How to Use Niacinamide In Skincare

If you’ve ever looked through the ingredients on the back of a skincare product, you probably saw niacinamide listed. Niacinamide is a byproduct of the nutrient niacin (also known as vitamin B3), and it helps the body process fats and sugars. This naturally occurring chemical is in many popular foods, such as meat, dairy products, and green vegetables. It helps with overall cell health and can help treat skin conditions like pellagra.¹

When used regularly in skincare, niacinamide can improve the skin’s overall look. It’s gentle enough to be safe for people with sensitive skin while also pairing well with ingredients like retinol.

How Does Niacinamide Work?

Niacinamide helps improve the look of the skin. It can stimulate the production of keratin, a protein that helps maintain skin health. Combined with being gentler than salicylic acids or retinol, this stimulation can make skin look smoother and brighter.

Choosing a Niacinamide Skincare Product

There are no prescription options for niacinamide. It’s available in a wide range of over-the-counter products at different concentrations. Studies show it’s most effective at concentrations between 2% and 10%.²

Niacinamide tends to be more effective if it has time to absorb into the skin, so look for serums and moisturizers with niacinamide as an ingredient. Apply the serum before eye creams and moisturizers to get maximum effect. If you find it irritates your skin, cut back usage and talk to your dermatologist about possible negative side effects from combining different products.

When to Use Niacinamide in Your Skincare Routine

You can use niacinamide as part of your morning or evening skincare routine, or even at both times of day. Using it effectively can address several skin concerns.

For one, niacinamide helps prevent the signs of aging before they are visible by slowing the development of lines and wrinkles. It may also improve the skin’s structure, slowing other visible signs of aging. 

Additionally, niacinamide can prevent excessive pigmentation that leads to blemishes or discoloration. Products that combine niacinamide and ingredients such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, arbutin, and soy are more effective than single ingredients for reducing unwanted pigmentation.³ 

You can safely combine niacinamide with prescription-strength retinoids. The skin barrier protection niacinamide offers can make retinoids less irritating. Talk to your dermatologist about combining niacinamide products with prescription skincare products.⁴

Finally, there’s evidence that niacinamide can help with treating acne. It has anti-inflammatory effects, so it may reduce redness and inflammation associated with rosacea or eczema.⁵

Talk to your dermatologist if you want to know more about incorporating niacinamide into your skincare routine.   

Sources:

1. MedLine Plus: “Niacinamide.”  
2. Self: “What Niacinamide Can Do For Your Skin.” 
3. Byrdie: “Niacinamide Is the Brightening Ingredient Derms Want You to Use.” 
4. Self: “What Niacinamide Can Do For Your Skin.” 
5. Cleveland Clinic: “Benefits of Niacinamide.”