What Does Niacinamide Do: 5 Niacinamide Benefits

You may have heard about niacinamide – a common skincare ingredient – but what is it, and what does it do, exactly? In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of niacinamide skincare, explore how it can help you and your skin and find out how you can incorporate the vitamin into your skincare routine.  

What is niacinamide? 

Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin. You might know it as vitamin B3, while it’s also sometimes called nicotinamide. It works alongside the natural substances that are already in your skin and has anti-ageing properties. It’s found in a variety of foods, from meat and fish to vegetables and eggs, while it’s also used in skincare products.  

Niacinamide benefits: What does niacinamide do?

1. Helps skin retain moisture 

Niacinamide helps the skin grow a lipid barrier, retaining more moisture. While this is beneficial for all skin types, it’s particularly helpful for people with mature skin or eczema.  

2. Minimises the appearance of large pores 

Niacinamide helps to keep your skin smooth and moisturised, which can lead to the size of your pores decreasing over time. 

3. Regulates oil production 

As well as retaining moisture, niacinamide helps to regulate the amount of oil produced by your sebaceous glands, making sure they don’t produce too much and give you oily skin. 

4. Helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines 

Another benefit of niacinamide is that it can reduce signs of ageing like fine lines and wrinkles, when used over a longer period of time. 

5. Helps build keratin in the skin 

Keratin is a protein that helps to keep skin, hair, and nails strong and healthy. While our bodies produce keratin naturally, niacinamide helps to build it up. As we age, our bodies tend to produce less keratin, making niacinamide a valuable ingredient in anti-ageing skincare products. 

How to use niacinamide 

Fortunately, if you’re wondering how to use niacinamide, it’s simple. You’ll find this form of vitamin B3 in a range of skincare products alongside other helpful and active ingredients. You can apply leave-on products to cleansed skin or try treatments that target particular skin concerns like large pores or bumps. 

There are niacinamide products that specifically target the eyes too. These products can help address circles under the eye, loss of firmness, and crow’s feet. 

While it can vary from product to product, you might expect to see results from two to four weeks after using niacinamide skincare twice a day, but ongoing use is best if you want to see continued improvement. 

Niacinamide in face serums 

Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid  

Active ingredients niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are a powerhouse pair which work together to strengthen and hydrate all skin types. Both help to improve the look, feel and function of the skin barrier, so your skin can work more effectively. A healthy skin barrier means there's less water loss, no sensitive skin areas and skin texture is smoother, stronger and looks more even with less blemishes and no irritation. All skin types from oily skin to dry skin can achieve radiance and smoothness with this powerhouse pair. You'll find the effective combo in our Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum alongside vitamin C and ferulic acid. 

FAQ 

• Can you use niacinamide with retinol? 

It’s safe to use niacinamide with retinol, and the combination can benefit your skin. Retinol is a form of retinoid, derived from vitamin A. As it’s so effective, it’s a common ingredient in many skincare products. 

• Can you use azelaic acid with niacinamide?  

You can use niacinamide with azelaic acid – they work together to smooth your skin’s texture and reduce the appearance of large pores. 

• Can you use salicylic acid and niacinamide together? 

You can use salicylic acid and niacinamide together, and as a result you might see them listed as ingredients in the same skincare product. Salicylic acid works to unclog pores and exfoliate, alongside niacinamide's abilities to regulate oil production, together, these two key ingredients help to regulate oily and combination skin. 

• Can you use niacinamide with vitamin C?  

Vitamin C and niacinamide work well together, forming one of the three formulas in our Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum. Vitamin C can help to brighten the skin, protecting it from free radicals and fighting dark spots, while complementary niacinamide helps to improve skin strength and improve the appearance of pores.  

• Can you use niacinamide with hyaluronic acid? 

es, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide pair very well together within a skincare routine. Both help to improve the look, feel and function of the skin barrier, so your skin can work more effectively. Hyaluronic acid helps to keep skin hydrated by holding water within the cell structure of the skin, meaning skin looks plumper and smoother. Niacinamide helps to regulate oil production and strengthen the skin for impressive benefits to the skin barrier or outermost layer of skin. All skin types from oily skin to dry skin can achieve radiance and smoothness with this powerhouse pair. You'll find the effective combo in our Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum alongside vitamin C and ferulic acid.