Niacinamide has a host of benefits as a skin care ingredient, including its ability to:
- Minimize the appearance of large pores and improve "orange peel" textured skin.
- Restore the skin's defenses against moisture loss and dehydration.
- Visibly evens out skin tone and discolorations caused by the sun.
Among a handful of other amazing skincare ingredients, like retinol and vitamin C , niacinamide stands out for its versatility for almost any skin care concern and skin type.
As many of you know, but for those of you who don't, the conclusions we draw about any ingredient are always based on what published research has shown to be true, and the research on niacinamide unanimously demonstrates just how special it is. Ongoing research continues to confirm that it is one of the most exciting skincare ingredients out there.
What is niacinamide?
Also known as vitamin B3 and nicotinamide, niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that works with the skin's natural substances to help visibly minimize large pores, tighten lax or stretched pores, improve uneven skin tone, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, diminish dullness and strengthen a weakened surface.
Niacinamide also reduces environmental damage, due to its ability to improve the skin's barrier (its first line of defense), as well as helping the skin repair signs of past damage. Left unchecked, this type of daily attack makes skin appear older, duller, and less radiant.
What does niacinamide do for your skin?
Niacinamide's capabilities are made possible by its status as a multitasking bioactive ingredient. However, this powerful form of B vitamin takes a bit of a journey before our skin and supporting surface cells can reap their benefits.
After niacinamide is applied to the skin, it is broken down into the form of this vitamin that our cells can use, the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide . It is this coenzyme that is believed to be responsible for the skin benefits of niacinamide.
Niacinamide Skin Benefits
This multi-talented ingredient is truly one that everyone can add to their routine, no matter what skin type or skin problem. Some people's skin may have more concerns than niacinamide can address, but everyone's skin will certainly get some of this B vitamin. Speaking of which, let's dive into the specific concerns that niacinamide can help improve.
Minimizes enlarged pores
Niacinamide is most famous for its ability to reduce the appearance of large pores . As we mentioned earlier, research hasn't determined how this B vitamin works its pore-shrinking magic, but it does appear that niacinamide has a normalizing ability on the pore lining. This plays a role in helping to prevent oil and impurities from building up, which leads to clogs and rough, bumpy skin.
As the clog forms and worsens, the pores dilate to compensate, causing them to become enlarged. Routine use of niacinamide helps return pores to their natural size. Sun damage can also cause pores to stretch, leading to what some describe as "skin of orange ". Higher concentrations of niacinamide can help visibly tighten pores by reinforcing the supporting elements of the skin, often dramatically improving orange peel texture.
added moisture
Other benefits of niacinamide are that it helps renew and restore the skin's surface against dehydration and moisture loss . When key fatty acids in the skin's barrier known as ceramides are gradually depleted, skin becomes vulnerable to all sorts of problems, from persistent patches of dry, flaky skin to becoming increasingly sensitive.
If you struggle with dry skin, topical application of niacinamide has been shown to increase the hydrating capacity of moisturizers so that the skin's surface can better resist moisture loss that leads to recurring dryness and flaky texture. Niacinamide works brilliantly with common moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, vegetable oils, cholesterol, sodium PCA, and sodium hyaluronate.
brightens the skin
How does niacinamide help discolorations and uneven skin tone? Both of these concerns stem from excess melanin (skin pigment) showing up on the skin's surface. Niacinamide in 5% concentrations works through several pathways to prevent new discolorations from appearing . At the same time, it also helps reduce the appearance of existing discolorations, so your skin tone appears more even. Research has shown that niacinamide and tranexamic acid work particularly well together, and as mentioned above, they can be used with other discoloration-reducing ingredients, such as all forms of vitamin C, retinol, and bakuchiol.
How to use niacinamide
Niacinamide is compatible with other powerful ingredients like hyaluronic acid, AHAs, BHAs, and all sorts of antioxidants. . This multi-ingredient approach to skin care is important because, as great as niacinamide is, it's not the only ingredient skin needs to look and feel its best.
Think of it like your diet: As healthy as kale is, if kale were all you ate, you'd soon be malnourished because your body needs more than one healthy food to sustain itself. The same goes for the skin, the largest (and most exposed) organ in the body.
Adding Niacinamide Into Your Skin Care Routine
Using niacinamide is as easy as finding great skin care products that contain it and applying them in the following order:
- Cleaner
- Antioxidant serum (day) or treatment cream (night)
- Moisturizing
- During the day, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
How long does it take for niacinamide to take effect?
Generally speaking, you should start to see results after 2-4 weeks of twice daily use (depending on the severity of your skin concerns and the concentration of your niacinamide product). Continued use is required for continuous improvement and maintenance of results.
Results will continue to improve over time, but don't expect your skin to be completely “poreless”—that's not possible with any skin care product (not to mention, your skin needs pores for many vital functions). What you can expect is smaller-looking pores, a more even skin tone, visibly reduced fine lines and wrinkles, and an overall healthier glow.
Niacinamide Side Effects
Widely tolerated, niacinamide generally helps soothe and contributes to healthy skin. However, for some, niacinamide can cause a flushing effect on the skin, both when applied topically and when ingested through a supplement. Research on niacinamide-based facial flushing has shown that tolerance “develops rapidly ”. This flushing event occurs because the niacinamide contains too much free niacinamide. Special purified grades of this ingredient, like the one used by Nonna Cosmetics, have extremely low levels of niacinamide, which means they are highly unlikely to cause this problem.
Recommended Niacinamide Products
For best results, use niacinamide products that should stay on the skin (like serums or moisturizers) rather than rinse-off products (like cleansers) where contact time is limited.
- Those with lingering concerns about advanced signs of sun damage, orange peel texture, loose pores, and sebum-related bumps should consider trying a 5% niacinamide treatment cream , the maximum percentage suggested for tolerance and effectiveness. Ex: GGLOW and STARTER R
- You can also use products that contain niacinamide around the eyes. Some may find that applying a niacinamide eye cream or moisturizer Helps soften the appearance of crow's feet and dark circles, not to mention allows this delicate area to lock in moisture that smoothes skin and resists loss of firmness. Facial care products with niacinamide can also be applied to the neck and décolleté. Ex: POWER H
