What is Niacinamide and its uses?
Known also as Nicotinamide and Vitamin B3. Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that is widely used as a topical treatment for prevention and treatment of skin diseases.
This super hero provides antioxidant effects, helping to protect the cells from oxidative stress and damage, and has the ability to repair damaged DNA.
Niacinamide enhances and protects barrier function preventing water loss via the epidermis and increasing epidermal ceramides and other lipids. This creates resistance to potential harmful topical agents and increases epidermal turnover. When ceramides become depleted, skin becomes susceptible to dry, dehydrated, flaky and sensitive skin, and may worsen symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions such as, eczema and Dermatitis.
Decreases sallowness, redness and blotchiness and possesses anti-inflammatory effects on acne, Rosacea and Psoriasis. Niacinamide reduces lines, wrinkles and rough skin and helps with general anti-ageing.
There are now many studies demonstrating Niacinamides ability to reduce hyperpigmentation. This is due to the suppression of the transfer of melanosomes (pigment granules) into the skin cell. This results in a reduction of pigmentation on the skins surface. Niacinamide has been shown to be almost as effective as hydroquinone in lightening pigmentation.
Niacinamide can help decrease the size of pores and smooth lumpy bumpy skin by regularising the pore lining, preventing sebum and other debris getting trapped. The longer your pore is in the condition, the more enlarged it can become.
Who is Niacinamide suitable for?
Anybody can and should use Niacinamide for as you can see, it is a very impressive vitamin with a multitude of capabilities and is well tolerated by even the most sensitive skin. It is compatible with other skincare ingredient such as Retinol (Vitamin A), Hyaluronic acid, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), L. Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Peptides, AHAs, and BHA. Niacinamide can be found in correct doses in our Refining cleanser, Moisture Shot and Complexion crème,
When should I use Niacinamide?
Niacinamide can be used both morning and night. It may be mixed with other ingredients in which case you should follow instructions on the bottle of how to use correctly. If in a serum form, you would use this before other heavier or cream based products. Always try leave a gap of around 5-10 minutes between application of products to allow for effective absorption of ingredient. This will prevent the active ingredient from becoming diluted.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921764/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3142702/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18492135/