How does Niacinamide help the skin? Let's break it down for you!

Not one, two, or three; the benefits are too many!

If there’s one ingredient in the skincare universe that’s worthy of your time, money and attention, it is ‘Niacinamide’. Amidst what the industry terms as ‘cosmetic confusion’, one ingredient that stands to be both effective and non-reactive is Niacinamide. Because of its properties, this ingredient is extremely versatile in its approach to treat the skin. Niacinamide is known to treat and improve the appearance if applied at regular intervals. But what makes it one of the most chosen ingredients in products? Let’s find out.

What is Niacinamide and why do you need it?

Consisting of Vitamin B3 and nicotinamide, Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that goes deep within the surface of your skin. To kickstart with its benefits, Niacinamide visibly minimizes enlarged pores, it tightens lax pores (weakened or damaged pores that support collagen, which makes the pores looked stretched and prominent), corrects uneven skin tone, regulates sebum production, strengthens skin moisture barrier (which is extremely essential especially right now, we all need a strong barrier to help prevent maskne), and softens fine lines that may appear on the face. It also works towards improving stubborn dullness and improve the overall skin texture.

Niacinamide is also touted as a versatile skin ingredient because it suits almost all skin types. So, whether you have dry, combination, sensitive, or oily skin, this ingredient promises to deliver only the best. If you’re someone who is suffering from eczema, severe acne or inflamed skin in general, this is an ingredient you want to have in your skincare products. For individuals with an oily skin type, trust Niacinamide to be your magic potion as it helps in regulating sebum production, which in turn helps to prevent congested pores, comedones, black heads and the like from forming.

Additionally, Niacinamide has a very big role to play in reducing redness, inflammation and scarring thanks to zinc that’s present in it. When it comes to dry skin, a topical application of Niacinamide can help boost your skin with hydration and moisture. A regular application of Niacinamide does solve the ‘No-tight-and-flaky-skin' issue many individuals face almost every day. Moisture loss is common amongst those in the dry skin club and retaining it is just a step away with this hero ingredient.

Niacinamide is also available in several forms like creams, serums, cleansers, toners and so on. As per experts, serums and oils that have a higher concentration of ingredients help combat skin concerns faster and more effectively. Niacinamide is also a water concentrate which means that it’s capability to get absorbed in the skin is faster. Each product has a specific percentage of Niacinamide in it which is believed to be apt for skins across the board. While it can vary from product to product, going overboard with it doesn’t essentially mean faster results. A minimum of 5% and a maximum of 10% of Niacinamide in products is ideal. We’d urge you to speak with your health care provider for more information if you wish to increase it. Apart from a patch test that’s basic in identifying if a product works for you, we at Founders Beauty believe that your skin’s healing is a gradual process and not an objective you can achieve overnight.

For many, their skincare routine could include active ingredients other than Niacinamide. The dilemma of including another active ingredient with another is real but we call Niacinamide a versatile ingredient for a reason. It’s capability to blend with other ingredients is impeccable. According to a Seattle-based board-certified dermatologist Brandith Irwin, “Niacinamide is a unique skin-care ingredient that gets along with most other commonly used products, including retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, and other antioxidants.” There’s just one exception to this. Vitamin C and Niacinamide don’t go well together as the latter can reduce the effectiveness of Vitamin C. It is always advised to use the two separately. Lastly, using it in the morning or evening is a decision that is up to you, all we would say is if you’re using it at night follow it up with moisturizer, and in the day do moisturizer and sunscreen.