In the skincare world, niacinamide is a well-tolerated and popular ingredient. It is also known as nicotinamide and vitamin B3. This potent ingredient is found in fish, vegetables, and meat. It is required by your body to maintain healthy cells.
Throughout the years, it has proven to be an effective ingredient for an array of concerns. These include acne, oily skin, hyperpigmentation, and so much more. If there is one ingredient you could be benefiting from, it has to be nicotinamide.
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Benefits of using niacinamide
1. Reduces the appearance of aging
Your skin produces less collagen as you age, resulting in more wrinkles and fine lines. Niacinamide boosts the collagen naturally occurring in your skin by stimulating its production. This characteristic is particularly beneficial in aged and photodamaged skin.
2. It repairs your skin barrier.
- Ceramides are fats, lipids (in the lips matrix) naturally found in your skin. This is essential because they create a barrier within the skin that does not allow foreign particles into it. They also trap moisture, protect your skin from environmental aggressors, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Niacinamide increases ceramide production. This means it can strengthen or repair a damaged skin barrier.
- It also increases the speed at which keratinocytes (the most abundant cells in your skin) multiply. Because of this, your skin repairs much faster, leading to a stronger and more protective epidermis. Keratinocytes play a very critical role in repairing your skin barrier. Keratinocytes play a very crucial role in improving your skin barrier.
So niacinamide can penetrate the lipid matrix and stratum corneum to strengthen your skin barrier. This also helps improve the elasticity of your skin and heal wounds faster.
3. Reduces hyperpigmentation
Niacinamide inhibits melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes. Melanocytes produce melanosomes, cells responsible for creating, storing, and transporting melanin. Keratinocytes are cells that are found on the uppermost layer of your skin. Therefore, it prevents melanosomes from being transferred to keratinocytes, decreasing the risk of hyperpigmentation and eventually getting rid of it.
4. Niacinamide can protect your skin cells from UV damage
Niacinamide also has sun protection properties. It reduces the inflammation associated with UV damage. Your skin is better protected from UV damage since it stimulates collagen, ceramide, and keratinocyte production.
5. It is compatible with most skin types.
Since niacinamide is more of a “regulating” ingredient, it does not cause any damage to your skin; it instead brings balance where needed. It is compatible with all skin types, especially damaged and mature skin, and will most likely not irritate it. Niacinamide is also safe to use during pregnancy, which is a plus!
6. Regulates oil production and acne as well as improves pore size and skin texture
Niacinamide inhibits sebum oil) production by lowering the contents of the fatty acids found in the lipid matrix. This ultimately reduces acne, the appearance of pores, and uneven texture. Ance is a form of inflammation, and nicotinamide is particularly beneficial for people suffering from acne. It also has antibacterial properties, which further reduce the occurrence of acne.
7. It is anti-inflammatory
Niacinamide stimulates protein and ceramide production in your skin and addresses inflammation-related issues. It calms rosacea and reduces the appearance of skin redness.
Layering Niacinamide
Niacinamide is such a fantastic ingredient that it layers well with most products. Rather than layering too many ingredients, looking for products with multiple ingredients is always advisable to avoid sensitizing your skin.
Here is a list of all the ingredients that layer well with and why:
Vitamin C
This antioxidant is naturally in the skin, so it should work well with niacinamide because otherwise, we would all be allergic to it. Besides that, vitamin c and niacinamide are anti-aging and reduce pigmentation in separate ways. This will allow you to attack the different issues from different angles.
Retinol
Niacinamide helps your skin tolerate retinoids better. Combined, they also provide anti-aging, anti-blemish, and a more even tone.
Sunscreen
It guards you against UV damage and repairs your skin. So, when layered, it significantly boosts your skin because it will protect and repair your skin.
Hyaluronic acid
This is the ultimate combo because they are both anti-inflammatory, protect your skin’s lipid barrier, and are both moisturizing.
Hydroxy acids (AHAs & BHAs)
Niacinamide has a high pH, whereas hydroxy acids have a low pH. This difference causes hydroxy acids to have a higher pH when layered with it. The less acidic the pH, the longer it takes products to work, making it pointless to mix them. You will be missing out on the fantastic benefits of hydroxy acids. Use them on alternate nights, one in the morning and the other at night. You can also use them together by washing your face with hydroxy acids and niacinamide serums/moisturizers.
Peptides
Peptides are the building blocks of some of the proteins that are needed for you to have healthy skin. Those proteins include elastin and collagen, which niacinamide helps to synthesize. Using both can lead to firmer, more elastic, wrinkle-free skin.
The best niacinamide products
Some of my favorite niacinamide products are:
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Paula’s Choice BOOST 10% Niacinamide Booster
- Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%
Possible side effects
Topical and OTC niacinamide is not associated with many side effects. However, because skincare is not a one-size-fits-all solution, potential side effects can come with using it.
If you are prone to allergies already, you may experience some. A few people do experience minor irritations and breakouts.
Niacinamide should not cause purging as it does not accelerate the cell turnover of the skin, which is associated with purging.
And finally
As you can see, niacinamide is a jack of all trades and master of all! It is a worthwhile addition to any regimen. If you are not repairing your skin, you will benefit from its UV protection, anti-aging, and barrier-strengthening benefits. Almost any product has it, so you most likely already have it in your possession!
Has niacinamide helped you address your skin concerns, or have you been considering it and are now convinced to start using it?
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