How to Use Niacinamide- Do’s and Don’ts You Must Know!
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Learn how to give your skin a healthy dose of niacinamide serum or moisturizer for an instant glow with this ultimate guide on how to use niacinamide!
In a world full of retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C, be someone’s niacinamide!
Umm…if you are into skincare, I am sure you must have heard about this not-so-easy-to-pronounce, active skincare ingredient. It is a hell of a multitasker and pampers your skin with truckloads of benefits. However, niacinamide has not yet got the fair share of attention it deserves.
If you are planning to incorporate this magic ingredient into your daily skincare regime and are wondering how to use niacinamide, scroll down and dive deeper.
‘Coz your girl is here once again with an elaborate guide that covers all the Hows, Whys, and Whats of niacinamide. Let’s not waste any more time and dive straight into the details!
Niacinamide – Let’s Know More About This Hero Ingredient!
Niacinamide, or nicotinamide, is a type of Vitamin B3. It is water-soluble in nature and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The best part is that niacinamide is extremely versatile and can be used solely or with suitable formulations. But my personal favorite version of niacinamide is the serum.
Consider niacinamide as your skin BFF. Unlike retinol, vitamin C, and some other ingredients, niacinamide is actually gentle on your skin. Dermatologists are quite crazy about the soothing impact that niacinamide has on your skin.
Niacinamide does occur naturally in your skin. But to get that extra sheen on your skin, you will have to add this miracle ingredient to your everyday skincare routine.
How to Use Niacinamide In Your Daily Skincare Routine?
Here comes the part for which you have been waiting so eagerly!
Use a good quality niacinamide serum/moisturizer on a daily basis:
1. Cleanse your face with a cleanser that targets your issues
Of course, let’s begin by getting rid of all the dirt, makeup, and oil so that your skin can absorb what’s coming for it.
2. pat dry your skin with a soft cloth
Unlike hyaluronic acid, you need completely dry skin for niacinamide, no matter if you’re using a serum or moisturizer. So pat dry all the water with a soft cloth or towel.
3. Apply a toner, if you like
You may not know this but toner isn’t an utmost essential step in your skincare routine. But if your toner is jam-packed with beneficial skincare ingredients like glycolic acid or rose water, then you can incorporate this step as well!
I particularly LOVE the glow I get after applying glycolic acid toner and niacinamide serum.
Take a cotton pad and swipe your face with a toner of your choice. Wait for 15-20 seconds for it absorbs and fires through the next step.
4. now apply niacinamide serum
If you’re using niacinamide in the form of a serum, then this is your cue to take it out. Apply a few drops of a niacinamide serum to your face. Gently massage the serum into your skin, making sure you get complete coverage on cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin, especially focusing on areas where you have specific concerns such as hyperpigmentation or fine lines.
Also, be sure to apply niacinamide before other actives like retinol or vitamin C, as it helps to stabilize them and prevent irritation.
Wait for it to get absorbed deep into your skin. It may take about 1-2 minutes. Do not start with the next step until it gets absorbed fully as it can sometimes conflict with ingredients in following products.
However, if you’re using a niacinamide moisturizer, you can add any antioxidant serum in this step, for instance, a bakuchiol serum or even vitamin C serum
5. seal everything with a moisturizer
Once the niacinamide serum has fully absorbed, apply a moisturizer to your skin. This will help to seal in the niacinamide and provide additional hydration.
Even though niacinamide in itself is quite hydrating, you may still need something thicker to lock everything in.
6. secure it with an SPF
Finish off the regimen with a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or more as niacinamide can make the skin quite photo-sensitive so prevention is always better than cure.
Is it OK to use niacinamide every day?
Nicknamed as a “miracle vitamin”, it is absolutely safe to use niacinamide every day due to its gentle yet effective concentration and wonderous skin benefits.
Niacinamide can help improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, dryness, blotchiness, and uneven texture. It also helps reduce the signs of acne and rosacea, as well as boosts hydration and strengthens the skin barrier.
When should I apply niacinamide?
Niacinamide should be applied in the morning and/or evening after cleansing and before you apply your moisturizer. For best results, use products with a concentration of at least 5%. Start out gradually, using small amounts of the product 2-3 times per week to test your skin’s reactivity, then increase usage if needed.
I use niacinamide every day in the AM as I love to keep the night for more potent and sun-sensitive actives such as salicylic acid or retinol.
Do I need a moisturizer after niacinamide?
Yes, it is important to follow up with a moisturizer after applying niacinamide for two reasons. First, the moisturizer helps to trap and seal in the niacinamide. Second, using a moisturizer completes your skincare routine and helps hydrate and protect your skin.
Can I use niacinamide without sunscreen?
You should always wear sunscreen when using niacinamide. Niacinamide helps to reduce the visible effects of aging due to sun exposure, but it is not a substitute for sunscreen. Make sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before going outside.
How long should I leave niacinamide on my skin?
Ideally, you should not rinse niacinamide off your skin and let it absorb with all your skincare products to work its magic. But if you have to, you must leave niacinamide on your skin for at least 15 minutes before rinsing it off. This will give your skin enough time to absorb niacinamide’s goodness.
Is niacinamide Suitable For All Types Of Skin?
And the best thing about niacinamide is its versatility for all skin types. You can use it no matter the skin type as it can work wonderfully for you all, from dry skin to oily!
How to Combine Other Skincare Ingredients with Niacinamide?
Niacinamide and retinol
When it comes to layering your skincare ingredients, rest assured that niacinamide and retinol can be used together. In fact, the soothing and calming properties of niacinamide counter the irritation caused by retinol. Together, they work magically and offer amazing results on your skin.
Niacinamide and Vitamin C
This is easily one of the most troublesome questions in the skincare industry but here’s the drill.
While old research believed that niacinamide and vitamin C do not go well together, it has been proven now that this was a false alarm! If you’re using a stabilized form for vitamin C with niacinamide, you can safely pair them together in a regime. However, unstabilized types may possess irritation and discomfort.
Dermatologists and skincare enthusiasts recommend layering vitamin C and niacinamide together to get that perfect brightening skin. Both the ingredients work magically to offer that glowing, even skin tone that you have been craving so badly.
Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
If you want to hydrate your skin deeply, then the combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid can be the best for you. You can first apply the hyaluronic serum on your skin and then top it up with your favorite niacinamide serum. Together, they will feel like splashes of water on your dry skin.
Niacinamide and Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a popular BHA acid easily available in the market. It is completely safe to combine niacinamide and salicylic acid to notch up your skincare routine. They both are known for their acne prevention and anti-aging properties. When you combine the two ingredients, sebum secretion gets reduced drastically.
You can either use a salicylic acid-based toner or top it up with niacinamide serum. Or, you can first apply niacinamide serum and then layer it up with salicylic acid-based serum.
What not to mix with niacinamide?
Considering the gentleness of niacinamide, it is not surprising to say that this ingredient works well with all the other actives except unstabilized vitamin C.
What are the Benefits of Adding Niacinamide to Your Skincare Regime?
1. Improved skin barrier function
Niacinamide enhances the barrier functioning of your skin. It works incredibly well in keeping your skin well-moisturized. It reduces the loss of water from the outermost layer of your skin. Also, niacinamide contributes to ceramide and protein building on the epidermis. As a result, your skin can fight against dehydration, pollution as well as irritants.
2. Anti-aging properties
Niacinamide boosts the production of NADP+, thereby contributing towards the repairing and renewing of skin cells. It also helps in microcirculation, enhanced cell turnover, antioxidant protection, and collagen synthesis. Together, all these factors make your skin look youthful, plump, and radiant.
Regular application of niacinamide leads to smoothening of fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Reduced instances of sensitivity and breakouts
Niacinamide is a blessing in disguise for those with sensitive and oily skin types. It not just soothes the irritation and redness on your skin but also controls sebum production. As a result, you will finally get rid of those pesky and unwanted pimples. Your makeup will stay longer on your face and won’t look cakey!
4. Even-toned skin
Niacinamide is quite helpful in bringing down the production of melanin. So, if you are suffering from hyperpigmentation, then you know what to do! By fading away dark spots from your skin, niacinamide offers clean and radiant skin.
Things to Take a Note of While Buying a Niacinamide Product
Concentration of niacinamide
Always look for the concentration of niacinamide in the product you are planning to add to your skincare regime. The concentration of niacinamide in a product should be anywhere between 4% to 5%.
In case the concentration is not mentioned clearly, then do check the label on the product. If it mentions niacinamide at the top of the list of ingredients, this means you are getting a generous amount of niacinamide in the skincare product.
Other ingredients
Now that you know what other ingredients go well with niacinamide, look for the same in the formulation while buying any niacinamide-infused product.
Does niacinamide whiten skin?
Niacinamide can help to lighten the appearance of dark spots on the skin, but it won’t whiten your skin overall. It works by targeting dark spots and blocking the production of melanin in those areas, which helps to reduce their appearance. Niacinamide can also improve skin tone and texture by evening out its color and making it appear smoother.
8 Niacinamide Products Your Skin Would Fall in Love With!
Now that you know about the intricacies of including niacinamide in your skincare routine, let me share a few of my tried-and-tested niacinamide products here. You can get your hands on any of these based on your skin type, budget, expectations, and skin requirements.
1. The Ordinary niacinamide 10% + zinc 1%
The Ordinary is easily one of my first choices when I want a budget-friendly active to try. And this THE niacinamide serum that needs to be in your beauty arsenal!
Not only is this an affordable serum but also light-weight and super gentle – perfect for those of us with sensitive skin! I have been using it for the last couple of weeks and can definitely see a major difference in my skin; the hyperpigmentation from acne has considerably lightened and the redness is reduced too.
2. Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
This product tops my list of favorites because of its unique formulation. Ingredients like vitamin C, allantoin, and licorice roots combine with a 10% concentration of niacinamide to offer multiple skin benefits such as skin tightening, reduction in pore size, fading away of fine lines, and youthful, glowing skin.
What I love the most about this niacinamide product is its lightweight and sheer appearance. You can easily top it up with other relevant serums and moisturizers.
3. Glossier Super Pure
This magical bottle contains a 5% concentration of niacinamide and zinc. It is a superhit formula against acne. Besides, the product hydrates your skin from within and soothes it against irritation and redness.
The formulation is lightweight and water-based. So, it gets absorbed into your skin in no time. Also, it does not feel sticky on your skin when you layer it up with other serums and moisturizers.
4. Olay Regenerist micro-sculpting cream
This is a one-stop solution for all your skin woes. Basically, it is a power-packed moisturizer that includes niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and peptides. Together, these ingredients will keep your skin plump, radiant, and firm. Incorporating this product into your skincare routine can be a total game-changer, lady!
5. Colorscience All Calm Clinical Redness Corrector SPF 50
Yes, I know, babe, it is a hefty deal!
But, but, but….
This one is a multitasker sunscreen. First of all, it is totally gentle on your skin. Besides, niacinamide helps in reducing inflammation and redness in your skin. And the subtle green tint of the sunscreen neutralizes the slightest hint of ruddiness on your skin.
6. GlamGlow InstaMud 60-Second Pore-Refining Treatment
Here’s a purifying mask you will surely fall for!
Babe, you just need to take out 60 seconds from your hectic schedule every day. This purifying mask infused with the goodness of niacinamide makes your skin plump, even-toned and super smooth. Also, the soothing effects of aloe vera help in countering redness or irritation, if any.
7. Glow recipe watermelon glow niacinamide dew drops
This product is an absolute game-changer if you are looking to achieve a dewy, “glass” skin effect. Plus, with ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E added in, it will brighten up those dark spots while giving your complexion a much-needed quench of hydration. Seriously, this serum even works on my exceptionally picky skin – which frankly surprised me!
8. Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner
If you want a toner that caters to your skin issues, try this one! The formulation includes niacinamide and vitamin C and offers radiant, spot-free skin. The toner is equally effective in reducing hyperpigmentation.
Also, it does not dry out or irritate your skin as the toner is alcohol-free. Thus, you can use this product even if you have sensitive or dry skin.
how to use niacinamide In a Nutshell
Babe, if you are the least concerned about your skin, then you must add niacinamide to your skincare routine ASAP! This hidden gem can single-handedly battle multiple skin problems and render soft-to-touch, glowing, and youthful skin to you.
You can easily choose any type of niacinamide-based product – toner, serum, moisturizer, etc., to pamper your skin. Just be consistent with its application, and pair it up with the right ingredients. You will be amazed to see the visible results within 1 to 2 weeks.
Darling, you are blessed with beautiful skin. Be grateful for the boon and nurture it with ingredients that enhance its charm by manifolds. Start using niacinamide along with retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, etc., and keep all your skin woes at bay.
Taking your leave today!
See ya’ll soon!
