admin 1. Niacinamide strengthens the skin’s defenses: If your body’s a nightclub, your skin is the doorman. Niacinamide stops riff raff from ruining the good vibes by counteracting the effects of toxins (like, say, air pollution), UV rays, and bacteria.
2. Niacinamide brings a clearer complexion: Dermatology pros call it a skincare “smoother,” which sounds like a mafioso job played by Joe Pesci, but actually refers ro niacinamide’s ability to improve your skin’s appearance. Specifically, by minimizing the appearance of pores, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, and lessening hyperpigmentation such as dark spots and acne marks.
3. Niacinamide helps regulate oil production: If you’re struggling with frustratingly oily skin, there’s no substitute for a toner or salicylic acid. That said, as an everyday (multiple-times-a-day) ingredient, niacinamide helps regulate sebum, which leads to fewer clogged pores or unsightly lens flares when your shiny forehead catches the light in a Zoom meeting.
4.Niacinamide can reduce redness: Add “anti-inflammatory” to the wonder ingredient’s resumé. Niacinamide helps your skin recover from razor burn and softens the effects of conditions like rosacea or inflammatory acne. For the latter you should still talk to a dermatologist about more targeted treatments, but making sure your everyday regimen brings some niacinamide to the fight should help.
How to add niacinamide to your regimen
For what are now obvious reasons, niacinamide shows up in just about every category of product you’ll find lining the skincare aisle. It’s worth knowing that the generally-accepted effective concentration is around 5%, going no lower than 2% to get niacinamide’s benefits. Anything 10% and above is pretty aggressive, and could lead to effects like over-eager oil production or redness unless you’re using the product to tackle a specific condition. At that level, it’s worth talking to your dermatologist first. And remember to be patient: as with many of skincare’s most helpful active ingredients, you’ll start seeing results in a month or two (with continued improvement) so long as you stay consistent.
Moisturizers
Plenty of daily moisturizers contain small concentrations of niacinamide, which makes them an easy way to get a little of the ingredient’s good work in your everyday regimen. Particularly if you’re prone to redness or irritation, like from shaving.
Targeted Serums
If you want what niacinamide’s offering, find a deep-penetrating serum like Drunk Elephant’s, with its 5% concentration. As with any serum, apply it before your moisturizer at least once a day (but why not twice?). Serums more effectively into skin, getting all those vitamin B3 blessings down where they can work harder.
Night Creams
Too many men are missing out on the benefits of an overnight moisturizer. Like highway crews laying asphalt at one a.m., night creams—traditionally denser and more nutrient-packed than daytime moisturizers—get more work done by boosting your skin’s natural overnight regeneration and healing.
Targeted Treatments
Whether you have a single pesky dark spot or you’d just like an all-over more even complexion, work a niacinamide-augmented spot treatment into your lineup. Apply it to clean skin after a serum (if you’re using one)(and you should) but before any moisturizer, night cream, or SPF. Not to be a broken record, but expect a month or more before you see the effects—but you will get there if you keep up with the plan.
Dark Spot Patches
Similar to acne patches, these stickers pump a high concentration of ingredients into a single spot to fast-track fading. In the case of Peace Out’s microneedle patches, four applications over two weeks should noticeably brighten spots.
Eye Creams
The thin, fragile skin around your eyes needs more than what a daily moisturizer can offer. Niacinamide’s smoothing, soothing effect really comes in handy here.
Boosters
No need to overhaul your skincare regimen or ditch medicine cabinet favorites: boosters are a DIY way to add niacinamide to a product you own and love. Just mix a drop or two into a moisturizer or serum.
Fortified Concealers
The best concealers aren’t there to just cover up the problem—they’re part of the solution, fuel your skin’s rejuvenation with active ingredients like niacinamide.
