Everything you need to know about Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a B3 vitamin that is water soluble. The good news is that it is appropriate for nearly everyone. When you eat a well-balanced diet, you get B vitamins from foods like eggs, milk, cereal, and fish, which gives your skin a boost. Keep in mind that everything comes from within.

Ceramides

First, I want to talk a little about ceramides. Ceramides are lipids (oil) found naturally in the skin and essential in supporting the skins barrier to retain moisture. Without ceramides the skin becomes dry and itchy. When we are young the skin produces plenty of ceramides, but as we get older - from environmental damage and especially sun damage our ceramides become depleted over time leaving the skin vulnerable to all sorts of problem's - dry flaky skin, and over sensitive skin. When ceramides levels are low the skins barrier is weakening allowing water to escape leaving the skin dehydrated. This allows external aggressors such as pollution to enter. Ceramides boost our barrier therefore allowing our skin to tolerate stronger ingredients like vitamin A (Retinol). Niacinamide helps to protect our ceramides.

Benefits of Niacinamide

Niacinamide is well tolerated by most skin types 

Dry skin – Increases the production of ceramides. Its Especially good for eczema. Hydrates our skin.    

Pigmentation - Reduces the transfer of the pigment melanin from the pigment cells melanocytes into the skin cells – post inflammatory marks from blemishes - Lightens dark spots. 

Acne – Anti-inflammatory - helps to diminish scars - decreases sebum production preventing congestion - reduces spots 

Rosacea /sensitive - Improves redness - blotchy skin - reduces inflammation.  

Anti-aging - protects the skin from the sun - minimizes fine lines and wrinkles - Skin Cancer prevention.  

Protects - the skin from oxidative stress (sunlight, environment, pollution)- Helps build protein cells in the skin (collagen) – builds proteins to keep it firm and healthy. 

Pores - prevents dead skin cells from building up. As dead skin cells clog pores, they stretch them leading to enlarged pores. Helps pores return to the right size. Sun damage can cause pores to become stretched.  

Brightening - If your skin is too sensitive for brightening ingredients then this is perfect for you - evening out skin tone to improve texture 

Eye cream - Improve's crow's feet - lines and wrinkles - under eye bags

How to use Niacinamide 

Niacinamide can be found in face masks, cleansers, toners, moisturizers, eye creams and serums.   

Apply it after toning and before a moisturiser

Allow to absorb into the skin

Can be used with other products

Apply twice daily

May take 2/3 months to see improvement 

Products to use with Niacinamide

It works very well with other ingredients. 

Retinol – reduces the number of ceramides on the skin so you can pre-treat with niacinamide if you are prone to dryness. 

Hyaluronic acid - increase absorption  

Vitamin C  

Antioxidants

AHA + BHA 

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope you can take something from it.

Chloe x