Niacinamide

Models and makeup artists swear by them, but how do micelles, the ball-shaped clusters found in micellar water, benefit your skin?

Consider niacinamide to be one of the skin care industry’s most underrated players – and take this as your sign to find out exactly why it’s an ingredient worth knowing about.
Niacinamide for skin, versatile, hardworking and incredibly effective, there’s a reason you’re seeing it popping up in lots of your favorite skincare products – don’t just take our word for it, though, because there’s a whole host of scientific studies and research to back up its prowess.

More about Niacinamide

Niacinamide benefits apply to both skincare and hair care. So, if you’re reading this and wondering what exactly niacinamide is, how it works, what it’s good for and why everybody is singing its praises, then keep scrolling. We’ve broken down all the important stuff that we think is worth knowing, and by the time you’ve reached the end we have no doubt you’ll be as enamored with it as we are.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that works alongside essential nutrients found in the body. However, unlike other skincare ingredients – like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, for example – niacinamide isn’t something that we produce naturally. So, in order to reap the benefits of it, it needs to be ingested (eaten) either through foods that are rich in it (like beef, poultry, fish, nuts, avocados and whole grains) or via supplements, or it can be applied topically via your niacinamide skincare products.
The list of things that niacinamide is good for is almost endless: not only does it work to strengthen the skin barrier, even out the overall appearance of skin tone and texture , it can also soothe skin and even reduce redness caused by spots or breakouts, as well visibly minimizing and tightening pores. It is also helps reduce sebum production and when it comes to acne signs, niacinamide skincare is good for helping to improve skin appearance and quality overall.

And of course, niacinamide is a powerful ingredient when it comes to helping improve the appearance of pigmentation by working as an antioxidant and a soothing agent, while also limiting melanin formation.

The best part, though, is that niacinamide is well tolerated by almost all skin types, including those that are sensitive, or acne prone. It is often asked if vitamin C and niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, or niacinamide and retinol, or glycolic acid and niacinamide are good associations. Formulated at optimal dosage, it can be used in tandem with the majority of all other ingredients within your existing routine, including vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, AHAs and BHAs. Plus, in some cases it is a complementary ingredient that can help boost the overall efficacy of the products you’re using, especially where pigmentation, dark spots or discoloration are concerned. It can even be used around the eye area to help ensure the delicate skin around there stays as smooth, firm and as hydrated as possible.
Just when you thought the benefits of niacinamide couldn’t get any better, we’re about to prove that it can. While some ingredients should only be used once a day, or even just a couple of times a week, our formulas with niacinamide, such as niacinamide serum or niacinamide moisturizer, can be used morning and evening – and, actually, it can do its best work when it’s used twice daily, and it usually takes around four weeks or so, sometimes less, to see the results of it.
Definitely! There are various niacinamide hair benefits. B3 is a known effective ingredient in many hair care products such as shampoos, conditioners, leave-in hair treatments, masks and serums. It’s also safe for all types and textures of hair, but it produces more visible results on people with thinning or fine hair. Niacinamide for hair is not only said to make hair stronger, but it also contributes to healthy hair growth.

Since it’s capable of soothing the skin by restoring moisture, it can be very beneficial for people experiencing inflammatory conditions of the scalp. And its actions on the skin that curb sebum production mean it can also aid in balancing oil on the scalp.