Like all trending skincare ingredients, Niacinamide hit the market quickly and we haven’t been able to live without it since. The trick is knowing how to incorporate it into your skincare routine and get the best results. It’s easier than you think.
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is essentially a water-soluble form of Vitamin B3, one of a variety of vitamins found naturally in the body. When applied topically to the skin, Niacinamide can increase cellular energy and support cell turnover, making the skin look more radiant. Rich in antioxidants, it also protects the outer layer of the skin from free radicals, which can damage the skin and cause premature aging, uneven skin tone, and impaired collagen production. With a strengthened skin barrier, your face will also look plumper and more youthful, as Niacinamide locks in moisture while keeping bacteria out. We’ll now ask you some of the most common questions about how to incorporate Niacinamide into your daily routine and what benefits you can expect. Don’t forget, you can always learn more about Niacinamide and its skincare benefits on the blog.
Should Niacinamide be applied before or after moisturizer?
Since niacinamide occurs naturally in the body, it is a skin care ingredient that you can incorporate into your daily regimen without having to worry too much about it not being right for your skin type. You will also find it commonly found in serums or other treatment products such as face masks.
Deciding which product to use with niacinamide will help determine where you should use it in your daily routine to reap the full benefits.
Niacinamide-rich skin serum
Cleanse your skin from makeup and bacteria
Use a facial toner to remove any remaining dirt
Exfoliate (2-3 times per week, depending on skin type)
Use a serum containing niacinamide
Apply a moisturizer
Don’t forget to factor in sun protection into your daily routine
Niacinamide-rich face masks
Cleanse your skin from makeup and bacteria
Use a facial toner to remove any remaining dirt
Apply a niacinamide-rich face mask
Use your moisturizer of choice
Don’t forget to use SPF in your morning routine
As you can see in both routines, niacinamide is used before moisturizer. This is because it is considered a very potent ingredient and should be used before a heavy, creamy moisturizer to reap the benefits of incorporating it into your daily skincare routine. Serums penetrate the epidermis of the skin and are considered an important step in your daily regimen if you want to treat skin issues like fine lines, uneven skin tone, or dull complexion. These issues benefit more from topical serums that are rich in powerful ingredients like niacinamide. Serums usually have a light consistency and are sometimes gel-like and must be applied before moisturizer so that they can absorb into the skin without any hindrance. Combine a serum with a moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type to create an effective skin combination. This means that while the serum works on the underlying layers of the skin, the moisturizer forms a protective layer for the skin to keep it balanced with a healthy barrier.
As far as sheet masks are concerned, they are the ultimate step in your daily self-care routine and are very useful for boosting skin hydration. Leaving the mask on your face for about 20 to 30 minutes allows the ingredients to be better absorbed by the skin. Using a sheet mask is ideal if you want quick results and a noticeable change in your skin tone. However, if you are looking for overall long-term results, then buying a powerful serum with niacinamide will give you the best results.
Should I use niacinamide in the morning or at night?
It really depends on you and your daily routine. Some people don’t have time in the morning and therefore have to skip a step or two. Others, on the other hand, prefer to invest more time and impact in their evening routine to counteract the damage done during the day. Ideally, you would use niacinamide in the morning and evening, but life is busy and you’ll see results from using niacinamide before you start to get bothered by a busy day, twice or once a day.
What works best with niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a vitamin that is present in the body, so it usually works well with other ingredients in skincare. Still, it’s always a good idea to use a combination of ingredients that suits your skin type. For people prone to redness and sensitivity, using niacinamide and vitamin C together can cause skin irritation. This effect may fade after about 20 minutes, but keep in mind that such an effect on the skin may develop into further problems over time.
To avoid problems, it’s recommended to switch up skin ingredients, such as: B. Use a vitamin C-rich product in the morning and a niacinamide serum at night. This way, you get the best of both worlds without overloading your skin.
Can sensitive skin use niacinamide?
As mentioned above, niacinamide as an ingredient is generally easy to incorporate into your daily routine without too much worry. However, due to the nature of sensitive skin, it is recommended to consult a doctor or dermatologist to ensure that using products containing niacinamide will not cause a rash or skin irritation. When introducing this ingredient into your daily routine, start with products with a lower concentration (2%) to allow your skin to build up a tolerance, and you may find that other skin conditions (such as eczema) benefit entirely from a lower concentration.
Hopefully, you now know more about how to incorporate niacinamide into your skincare routine. Since it works well with other ingredients and benefits all skin types, it will be hard to imagine your skincare routine without it.
