Niacinamide isn’t exactly new to the skincare scene, but it took some time for the skin-obsessed crowd to notice and praise all its skincare wonders. Every bit as under-the-radar as an unsung hero, niacinamide likes to work in the background, making sure all your skin’s bases are covered while acting as the perfect wingman for heavy-hitting actives. But, what is niacinamide, and what exactly does it do? Keep reading to learn more about niacinamide skin benefits and why it deserves to be one of your ride-or-die skincare staples.
Meet the Experts
- Erum Llyas MD, MBE, FAAD, Board-certified dermatologist
- Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Associate professor of Dermatology and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital
What is Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and is also known as nicotinamide. It can be naturally produced by the body, but this doesn’t happen on the reg—only when there’s an excess niacin or by converting an amino acid called tryptophan. That means to reap niacinamide skin benefits in full, it must be applied topically or taken as a supplement. As a bioactive ingredient, niacinamide is derived from natural sources and retains biological activity, allowing it to impact and transform the skin at a cellular level.
Key Benefits of Niacinamide for Your Skin
1. Soothes Acne and Inflammation
At the top of the list is its anti-inflammatory and anti-acne properties. “It’s been used as an add-on for acne treatments for years to reduce redness and inflammation associated with breakouts,” explains Pennsylvania-based board-certified dermatologist Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD. It’s also great for calming sensitive skin or those with conditions like rosacea, eczema, and keratosis pilaris.
Featured Product: COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum
This super concentrated serum provides all-in-one acne care by soothing inflammation, minimizing pores and oil production, fading post-acne blemishes, and hastening skin recovery and regeneration.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Allantoin, N-Acetylglucosamine
Skin Type: Acne-Prone, Oily, Combination
Beauty Insider Tip: With its lightweight and watery formula, it’s the perfect serum to kickoff the layering phase of your skincare regimen.
2. Brightens Dark Spots
“Sunlight activates pigment-producing cells to make extra skin pigment, leading to dark spots in the skin,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner, associate professor of Dermatology and the director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. Thankfully, Dr. Zeichner says niacinamide’s calming and lightening effects prevent the formation of more pigment and fade existing discoloration at the same time.
Featured Product: SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense
Taking advantage of the great teamwork between niacinamide and brightening agents like kojic and tranexamic acid, this serum goes hard in correcting dark spots and pigmentation caused by UV exposure, acne, and medical procedures.
Key Ingredients: 3% Tranexamic Acid, 1% Kojic Acid, 5% Niacinamide
Skin Type: All skin types
Beauty Insider Tip: This serum targets stubborn brown patches and post-inflammatory discoloration while preventing future pigmentation, with visible results in as little as two weeks.
3. Plumps and Hydrates Skin
“When your skin dries out it’s as though the mortar that holds the bricks (your skin cells) together is breaking down. This leaves it open to any insult from the environment which will inflame and irritate your skin. Think of niacinamide as a key anti-inflammatory that will help bring down this inflammation while also hydrating your skin!” Dr. Ilyas explains.
Featured Product: Caudalie Premier Cru Anti-Aging Serum
If you’ve never believed in magic before, then this serum is about to blow your mind. Infused with a heavy dose of hyaluronic acid and firming sugars, it instantly plumps and quenches parched skin while immediately tightening and lifting it in as little as three minutes.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Firming Sugars
Skin Type: Dry, Mature
Beauty Insider Tip: This serum’s instant firming effect lasts up to six hours.
4. Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Retinol may be the gold standard when it comes to preserving youthful-looking skin, but niacinamide’s age-defying benefits are nothing to sneeze at. Its antioxidant properties stem the effects of oxidative stress from pollution and other environmental toxins, delaying the most common signs of skin aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
Featured Product: Avene Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
This powerhouse serum is infused with dermatologist-grade ingredients, including a plant-based retinol alternative and a supercharged vitamin C, to deliver a trifecta of skin-renewing benefits: diminishing dark spots, reducing wrinkles, and breathing new life to dull skin.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin Cg (Ascorbyl Glucoside), Niacinamide, Bakuchiol
Skin Type: All skin types
Beauty Insider Tip: This serum contains 1.8 percent pro-vitamin Cg, which is equivalent to 20 percent vitamin C.
5. Refines Large Pores
Niacinamide takes excess oil production down a few notches, preventing the overstretching of pores while also strengthening and supporting the pore lining.
Featured Product: Sunday Riley Be Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum
Another skincare hit from beloved brand Sunday Riley, this serum doesn’t hold back when it comes to shrinking enlarged pores back to their natural size and improving the overall texture and radiance of your complexion. It’s also infused with super antioxidants that target post-acne marks and signs of aging.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Trans-Resveratrol, EGCG
Skin Type: All skin types
Beauty Insider Tip: For best results, apply on the face, neck, and décolleté once or twice daily.
6. Protects Against Sun Damage
Niacinamide strengthens your skin’s defenses against sun damage in several ways: by acting as an antioxidant that combats free radicals, boosting the skin’s ability to heal and repair itself, and soothing sun-induced inflammation.
Featured Product: Paula’s Choice CLINICAL Niacinamide 20% Treatment
This highly concentrated serum is chock full of best-in-class antioxidants and skin-brightening ingredients, making it your skin’s best ally in fighting the good fight against sun damage, airborne pollutants, and other environmental stressors.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Green Tea, Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Type: All skin types
Beauty Insider Tip: This multitasking serum also targets rough bumps and stretched pores caused by UV light damage as well as improves blotchy skin tone and post-acne marks.
7. Strengthens the Skin's Barrier
A weakened lipid barrier can be disastrous for your skin and can lead to a host of issues, including dryness and inflammation. Niacinamide boosts your skin’s natural production of ceramides, which play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy moisture barrier.
Featured Product: Lancer Triple Peptide Drops with Vitamin E + Niacinamide
Making sure the skin barrier stays in fighting form is crucial in maintaining healthy skin, and that’s exactly what this anti-aging elixir is all about. Its nourishing combo of barrier-repairing ingredients makes sure your skin is always a step ahead of lines, creases, dryness, and sagging.
Key Ingredients: Triple Peptide Complex, Niacinamide, Vitamin E
Skin Type: All skin types
Beauty Insider Tip: With its targeted time-release delivery system, your skin will bask in both instant and long-lasting results.
FAQs
Can You Use Niacinamide Every Day?
Most definitely. Niacinamide can be used daily in both your AM and PM routines.
What Skin Types Should Use Niacinamide?
All skin types, including those with sensitive and highly reactive skin, can benefit from adding niacinamide to their skincare routine. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants a gentler ingredient that doesn’t hold back in delivering results.
How Do You Use Niacinamide?
You’ll need a higher dose of the ingredient and a good amount of patience to really see and enjoy its results, especially if you’re using it as a stand-alone serum. Opt for more concentrated formulations with at least five percent niacinamide, and make sure the ingredient is listed high up on the back label.
What Active Ingredients You Should Pair With Niacinamide?
When pairing niacinamide with other active ingredients, stick with its expert-approved better halves: hyaluronic acid, retinol, and AHAs/BHAs.
Which is Better: Niacinamide or Vitamin C?
With proper application and timing, most people can benefit from incorporating both ingredients in their skincare routines. That said, the most effective vitamin C formulas often come in more potent and higher doses, which may irritate sensitive skin. Meanwhile, niacinamide is known for having a gentler approach to fading dark spots, soothing sensitivity, and calming inflammation.
Is Niacinamide or Hyaluronic Acid Better?
Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid share many things in common, making this couple an absolute dream team. They’re both water-based, help in keeping oil under control, and deliver intense hydration to parched skin. And just like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid also takes banishing signs of aging seriously.
The Bottom Line
As far as skincare ingredients are concerned, there’s no doubt that niacinamide is a true all-rounder. Versatile and a team-player, it’s a sought-after ingredient that targets dark spots, hyperpigmentation, acne and inflammation, and fine lines and wrinkles; restores and protects the skin’s natural barrier; and improves moisture retention and hydration. When choosing skincare products with niacinamide, opt for serums and treatments with the highest concentration to get the most of niacinamide’s benefits for skin.
Now, click here to shop the best niacinamide products that can transform and brighten your complexion.
Next up, 5 Tips for How to Layer Serums in Your Skincare Routine
