In the last years, Niacinamide has taken the skin care world by storm. So much so that it can be challenging to find any product WITHOUT it. But is it actually worth the hype? Or is it simply a trend that will fade?
I’ll show you why Niacinamide is really one of the greatest ingredients in skin care if you’re using it right. So let’s get into the good stuff!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
What is Niacinamide?
First of all, let’s clarify what Niacinamide is. No, it’s not some random chemical the beauty lab rats created. It is actually something your body makes itself!
You might have heard about it under the name Nicotinamide as well. Basically, it is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3.
So why not just eat right and take some Niacinamide supplements, you might wonder. Honestly, you’re super likely to get enough of it through your diet. Unless your doctor tells you to take it for specific reasons, there’s no reason to take it orally.
However, using it on your skin topically will still give you some amazing skin benefits you’d miss out on otherwise!
What does Niacinamide do for the skin?
So what does this vitamin do for the skin when used topically?
Awesomely, Niacinamide has several really useful skin benefits. By locking in moisture, boosting collagen production and protecting your skin from irritants, it acts as your skin’s new best friend.
Especially for acne sufferers, the long-term effects of Niacinamide can be unbelievably helpful.
Related: Does Niacinamide actually help with acne?
Read the list of benefits of niacinamide on the skin below and tell me you don’t want to immediately use it!
Benefits of Niacinamide on the skin
- Skin hydration
- Acts as anti-inflammatory agent
- Improves skin barrier
- Anti-aging effect
- Regulates sebum production
- Reduces hyperpigmentation
Related: The best skin care products for treating acne scars
How to use Niacinamide
So what’s the best way to use Niacinamide in your skin care routine to reap all the benefits?
As usual with skin care products, we need to look at the type of product, frequency of use, and how to combine it with other products aka layering.
Let’s get started!
What type of Niacinamide product should you use?
With the sheer amount of products containing Niacinamide, it can be hard to decide for the right product for you. Especially if you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg trying them out.
Personally, I like for my “actives” to be in serum form. This way I can have a highly concentrated version of whichever ingredient I’m working with.
Related: What’s the difference between a serum and a toner?
For Niacinamide, having it in serum form makes even more sense because it is water-soluble. So a water-based serum will help with absorption. Neat, isn’t it?
Another benefit of having a dedicated Niacinamide serum is the fact that you can tell if your skin likes it or not. Products with lots of different ingredients can sometimes be aggravating to your skin but you won’t know which ingredient is the offender.
Related: Niacinamide products to try in 2022: creams, serum & toner
How much concentration of Niacinamide should I use?
While shopping for Niacinamide products you’ll notice the different percentages of Niacinamide in products. So which concentration is right for you?
Well, generally speaking, Niacinamide concentrations of up to 5% have shown to not irritate the skin and concentrations of up to 10% “produced no stinging sensation”.
However, if you have very sensitive skin, you definitely don’t want to start with a 10% concentration. You will see benefits from lower percentages as well and you don’t want to overstimulate your skin from the get go!
Unfortunately, so far there are no good studies comparing the effectiveness of different Niacinamide concentrations. But the studies linked above show how the benefits of Niacinamide can be had with lower concentrations.
In short: does more Niacinamide help more? MAYBE. We don’t know yet.
So, again, if you have sensitive skin, stick to the lower concentrations of up to 5%.
To make it super easy for you, I’ve research several products with different Niacinamide concentrations. Here’s my list, from lowest to highest!
Serum with 2% Niacinamide
It’s not that easy to find products with a 2% concentration of Niacinamide. But I found one!
This serum carries 2% of Niacinamide in Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract. (That is Chinese quince, an astringent, in case you were wondering.)
I’ve heard of this ingredient as a conditioner, both for your hair and your skin. However, I haven’t personally tried it yet.
If you do, definitely let me know how you like it! I’m curious, it sounds great!
You can get the 2% Niacinamide serum here!*
Related: The best facial serum for Gua Sha by skin type
Serum with 5% Niacinamide
A super popular serum with 5% Niacinamide concentration is this product from Bauer Beauty.
You might’ve stumbled upon it on TikTok or Instagram. Unfortunately, as with many trendy products, it can be quite difficult to get it. Many times, this product is simply out of stock from the insane demand.
You might have to check several times to be able to order it. But if you do, it’ll be worth it!
This serum is fragrance-free, meaning even sensitive skin will love it.
Check here* to see if it’s in stock right now!
Serum with 10% Niacinamide
Am I exaggerating when I say this one is the product that started the hype? Probably not!
This serum from The Ordinary took the skin care world by storm – and rightfully so. It is very affordable and comes from a company that seriously revolutionised skin care affordability and transparency. They will tell you if something’s not good for your skin type instead of selling as much as possible.
Anyway, this is the product I personally use. For super sensitive or dry skin, the concentration might be too much, but for me it works.
I recommend getting the product from the source directly, as, unfortunately, there are quite a few fakes out there.
How often should you use it?
The best way to see results with Niacinamide is to use it daily. Depending on your other skin care products, you might even want to use it both in the mornings and the evenings. (More on layering below!)
Again, if you have sensitive skin, start out with the “soft” version, and then ramp up the frequency. If your skin deals well with daily application, you can then try out twice daily.
Related: Which skin care tools for your face actually help?
How to layer Niacinamide?
Now, I’m assuming you use other products in your skin care routine as well. So you gotta know when to use Niacinamide in your skin care routine.
If you’re using a serum, you want to apply it before your moisturiser, face oil and sun screen. This makes sure that the active ingredient can actually reach the skin.
Related: Which is the best facial oil for Gua Sha massage?
Also, adding at least moisturiser and sun screen later helps locking the Niacinamide in, as those products can work as occlusives.
Additionally, you can make the effect of the Niacinamide stronger by applying a Hyaluronic acid serum BEFORE the Niacinamide.
Hyaluronic acid has the amazing effect of helping other skin care ingredients be more effective.
Related: Your complete guide to using Hyaluronic acid in your skin care
Which products not to combine Niacinamide with?
In general, Niacinamide is pretty safe to combine with other ingredients.
However, if you love yourself a Vitamin C serum in your skin care, you might want to use it at a different time than the Niacinamide serum. One in the morning and one in the evening, for example.
The reason for this is that Niacinamide can affect the effectiveness of Vitamin C. And why waste some perfectly good product?
Related: Ideas for the best Skincare Xmas gifts in 2022
How long until you see results?
So how long will it take for you to see all the amazing benefits of Niacinamide?
Don’t be mad. It’s not “put it on and your skin is amazing immediately”. In fact, it will take several weeks of using it daily to notice improvements.
But, take it from someone with really “difficult” skin – it is so worth it!
Your pores will be finer and your skin tone will be brighter and more even. I promise!
Does Niacinamide lighten skin?
Let’s go back to that skin tone for a second. Does that mean that Niacinamide can lighten your skin?
Kind of, yes. Specifically, it can “reduce the appearance of irregular pigmentation”, more than sun screen alone.
So yeah, it does have a skin brightening effect. This is one of the reasons why it is such an amazing weapon against acne scarring, specifically hyperpigmentation!
Totally worth the hype!
So yeah, in conclusion: Niacinamide is totally worth the hype and really easy to integrate into your skin care routine. Just be careful to not use too high of a concentration!
I hope this was helpful to you. If it was, I’d love if you could share this with someone else!
*These links are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
