What are the benefits of niacinamide for your skin?

Never heard of niacinamide? Time to change that, because this ingredient is one of the real skincare greats!

What is niacinamide?

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is the ultimate multitasker. Before we get into what exactly is niacinamide, I would like to explain what the skin barrier is exactly.

Under normal circumstances, our skin keeps moisture and oils in and aggressors (such as irritants, pollution...) out. The skin looks calm, clear and balanced and is not sensitive. Our skin barrier will weaken by, among other things. aging, the sun, hormones, use of harsh chemicals... That's why we sometimes need a helping hand - this is where niacinamide comes in. Niacinamide stimulates the production of ceramides, one of the building blocks of our skin barrier. It is water soluble, which means our body cannot store this vitamin, which is why we need to make sure we get our daily dose!

What are the benefits of niacinamide for your skin?

Prepare yourself, the list of benefits will make your jaw drop. Like I said, niacinamide is the ultimate multitasker!

• increases the hydration level of your skin
• protects against free radicals (due to pollution...) that cause skin damage
• is anti-inflammatory, so it soothes redness
• fades hyperpigmentation, age spots etc
• regulates oil production
• improves elasticity
• fades scars, such as acne scars
• reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• increases collagen production, keeps skin young

When do I start taking niacinamide?

I would recommend taking niacinamide around your 25th birthday. If you have acne or skin with a lot of pimples, you can use it sooner!

I have sensitive skin, can I still take niacinamide?

Well, the story gets even better because everyone can use it. Even the most sensitive skin types. All ages and all skin types can benefit from niacinamide.

For oily/acne prone skin: enjoy the oil production regulating benefits and it also helps soothe those painful red pimples

For sensitive skin: it will help calm inflammation and keep your skin hydrated.

How do I take niacinamide?

You can use it once or twice a day (morning & evening) & during all seasons. Especially during the winter months - the central heating can dry out your skin. You can also safely use it around the eyes.

It is easy to add niacinamide to your daily skin care routine, because niacinamide is in all kinds of skin care products, such as day creams, serums, cleansers... Serums often have the highest concentration of niacinamide.

Can niacinamide cause sun sensitivity?

No, but there's no reason not to use SPF during the day. Feel free to apply extra SPF!

Can I use niacinamide in combination with other ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C or salicylic acid?

Think of your skin like a diet. Your skin needs more than one healthy product to nourish itself and stay in top shape. Niacinamide can be combined with a variety of other ingredients, depending on your skin type. Niacinamide can be used safely with all ingredients in your skin care routine.

You can think of niacinamide and retinol as a power duo. They can be safely used together, even better, they reinforce each other!

Niacinamide and Vitamin C can also be used (safely) together! They will not make each other less effective, on the contrary. They make the skin clear, radiant and more even.

You can also take niacinamide with salicylic acid. No worries! It is also safe to use with other AHA & BHA acids.

How long does it take for niacinamide to work?

As with all skin care products, don't expect big changes right away. It may give some immediate effects, but it will take about 8-12 weeks before you will notice it. Go for products with 5% niacinamide, nothing less. You can use a higher percentage, but keep in mind that they can be irritating (like all ingredients used in high doses).

What are the best niacinamide products?

We have been fond of niacinamide for a long time. I'll highlight a few of my favorites!