What is Niacinamide & Benefits of Niacinamide for Skin

Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, is getting a lot of attention these days, and rightfully so. Niacinamide is one of the best-studied topical ingredients with proven anti-inflammatory and barrier strengthening benefits for skin. Read on to get information directly from The Source about this effective, yet gentle skincare ingredient. 

What is niacinamide?

Niacinamide, aka Vitamin B3, is a crucial vitamin – one of the eight B vitamins – that your body needs every day to properly digest and convert food into energy. You can get your daily intake of vitamin B3 through foods like peppers, legumes, nuts, meats, poultry and fish. 

Benefits of Niacinamide for Skin

• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) improves the moisture barrier
• Regulates oil production 
• Reduces redness
• Refines pores and evens skin tone and hyperpigmentation
• Diminishes fine lines
• Works well with other skincare ingredients and optimizes the results of potent active ingredients

Easy to incorporate into any regimen, there's no excuse to not harness the seemingly endless list of benefits niacinamide has to offer.

Who should use niacinamide skincare?

Nearly all skin types can benefit from niacinamide – especially sensitive, acne-prone and combination skin types. 

Sensitive

For those with sensitive skin, niacinamide gives you main character energy. Niacinamide stimulates ceramides which prevent water loss to strengthen and repair the moisture barrier. Overtime, the skin barrier function is better equipped to retain moisture and resist pathogens. Niacinamide calms inflammation which directly improves the appearance of redness.

It also acts like an antioxidant to stop the chemical chain reaction of free radical activity and prevent destruction from free radicals in the first place. It has even been shown to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles for an overall more radiant-looking complexion. Niacinamide is a holy grail for those with sensitive or compromised skin looking to bring down redness, improve hydration or prevent flare-ups.

Acne-prone

If you have breakouts, niacinamide deserves a place in your routine. It immediately calms redness and brings down inflammation around the breakout area. Niacinamide also helps to regulate oil production, reducing the overproduction of sebum, and keeping natural oils moving smoothly through the lining of pores to prevent blockages. Niacinamide is not drying like other acne ingredients – looking at you benzoyl peroxide – instead it is quite the opposite. It strengthens the skin barrier and helps to reduce breakouts without causing irritation or dryness.

Uneven tone & texture 

For those looking to improve skin tone or texture, niacinamide is a trusted best friend. Niacinamide helps prohibit the transfer of pigment thus reducing hyperpigmentation from surfacing. Since it is an antioxidant, it reduces free radical stress and the symptoms associated like pre-mature lines and wrinkles, dark spots, chronic dryness and uneven texture. Niacinamide improves lipid barrier function to strengthen and repair the moisture barrier for smoother, firmer skin.  

How do I get niacinamide into my routine?

Niacinamide is a team player which is why it’s often formulated with other powerhouse active ingredients. It plays well with vitamin C, retinol and peptides, to name a few, so there is really no reason to add an extra step with a formula for niacinamide all by itself. In fact, a high concentration of this ingredient has the potential to be irritating. Running a marathon a day to stay in shape isn’t necessary. The same is true here – don’t put your skin through the extra work of a highly concentrated niacinamide product. Instead, look for a serum or cream that incorporates niacinamide into a clinically proven product with multiple skin benefits. 

What products should I use?

Look for niacinamide in multi-tasking, collagen-building products for additional barrier support, free radical protection and ultimately, superior results. 

DermInfusions Fill and Repair Serum - This serum fills, plumps and firms skin. Combining niacinamide with hyaluronic acid, peptides and ectoin, this creamy gel formula gives a needle-free, alternative to injectables that works overtime to hydrate skin and restore your moisture barrier while adding volume, controlling redness, and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin C Lactic Dewy Deep Cream –This vitamin C cream is enriched with niacinamide and lactic acid to hydrate, lift, firm and boost radiance. With continued use, this cult-favorite and clinically proven formula strengthens the moisture barrier and reduces signs of sun aging, including the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots.

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