Here's Why And How To Use Niacinamide In Your Skin Routine

Niacinamide may not garner as much attention as retinol and vitamin C, but the skincare powerhouse is an unsung champion that deserves equal recognition. It is the epitome of a multitasker, providing a slew of distinct advantages that make it an excellent choice for a wide range of skin types and complexion difficulties. However, adding it into your current skincare routine is not easy. Is it OK to combine niacinamide with vitamin C and/or retinol? Is hyaluronic acid a good option? We weigh in on everything you need to know about using niacinamide and provide our best product recommendations.

What exactly is niacinamide?

Simply defined, it's a B vitamin, one of two types of vitamin B3, and it's engaged in a variety of vital cellular functions in the skin.

What advantages does it provide for the skin?

Buckle up, because this is going to be a long list. Niacinamide is an excellent choice for acne-prone skin. Niacinamide decreases sebum production, which can help prevent acne as well as reduce shine. The vitamin is also recognised for its anti-inflammatory properties, which are effective in the treatment of acne as well as disorders such as eczema.

Niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, which is beneficial to persons with eczema and sensitive skin. It's also an excellent skin lightening agent, treating hyperpigmentation by preventing pigment transfer from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes to skin cells on the surface where discolouration is apparent.

As if that weren't enough, there's evidence that niacinamide can assist to minimise wrinkling and photoaging by ensuring cell function and repairing DNA damage. To summarise, there isn't much that niacinamide can't do.

Is it OK to combine niacinamde and retinol?

Yes! In fact, retinol and niacinamide are a suggested combination for faster results. Niacinamide's soothing properties can also help to mitigate the undesirable side effects and irritation that frequently accompany retinol's wrinkle-fighting magic.

Is it compatible with other ingredients?

As a general rule, yes, which is why it's featured in many skincare products and is simple to incorporate into your current routine. Because of its acne-fighting properties, niacinamide is frequently combined with salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that is commonly found in acne products. Combining niacinimadie's oil-removal abilities with salicylic acid's capacity to breakdown excess oil is an excellent approach to keep pores clear and breakouts at bay.

Because of its anti-inflammatory and skin barrier-strengthening properties, niacinamide is an excellent choice to mix with alpha-hydroxy acids, which are chemical exfoliants that can cause skin irritation. Combining these improves the efficiency of the niacinamide since the AHAs exfoliate the dead skin cells that would otherwise make it difficult for the niacinamide to enter. Finally, because both niacinamide and hyaluronic acid can aid with dryness, they are frequently combined.

What is the one element on which the jury is still out? Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Because vitamin C can inactivate niacinamide, it is best to separate the applications by 15 minutes. In reality, the two would have to be heated in order to negatively interact, and more and more cosmetics are mixing the two in skin-brightening compositions. The main line is that if you use a product that has both vitamin C and niacinamide, it has most likely been particularly developed to function together. However, if you're using two different products with these ingredients, wait 15 minutes between applications or use one in the morning and the other in the evening.

Should I be using niacinamide?

In a nutshell, sure. One of the best things about niacinamide is not only the long list of benefits it provides, but also how well it is tolerated, especially by those with sensitive skin. This makes it an appealing option for those whose skin may be sensitive to more typical acne or skin lightening ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or retinoids.