What's The Deal With Niacinamide?

Over the past year or so, the trending skincare ingredient niacinamide has cropped up everywhere, from beauty magazines to the bottles of lotions and potions sold in stores.

There’s a good reason why. Niacinamide is largely considered a holy-grail treatment for many common skin issues, such as premature aging, dull skin, and acne.

The ingredient is known to brighten and smooth skin, calm redness and inflammation, reduce hyperpigmentation, shrink the appearance of pores, and so much more.

Let’s learn more about this super ingredient.

Why Should You Use Niacinamide?

We’ve already covered some of the benefits of niacinamide, but let’s add to that.

Fortunately, niacinamide is compatible with most of the products you already use in your skincare routine. That’s even those containing retinol, hyaluronic acid, peptides, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, and all types of antioxidants.

You can use various niacinamide-containing products in your skincare routine, and you don’t have to worry about irritation or redness. That’s because this calming ingredient is well-tolerated by all skin types. It’s even suitable for use by those with rosacea-prone or sensitive skin.

How Long Does Niacinamide Take To Work?

Typically, you should expect to see results from niacinamide after two to four weeks of twice-daily use. However, this, of course, depends on the severity of your skin concerns and how strong your niacinamide product is.

Consistent use is necessary for continued improvement. Results will continue to better over time but don’t expect your skin to be completely ‘poreless’.

No skincare ingredient, no matter how powerful, can do that. Plus, you need your pores for their many vital functions.

What you can realistically expect from niacinamide are pores that appear smaller, a more even, smoother skin tone, and visibly reduced fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, your complexion will look a whole lot brighter and glowing.

Remember, like with any great skincare ingredient, it’s essential to keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun’s beaming rays. Be sure to use a daily sun protection cream rated SPF 30 or greater when wearing niacinamide-containing products.

How Do You Use Niacinamide?

Niacinamide works wonderfully with other skin-loving ingredients such as antioxidants, restoring agents, and other replenishing ingredients. This multi-ingredient approach to skincare is essential because while niacinamide has impressive benefits, your skin needs more than just one ingredient.

Compare the situation to like your diet. As healthy as kale is, if it’s all you ate, you’d be malnourished because your body needs more than one type of nutritious food to survive.

The same is true for the skin – the body’s largest and most exposed organ.

To enjoy most of niacinamide’s benefits, use it topically in the form of a cream, lotion, or serum. Basically anything that will remain in contact with your skin for plenty of time.

Generally, niacinamide can be used at any time of the day and with most other products without issue. For the best results, use the niacinamide product once or twice daily, depending on the formulation.

Serums are usually the strongest and contain the highest concentrations of actives. Be sure to start with low concentrations of niacinamide, though, as high quantities may cause skin irritation.

An excellent combination is using a niacinamide-containing serum with an overnight moisturizing cream containing the ingredient. Start by using niacinamide products every other night for one to two weeks, and then increase to nightly use as tolerated by your skin.

Niacinamide Products to Use

As niacinamide is a trending skincare ingredient, you can find it in many formulas. Here are some of our recommended niacinamide-containing products.

Dermalogica Active Clearing Age Bright Clearing Serum

The active two-in-one Dermalogica Active Clearing Age Bright Clearing Serum helps prevent breakouts while treating visible signs of skin aging. It contains various ingredients to clear the skin, including niacinamide, which works with white shiitake mushroom to promote a brighter, more even skin tone.

The serum also contains another much-loved acne-clearing ingredient, salicylic acid, to reduce breakouts. Not only that but phytoactives known for its ability to survive extreme dehydration hydrates and smooths the skin.

PCA Skin Rebalance

The PCA Skin Rebalance is a nourishing, light moisturizer that calms, hydrates, and soothes normal to sensitive skin. The formula helps to keep skin calm and balanced while powerful antioxidants protect the complexion.

Consisting of a beautifully feather-light texture, the moisturizer contains niacinamide to hydrate the skin, along with borage seed and evening primrose seed oils to calm the skin. Meanwhile, vitamin E strengthens and protects the skin.

Do you want more skincare advice? Learn whether you can use bakuchiol and retinol together here .