Niacinamide is an excellent ingredient for skin care products since it can: Reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and enhance "orange peel" textured skin
Rebuild skin's ability to fend off dryness and moisture loss

Clearly balance out skin tone and sun damage discolorations
Niacinamide stands out among a select group of other fantastic skin care components, like retinol and vitamin C, due to its adaptability to virtually any skin care issue and skin type.

The conclusions we draw regarding any substance are always based on what the published research has shown to be accurate, as many of you already know, but in case you don't, the study on niacinamide consistently indicates how unique it is. It continues to be one of the most intriguing skin care substances, according to ongoing study.

What is niacinamide?

Niacinamide, also referred to as vitamin B3 and nicotinamide, is a water-soluble vitamin that collaborates with the components of your skin to visibly reduce enlarged pores, tighten lax or stretched-out pores, improve uneven skin tone, soften fine lines and wrinkles, reduce dullness, and strengthen a weakened surface.

Because it enhances the skin's barrier—its first line of defense—and helps the skin heal previous damage, niacinamide also lessens the effects of environmental damage. This kind of everyday assault, if left unchecked, makes skin look older, duller, and less vibrant.

What does niacinamide do for your skin?

Niacinamide is a multifunctional bio-active substance, which enables its abilities. However, it takes a little while for our skin and the surface cells that support it to benefit from this potent form of vitamin B.

Niacinamide is broken down into the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide , a form of this vitamin that our cells can use, after being applied to the skin. It is thought that this coenzyme is what gives niacinamide its positive effects on skin.

Niacinamide skin benefits

Regardless of skin type or skin issue, everyone can incorporate this multifaceted substance to their routine. Niacinamide can undoubtedly benefit everyone's skin, even though some people's skin may have more issues than others. Let's explore the specific issues that niacinamide can aid with now that we've covered it.

Minimizes pore enlargement

The most well-known use of niacinamide is to lessen the appearance of enlarged pores.As we mentioned before, it is unknown how this B vitamin reduces pores, but it appears that niacinamide has the power to normalize the pore lining. This contributes to preventing oil and debris buildup, which causes blockages and rough, bumpy skin.

The pores enlarge as they expand to make up for the clog's growing severity. Niacinamide consumption on a regular basis aids in the natural resizing of pores. Additionally, sun exposure can expand pores, resulting in what some refer to as "orange peel skin". By strengthening the skin's supporting structures, higher niacinamide concentrations can aid in visibly tightening pores, frequently noticeably improving the texture of orange peel.

Extra moisture

Niacinamide also protects the skin's surface from dryness and moisture loss, which are two additional advantages.Skin becomes more susceptible to all kinds of issues, from chronic patches of dry, flaky skin to becoming even more hypersensitive, when essential fatty acids in the skin's barrier known as ceramides gradually diminish.

Niacinamide topical application has been demonstrated to enhance the hydrating capacity of moisturizers, allowing skin's surface to better withstand moisture loss that causes recurrent dryness and flaky texture. Along with glycerin, non-fragrant plant oils, cholesterol, sodium PCA, and sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide is an excellent moisturizer partner.

Brighten skin

How does niacinamide help with skin discolorations and asymmetry?Both issues are caused by too much melanin, or skin pigment, protruding from the skin's surface. Niacinamide prevents the development of new discolorations when present in concentrations of 5% and higher through a number of mechanisms. Additionally, it aids in minimizing the appearance of pre-existing discolorations, making your skin tone appear more even. Niacinamide and tranexamic acid have been demonstrated in studies to perform particularly well together, and as was already noted, they can be combined with other compounds that lighten skin tone, such as all types of vitamin C, licorice, retinol, and bakuchiol.

Uses for niacinamide

Other potent compounds including as peptides, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, BHAs, and all varieties of antioxidants are compatible with niacinamide.As beneficial as niacinamide is, skin requires more than one component to feel and look its best. This multi-item approach to skin care is crucial.

Imagine it as your diet: kale is nutritious, but if that were all you consumed, you would quickly become undernourished since your body requires a variety of healthy foods to remain in good health. The largest (and most exposed) organ of the body, the skin, is similarly true.

Niacinamide addition to skin care regimen

Finding excellent skin care products with niacinamide in them and using them as follows are the simplest ways to use it:
1. Cleanser, Toner and Abrasive
2. Apply the remaining serums, creams, and moisturizers for your skin (including those containing niacinamide) in layers, going from the thinnest to the thickest texture.
3. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 throughout the day.

What is the duration of niacinamide's action?

Generally speaking, depending on the severity of your skin issues and how concentrated your niacinamide product is, you should start to see effects after 2-4 weeks of twice-daily use. For results to be maintained and improvements to be made, ongoing use is necessary.

In spite of the fact that no skin care product can make your skin fully "poreless" and that your skin actually needs its pores for several essential tasks, results will continue to get better over time. Pores that appear smaller, skin tone that appears more even, significantly less fine lines and wrinkles, and an overall healthier glow are what you may anticipate.

Niacinamide side effects

Niacinamide normally aids in calming and promoting the health of the skin and is well tolerated. Niacinamide can, however, for some people, both when applied topically and when taken orally, induce a flushing effect on the skin. According to research, tolerance to niacin-based facial flushing "develops rapidly." Because the niacinamide contains too much free niacin, this flushing reaction happens. Niacin levels in specially purified grades of this substance, such those used by Paula's Choice Skincare, are so negligibly low that they are extremely unlikely to result in this problem.

Recommend niacinamide products

Use niacinamide products designed to be kept on skin (like serums or moisturizers) rather than rinse-off ones (like cleansers), where contact time is restricted, for best benefits.