Niacinamide
Niacinamide features in many different beauty products but what is it and how does it benefit your skin and hair?
About Niacinamide
A form of Vitamin B3, niacinamide is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient. In skincare, it helps to lock in moisture and reduce redness for a clear and radiant complexion while, applied to hair, its hydrating, keratin-boosting properties encourage growth for strong and healthy locks.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is niacinamide? Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that works alongside essential nutrients found in the body. It is involved in 200 enzymatic reactions in the organism. However, unlike other ingredients in skin care and hair products – i.e., hyaluronic acid and ceramides – niacinamide isn’t something that we produce naturally. So, in order to reap the benefits, it needs to be ingested either through foods that are rich in it (beef, poultry, fish, nuts, avocados, whole grains) and dietary supplements, or applied topically through skin and hair products. -
What exactly does niacinamide do for skin? Honestly, the list of things that niacinamide is good for is almost endless: not only does it work to strengthen the skin barrier, even out the overall appearance of skin tone and texture, it can also soothe skin and even reduce redness caused by spots or breakouts, as well visibly minimizing and tightening pores. It is also helps reduce sebum production, and when it comes to signs of acne, niacinamide helps improve the skin’s overall appearance and quality.
And of course, niacinamide is a powerful ingredient when it comes to helping improve the appearance of pigmentation by working as an antioxidant and a soothing agent, while also limiting melanin formation.
The best part, though, is that niacinamide is well tolerated by almost all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin. People often ask if niacinamide can be combined with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, retinol or glycolic acid. Formulated at an optimal dosage, it can be used in tandem with the majority of other ingredients in your existing routine, including vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, AHAs and BHAs. Plus, in some cases it is a complementary ingredient that can help boost the overall efficacy of the products you’re using, especially where pigmentation, dark spots or discoloration are concerned. It can even be used around the eyes to help ensure that delicate skin stays as smooth, firm and hydrated as possible. -
Does niacinamide work on hair, too? Definitely! B3 is a known effective ingredient in many hair care products such as shampoos, conditioners, leave-in hair treatments, masks and serums. It’s also safe for all types and textures of hair, but it produces more visible results on people with thinning or fine hair. Niacinamide is not only said to make hair stronger, but it also contributes to healthy hair growth.
Since it’s capable of soothing the skin by restoring moisture, it can be very beneficial for people experiencing inflammatory conditions of the scalp. And its actions on the skin that curb sebum production mean it can also aid in balancing oil on the scalp.
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How often can niacinamide be used? How do you use niacinamide? Just when you thought the benefits of niacinamide couldn’t get any better, we’re about to prove that they can. While some skin care ingredients should only be used once a day or just a couple of times a week, our formulas containing niacinamide, like the serum or moisturizer, can be used morning and evening. In fact, it can do its best work when used twice daily, and it usually takes around four weeks to see results, sometimes even less.
As for using niacinamide on your hair, we recommend applying a leave-in serum or cream once a day. Just work it into your daily routine, even on days when you don’t shampoo. Over time, daily use of niacinamide has visible effects on your hair and scalp, so be sure to use it regularly.