A Complete Guide to Niacinamide
Let’s dive deep into the wonderful world of the skin care ingredient, niacinamide. This stuff is magic. Best of all, science supports it.
However, the most important thing is knowing how to use it. Nice and amide has been around for years and is one of the more heavily studied ingredients. In this complete guide, find out everything you need to know about this “hero” ingredient. Learn whether or not the hype is worth it.
What is Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of niacin, also called B3 vitamin. This is an essential vitamin for our biology, more on that later though.
Benefits
Niacinamide is crucial for maintaining the skin healthy. People claim it can treat anything from dark spots to acne, redness, and more. Basically, if you have oily skin you’ll benefit from using it and if you have dry skin you’ll benefit from using it. If you have sensitive skin, this is an ingredient you should use, and if you’re dealing with redness, this ingredient is for you. People say it’s for everyone, but how true is that?
The Science Behind it
Niacinamide is indeed very good at treating dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it helps to prevent the skin from producing too much melanin. Too much melanin can occur when the skin is trying to recuperate, particularly after acne or injury.
Niacinamide is also an anti-inflammatory ingredient. This reduction in inflammation can even help calm the redness that comes from rosacea and any inflammation that is due to acne. Helping support the skin will allow the skin barrier to return to optimal health.
Another interesting trait of this skincare ingredient is that it tends to boost ceramides in the skin. Your skin cells are like bricks and ceramides are the concrete that holds the bricks together. Ceramides help to support the skin barrier basically. This combination of properties can even lead to niacinamide supporting collagen production. This is because it can stimulate fibroblasts, cells that are responsible for producing collagen. Its antioxidant properties also make it a good way to protect our current collagen from damage from free radicals while reducing oxidative stress.
How to Use Niacinamide
Using this niacinamide is as simple as finding a skin care product that works with you that has this ingredient. It can be used in a morning or nighttime routine. This versatile ingredient can be found in serums, moisturizers, lotions, toners, and more. Niacinamide is commonly found in skincare and products that also contain hyaluronic acid. This is because hyaluronic acid can increase skin moisture and niacinamide protects from water loss.
Skincare Combos
The good thing about niacinamide is that it is a skincare ingredient that can be combined with many others. For example, it works well with exfoliating ingredients such as glycolic acid or lactic acid. However, if you’re using glycolic acid, please be mindful. They both can brighten and increase skin health, but too many activities may irritate. Lactic acid is a mild exfoliating ingredient that works very well with niacinamide.
Retinol and niacinamide are an incredible partnership. Retinal increases cell turnover while niacinamide helps restore skin barrier health, increase hydration, and reduce any potential negative side effects that may be caused by retinol such as dryness or flakiness.
Vitamin C and niacinamide also work very well together, especially if you want to Target dark spots or hyperpigmentation.
Side Effects
Niacinamide is generally well tolerated by every skin type. Whether you have dry skin, oily skin, or sensitive skin, it is a skincare ingredient that is rewarding for all. Always patch-test a new skincare product before using it on the face. There is always the potential for an allergic reaction.
As with anything, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Using too many active ingredients in your skincare routine can lead to irritation and sensitivity. That is why you should use caution when using a strong exfoliator such as glycolic acid and niacinamide.
Plus, using too high a concentration of niacinamide momentarily causes some redness in the face. The benefits of niacinamide can be seen at low concentrations of about 5%, so don’t think that you need a super high concentration to gain healthier skin.
Eating it? What is Niacin
As stated before, niacinamide is a form of niacin, a B vitamin. There is a potential benefit in eating b vitamin since excess niacin in the body is converted into niacinamide.
In the body, niacin has many roles. It is crucial in our metabolism, and DNA repair, plays an active role in the digestive system, and maintains our nerves and skin healthy. It’s also important for converting food into energy and is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, steroids, and other important biological molecules.
Foods with Niacin
This b vitamin is found in many foods such as meat products like beef, fish, and poultry. It is also present in nuts, seeds, legumes, brown rice, and bananas. Supplements are always an option if you are looking for an extra boost but always try to use natural sources first.
A good way to supplement b vitamins naturally would be something like nutritional yeast. This is a natural powder that is made from fermentation and can be very beneficial, particularly to vegans and vegetarians that need more b vitamins and do not eat any meat products.
Benefits of Niacin
Consuming vitamin B3 may help regulate cholesterol, reducing triglycerides in the blood. This may lower your risk for diabetes. When taken orally or in a lotion, this vitamin can even protect the skin from UV sun damage. It’s a good idea to consume foods with niacin daily.
The Takeaway
Niacinamide is indeed a skin care ingredient that can be used by everyone. It can be used by people with dry skin to increase skin moisture, can be used by people with oily skin to control oil production, and can be used by people with sensitive skin to reduce inflammation and redness. It truly is a hero skincare ingredient.
Remember, health always comes from within. Start by eating nutritious food, moving your body, exercising when you can, and caring for your mental health. These small daily changes and habits that you start to cultivate become the foundation for a life full of wellness. Don’t forget about the health of your microbiome, too! Gut microbiota affects everything in your body, from the skin to muscles to the immune system and mental health. Get all the resources you need about microbiota health for free here!
