The definitive reasons why your skincare routine needs niacinamide
If niacinamide isn’t on your skincare ingredient watchlist, it needs to be—STAT. Dermatologists, estheticians and influencers of all skin types and tones praise its incredible (and multiple) benefits. The plethora of benefits of niacinamide for skin can range from improving the skin barrier and helping minimize the appearance of pores to treating hyperpigmentation and targeting signs of aging such as fine lines.
If you’ve been asking, “What is niacinamide used for in skincare?” we’re here to help.
What is niacinamide?
Before diving into its benefits in skincare, it’s important to understand what this skincare ingredient is. Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide is an essential nutrient that out skin needs to function and look healthy. Niacinamide is not niacin, despite the similarity in names.
What is niacinamide used for in skincare?
The real question is: what isn’t niacinamide used for in skincare? It’s no surprise that after the ingredient’s TikTok popularity, a topical niacinamide product has become part of almost every skincare routine. Frankly, it’s not hard to understand why—it’s a versatile product that comes to the rescue of almost any skin concern and works for any skin type.
Niacinamide has been shown to help visibly improve the look of pores—an amazing benefit for those with oily-prone skin. In addition to refining skin texture, niacinamide enhances surface cell turnover to improve the look of uneven skin tone while reducing the look of dark spots—three prominent skin concerns experienced by various skin types and tones.
A skincare product containing niacinamide can boost your skin barrier’s function by helping lock in moisture for more hydration and less skin irritation. While this may sound like the magic ingredient for dry skin, it can be just as beneficial for normal and oily skin as every skin type should be receiving the hydration it needs.
Niacinamide also targets key signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, making it an all-star ingredient in rejuvenating skincare formulas. If you’re looking for a way to target visible age spots, niacinamide proves to be an efficacious alternative. When used at a specific percentage over 8 weeks, niacinamide was shown to help reduce the look of age spots.
Niacinamide plays really well with other ingredients. When served as a cocktail with vitamins like B5, B6, B9, and E, it alleviates dryness, helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and soothes skin. Niacinamide also complements vitamin C’s brightening powers to help enhance radiance over time.
Niacinamide has promising prospects when it comes to fighting the visible effects of stress on the skin. And, when paired with caffeine, it helps relieve the look of expression lines, dullness, and loss of vibrancy. A niacinamide serum is a top skincare product pick that can target stress lines and provide instant hydration for glowing skin.
Dermatologists and doctors agree: Yes, it is. But, you should always speak to your medical professional before adding niacinamide to your pregnancy skincare routine.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Murad, and are for informational purposes only, even if the advice of physicians and medical practitioners are included. This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be considered specific medical advice.
