2018 was the year that niacinamide made it into popular beauty vocab – these days it’s a common feature in many skincare routines, alongside favourites like retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid. Show
Here’s everything you need to know about niacinamide. What is niacinamide?Essentially, it’s an active and water-soluble for of vitamin B3 – it’s one of the vitamins that our body needs and produces itself, so it’s very unlikely to cause reaction or irritation, even in sensitive skin types. How does it work?When applied to skin, niacinamide increases cell energy, which triggers cell turnover and microcirculation, and gives antioxidant protection against free radicals. It’s also really good at strengthening the skin’s barrier function – to keep moisture in and bacteria out. On top of that, it’s an antibacterial, so helps to regulate sebum production, improve congestion, and calm blemishes. Basically, it’s really good at calming and balancing skin. Why should I use it?Whether your skin is oily, dry, combination, or dehydrated, literally everyone can benefit from having niacinamide in their routine. Using it can result in improved hydration, smoother skin texture, and a reduction in blackheads, breakouts, and redness. When should I use it?Often niacinamide is included as an ingredient within other products – in which case look to them for instruction on using. If using a niacinamide serum, apply before heavier creams or oils and avoid mixing with vitamin C (as it can minimise its effects). Niacinamide can be used both morning and night. This water-based serum is has a light gel texture that absorbs quickly and layers perfectly – loads of people rate it as a primer because it instantly makes skin super smooth. Ideal for oily skin, apply it twice daily and you’ll soon notice you skin balancing out. Plus, it has the added bonus of zinc, which helps with healing blemishes. Another water-based and quickly absorbed serum, this is boosted with copper peptides (to boost collagen and elastin production) and chia seed (which is rich in omegas and fatty acids). Use this daily and layer it beneath your moisturiser for a major hydration boost.  How to Apply Niacinamide The Correct WayChristine Barbara Home - Beauty - How to Apply Niacinamide The Correct Way Wanting clear, beautiful looking skin is a natural desire. After all, we all want to look and feel our best! On a daily basis, social media bombards us with various product suggestions to help us maintain healthy and youthful looking skin. Between recommendations for retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C serums, dermablading, microneedling … this torrent of beauty advice can prove quite overwhelming and, at times, confusing to know what’s right for us and what isn’t… but curb those thoughts! There are some active ingredients that are suitable for everyone, and that actually live up to the hype! We’re talking about niacinamide: an active ingredient that has actually been around for years, yet somehow remained somewhat under the radar (it may have something to do with it being a little hard to pronounce!). Now, before you write it off as just another overrated ingredient that’s being marketed to beauty addicts (guilty), let’s explore why this ingredient has gained so much attention and why it is loved by so many. For those of you that aren’t quite sure what niacinamide is, we’ll be breaking down exactly what this ingredient does, why it is beneficial, how to apply niacinamide the proper way and finally, any possible downfalls to using niacinamide incorrectly. So, let’s dive right in! This article contains affiliate links What is Niacinamide?Don’t be put off by its hard-to-pronounce, intimidating name! Plainly and simply, niacinamide [pronounced nahy-uh-sin-uh-mahyd] is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 which is specifically used for skincare, and known for its soothing and healing properties. Its benefits are so wide-ranging that adding it to your skin care routine is essentially like taking a daily multivitamin. As it seeps deeply into the skin, its antioxidising properties allow it to work its magic from within. Niacinamide helps to moisturise the skin, reduces skin inflammation in moderate acne and makes your face feel more supple and retain its youthful glow. Best of all, niacinamides can easily be used in conjunction with other active ingredients and can easily be incorporated into your existing routine, without unpleasant reactions. Whilst our bodies do not produce niacinamide of their own accord, we do absorb niacin through the foods we eat, and our bodies have the ability to convert the niacin we consume into niacinamide. Niacin can be found in a variety of foods that make up a healthy diet, including beans, fish, grains and meat. In applying niacinamide topically, we’re giving our skin that extra boost that can take a healthy glow to the next level. Don’t just take our word for it – there are plenty of studies that have been carried out to support the use of topical niacinamide use that make for an interesting read! What are the Benefits of Niacinamide?Paula Begoun, founder of Paula’s Choice, says that ‘topically, niacinamide has so many ways to help skin it’s mind boggling‘, and here are just a few:
Who Should Use Niacinamide?Anybody and everybody should add niacinamide to their skincare routine! It is suitable for all skin types, even those with sensitive skin, and is especially beneficial for those who suffer from rosacea, observe redness on their skin or are particularly prone to breakouts. The one thing that your skin type will determine, however, is which form of niacinamide you should use. For example, dry skin types might prefer to combine niacinamide with hyaluronic acid for that extra boost of hydration, while oily skin types might like to use a niacinamide product that also contains salicylic acid. Similarly, dry skin types may prefer to incorporate niacinamide into their skincare routine through a rich moisturiser or hydrating toner, whilst oily skin types may prefer a lightweight serum or gel. How you apply niacinamide will very much depend on the niacinamide product being used – of course, the way you apply a niacinamide toner is not the same as you would apply a serum or moisturiser. Our advice is to always refer to the instructions that come with the product to ensure that you are reaping the benefits. According to certified dermatologists, the best way to achieve results is to use leave-on niacinamide products; such as toners, serums or moisturisers, and apply them twice a day. As mentioned earlier, the niacinamide products you choose to use will vary depending on your skin type. Remember, you can use more that one niacinamide skin care product in your routine! You may choose to use a hydrating toner with niacinamide right after cleansing and patting your skin dry, followed by a niacinamide serum and/or moisturiser, before locking it all in which an oil of your choice. The important thing to remember is the order in which the products are applied – cleanser, toner, serums, moisturisers, oil. Thinnest to thickest, and finish with oil as the final step in your skincare routine. Here are a few commonly asked questions about combining niacinamide with your existing skincare products. Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid: Can they be Used Together?Definitely! These two water-based ingredients’ respective qualities complement one another nicely and work together to deeply hydrate your skin and retain its suppleness. Niacinamide encourages collagen production, whilst hyaluronic acid enhances the skin’s elasticity. Both of these treatments have excellent humectant abilities that, when paired together, work hand-in-hand to trap moisture into the skin in order to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. How Should You Layer Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid? First, apply hyaluronic acid ona clean and cleansed face both morning and evening, so as to effectively rehydrate your skin after cleansing.Layering the niacinamideon top will help regulate any excess sebum production and avoid breakouts. Finish off by applying your choice of moisturiser. Alternatively, you may apply niacinamide and hyaluronic acid at different times of the day. Perhaps, you may want to use hyaluronic acid in the morning to maintain your skin’s hydration, and niacinamide at the end of the day to even out the texture of your skin. Your skin, your schedule, your choice! Can You Use Niacinamide with Salicylic acidSalicylic acid is possibly the most popular Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) on the market and you might be wondering if this blends well with niacinamide. The answer is yes! Both of these ingredients have anti-aging properties and help to prevent the development of acne. You’ll find that pairing these ingredients together successfully controls sebum production, making this an ideal combination for people with acne-prone, oily skin or combination skin. The salicylic acid actively fights against blemishes, whilst the niacinamide ensures that your skin retains that moisture – which is essential in maintaining the skin’s elasticity and youthful glow. There are two ways of layering these two ingredients:
How to Layer Vitamin C and NiacinamideLike niacinamide, vitamin C comes with its own list of skin care benefits and is a powerhouse in and of itself. It has potent antioxidising properties that protect the skin from free radicals caused by exposure to UV rays and is essential for collagen production. There have, however, been various misconceptions with regards to combining these two ingredients in your skin care routines. For years, many had written off this combination as problematic, stating that these two ingredients counteract each other or that using both ingredients together may lead to skin irritation. Luckily for us, recent studies have proved these reports as outdated, and confirmed the safe pairing of these two ingredients. What is not advisable, however, is to purchase one product that includes both vitamin C and niacinamides. Vitamin C is known for being pretty unstable and is a tough ingredient to formulate in a product, so it makes sense not to upset it by combining it with another active ingredient in the same bottle. If you prefer to use a niacinamide toner, allow it be fully absorb into your skin before applying your vitamin C in the morning. If using a niacinamide booster or serum, apply whichever is thinnest first (whether that’s the vitamin C or the niacinamide) and allow enough time for the first to be fully absorbed before applying the second! Everyone’s skincare routine is different and personal to them, so work niacinamide into your routine however it makes sense to do so! Niacinamide and RetinolNiacinamide and retinol are also two very compatible ingredients! Niacinamide promotes ceramide production, which aids in the skin’s resilience against more potent ingredients such as retinol. Additionally, niacinamide’s anti-inflammatory properties lower the risk of possible irritation from the retinol. If you want to include both in your skin care regime, you’ll find products that combine both of these ingredients for an easy way of applying both ingredients at once. You may prefer to use separate products, in which case you should apply the niacinamide first to help protect the skin, followed by the retinol. Remember that retinol increases your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays, so if you are going to use a 2-in-1 niacinamide and retinol product, ensure that this is only used in the evening. Niacinamide ProductsWe’ve combined a list of choice products that include niacinamide. Whilst you might not want to use all of these products at once in order to take advantage of other active ingredients, it is great to be aware of the different ways you may include niacinamide into your skincare routine! Niacinamide Toners Toners are an optional part of your skincare routine. Nevertheless, they are highly beneficial! Toners help to close and tighten pores which protects the skin from absorbing impurities and environmental contaminants. Yale-affiliated dermatologist Dr. Alicia Zalka notes that “using a toner can be a nice way to add active ingredients like retinoids, antioxidants and exfoliants to your existing products”, so why not opt for a niacinamide toner?
Niacinamide Face Masks Face masks are an excellent addition to anybody’s skincare as they help to keep your skin hydrated, remove any excess oils and tighten any open pores— and all whilst enjoying a soothing spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home. Here are some of our favourite face masks which include niacinamide as one of their ingredients.
Niacinamide Serums If you’re going to use any niacinamide product, the serum should be it! Serums are specifically designed to target particular skin-related problems by deeply penetrating the thick layers of your skin.
Niacinamide Moisturisers Facial moisturisers are a fundamental part of your skincare regime. Moisturising balances out your skin’s complexion, reduces blemishes, maintains healthy skin cells and protects your skin from possible irritation.
Don’t forget to pin this article if you found it helpful, and follow Dukes Avenue on Pinterest for more! What is the best way to apply niacinamide serum?Niacinamide Serum – As most niacinamide serums are water-based, it's best to apply them after cleansing and toning and before oil-based serums or moisturizers. This way, you ensure the highest possible absorption and effectiveness. Cover your entire face with the serum, but feel free to concentrate on oily areas.
Is it okay to use niacinamide serum everyday?Can you use niacinamide every day? Yes. In fact, you can use niacinamide-containing topical products in the morning and night because it's generally a gentle ingredient.
When should niacinamide serum be used?Niacinamide can be used morning and night. Because it plays well with other skincare ingredients (even potentially tricky actives such as exfoliating acids and vitamin C) it will sit happily alongside anything else you're using.
Can I apply niacinamide directly on face?As a general rule of thumb, yes, which is why it's found in many skincare products and why it's pretty easy to incorporate into your existing routine. Per those acne-fighting benefits, niacinamide is often paired with salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that's a mainstay in acne products, says Dr. Frieling.
|
