recommended. 

How long does it take for Niacinamide Serum to work?

How long does Niacinamide Serum take to work depends on the individual. During the first few weeks of use, changes in texture and tonal quality may be noticed, but the full benefits of Niacinamide Serum are usually seen after about 8-12 weeks of use. Always remember that everyone's skin characteristics are different. Therefore, it is important to be patient.

Combining/Layering Niacinamide with Other Active Ingredients

Niacinamide is a safe, flexible skincare ingredient that can combine with various other actives. The incompatibility of two or more ingredients is influenced by a few factors such as pH levels, concentrations, and formulations. Niacinamide can be combined with active ingredients such as:

Vitamin C: A good antioxidant combination in skincare is niacinamide and Vitamin C, as both antioxidants are believed to have a complementary effect on the skin. However, special care needs to be taken for the layering; in fact, it is very important to secure that a stable form of Vitamin C is used, as niacinamide and ascorbic acid can be deemed antagonistic to each other in inhibiting Vitamin C stability.

Retinoids: Niacinamide can combine with retinoids such as retinol; however, for optimal results, it is important that the pH levels between the retinoid product and niacinamide are compatible.

Hyaluronic Acid: A hydrating agent, niacinamide can be combined with hyaluronic acid, resulting in superior skin hydration.

AHA/BHA: Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) can also be layered or mixed with niacinamide. However, to allow for the best results, the pH levels of the products must be compatible.

It’s important to keep your skin in mind when choosing a formulation or layer in order to successfully combine or layer with other active ingredients.

Is it possible to combine niacinamide with hyaluronic acid?

Yes, they can be combined since to possess a hydrophilic nature. They are considered humectants in that they attract water from their surroundings and any other product formulations and lock it into the skin's surface layer. Thus, the barrier is completely functional and in its most protective state and can protect itself.

When you layer on both niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, you can count on the hydration benefits. Using both of them together has no nasty side effects, given that they are applied in appropriate order. Start with hyaluronic acid to maximize the skin's moisture level, then niacinamide reinforces the barrier to protect the skin from external aggressors, including pollution, UV exposure, and contact with central heating.

Is it possible to combine niacinamide with vitamin C?

Yes, but there is lots of confusion around it because of some outdated research that works against the use of both ingredients together due to the unstable nature of Vitamin C and pure ascorbic acid. However, that research dates back to the 1960s, modern formulations allow the mix between Vitamin C and Niacinamide in the appropriate skin application.

In fact, what happens is that both ingredients target the same cosmetic concern, namely pigmentation, but act in different areas of the skin. Therefore, Vitamin C treats the dark spots, while Niacinamide prevents further pigmentation from reaching dark spots and other affected areas. When using the ingredients in separate products, I would recommend layering, starting with niacinamide and then applying vitamin C.

If this is too strong for your skin, you should avoid using Niacinamide and Vitamin C one after another, and rather alternate the times of day when you apply them. In the morning you would apply vitamin C to protect your skin from free radical exposure, such as pollution, UV light, and other environmental aggressors. Vitamin C also provides a topical healthy and vibrant glowing effect overall on the face. In the evening, use niacinamide to aid in repairing and restoring skin after oxidative stress. 

Is it possible to combine niacinamide with my moisturizer?

This depends on whether the niacinamide product comes in serum form or not. Serums generally need to be applied before moisturizers. Remember that skin products should be applied from thinnest to thickest consistency.

The main reason to use niacinamide with a moisturizer is its ability to draw water into the skin and keep it there, keeping your skin hydrated all day long. This is why I recommend using a niacinamide serum with a moisturizer. Not only will both of these keep the skin healthy and happy, but once you apply the moisturizer, you are creating a physical barrier on the skin's surface that will protect it from damage and allow niacinamide and all the other active ingredients to work their magic on the skin without any hindrance.

Is it okay to use niacinamide after an AHA or BHA?

The answer is yes, absolutely! There are a few different ways to get the most out of using niacinamide after an AHA and BHA.

• Switch up the time of day

Instead of using both powerful skincare ingredients at the same time and risking redness or irritation, it's better to switch up the times of their use. For example, if the morning is a bit rushed for you, niacinamide can work its magic under your daily SPF throughout the day and keep your skin hydrated. Then, at night, you can apply either an AHA or BHA product; this is ideal because, by this time, the skin should be cleansed of bacteria, dead skin cells, and impurities that have accumulated over the day.

• Space out your treatments at least 30 minutes apart.

If you want to use both ingredients in the same routine, it's best to space them out by at least half an hour. This will not only ensure the penetration of the product into the skin, but it will also ensure that the pH level of the skin and the formula will be properly balanced, and therefore will not cause irritation or burning.

• Can Niacinamide and Peptides be used together?

Choosing products containing Niacinamide in terms of potency and effectiveness gives you a better chance of finding successful formulations in toners, serums and even other leave-on masks and treatments. The prevailing view is that the longer Niacinamide stays on your skin, the more benefits it will deliver.

Given Niacinamide’s compatibility with many skin ingredients, it’s clear that it will work in tandem with specialty active peptides, hyaluronic acid and retinol. Being a multi-use clever humectant means it can be used by all skin types, including those prone to conditions such as sensitivity and rosacea.

Note: In most cases, when you try a new skincare product, skin irritation is simply because the product disrupts the pH balance. That’s why it’s important that you do a patch test for a full 24 hours before using any skincare ingredient, product, or formulation on your skin to avoid any allergic reactions or irritation.

Conclusion

Niacinamide is a power and versatility that can help all skin types in a variety of ways, whether preventing acne, creating an even complexion or reversing the visible signs of aging. Serums containing niacinamide are guaranteed to dramatically improve your skin and make it look much better with just a few simple steps using one of the most recommended skincare products like Cetaphil’s Bright Healthy Radiance Perfecting Serum.

We hope you found today’s blog useful and liked this edition of blogging dedicated to proper layers of skincare. If you have any other queries, you can ask us by comment box.