Niacinamide is a big trend in skincare right now, and while many influencer-backed skincare trends fade as soon as they rise, there are dermatologist-supported reasons to include niacinamide in your skincare routine. Derived from vitamin B3, skincare products that include niacinamide offer numerous benefits, including improving skin tone and strengthening the protective barrier. This multitasking skincare ingredient provides a beneficial boost to most skincare routines. Like any ingredient, it may not be right for everyone, but it’s safe for most skin types when used properly. In this blog, we’ll answer some burning questions like is niacinamide good for skin, what is it, and which products with niacinamide should I use.
What Is Niacinamide—and Why Is It So Popular in Skincare?
Niacinamide is a stable form of vitamin B3, which is an essential nutrient for skin health. Topical application of niacinamide offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support. The antioxidant effects increase protection against free radical damage, which occurs when the sun’s UV rays, pollutants, or exposure to other environmental aggressors damage skin. In some cases, this damage is visible like a sunburn. In other situations, the damage occurs at the cellular level like skin cancers. Antioxidants increase protection from both visual and cellular free radical damage. The anti-inflammatory benefits of niacinamide make it a go-to skincare ingredient for individuals with inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and acne. Compared with other antioxidant and anti-inflammatory skincare ingredients, niacinamide in skincare products offers a gentle solution that can be incorporated into just about any skincare product from cleansers to sunscreen.
Niacinamide Skincare Benefits: Why Dermatologists Love It
Dermatologists recommend niacinamide as part of daily skincare routines to achieve a range of niacinamide skincare benefits, including:
- Improving skin tone – vitamin B3 offers an anti-inflammatory boost that makes it ideal for calming skin, improving skin tone, and reducing skin redness. Additionally, it prevents the production of melanin. This reduces the appearance of dark spots and brightens skin tone.
- Strengthening skin barrier – the main purpose of skin is to protect from external irritants and allergens. In order to perform this function effectively, the skin barrier needs to be solid. Niacinamide encourages ceramide production. Ceramides fill in gaps in the skin barrier and increase strength and resilience.
- Minimize pores – with consistent use, niacinamide regulates oil production, typically causing pores to shrink and oily or acne-prone skin to improve.
- Safe for most skin types – many products that offer the results possible with niacinamide are too abrasive for sensitive skin. For this reason, dermatologists often recommend niacinamide for sensitive skin.
But Is Niacinamide for Everyone? The Case for Caution
While niacinamide is usually considered non-irritating, no skincare ingredient is tolerated by everyone. Adverse responses or allergic reactions are extremely rare. If you experience redness, flushing, burning, stinging, or notice bumps forming, discontinue use and consult a dermatologist. While this is a buzzy skincare ingredient, there are people who have sensitivities and allergies to niacinamide, and when this ingredient pops up in every product at every step of the skincare routine, people with niacinamide sensitivities are struggling to find quality products that won’t irritate skin. If you’re concerned about allergies or sensitivities, consult your dermatologist. If you want to try out a product with niacinamide safely, find a small area to spot test the product. As long as skin irritation doesn’t occur in the tested area, you should be safe to use the product.
How to Use Niacinamide Safely in Your Routine
Like any active ingredient found in skincare products, niacinamide must be used properly and in the correct doses to be safe and effective. Dermatologist Dr. Melody Maarouf of Southwest Skin Specialists Phoenix cautions users, “If you choose a product with niacinamide alone, aim for a 3%–5% concentration. Formulas with less than 3% have not been shown to produce statistically significant improvements when compared to a control, and anything over 10% may be too aggressive for someone with reactive skin.” Below, our dermatologists provide recommendations for how to use niacinamide in your daily skincare routine:
- Start with low concentrations (3%–5%) – high-potency products can contain 10% to 12% niacinamide, but these higher concentrations increase risk for skin irritation. Start with a lower concentration between 3% and 5% and increase to higher doses if tolerated.
- Don’t layer on the niacinamide – so many products contain niacinamide now it can be difficult to find options that don’t. Be mindful of how many products that have niacinamide as an active ingredient you use in your morning or evening skincare routine.
- Patch test – before introducing a product into your daily skincare routine, test a smaller area of skin first. If there’s no reaction after 24 hours, you should be safe to incorporate the product into your routine. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to patch test for a longer period to reduce risk for cumulative irritation.
- Pair it properly – look for skincare products that pair niacinamide with other actives that complement the effects. Retinoids, hyaluronic acid serums, ceramides, and zinc-based sunscreens all pair well with niacinamide, mitigating irritation and improving efficacy.
Dermatologist-Recommended Niacinamide Products to Try
Below, you’ll find a dermatologist-curated list of skincare products with niacinamide as an active ingredient. Remember, a little bit can go a long way, so choose just a few of these dermatologist-recommended best niacinamide products for your skincare regimen:
Sunscreens:
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 – quickly becoming a cult-favorite, this lightweight, oil-free sunscreen is ideal for acne-prone and sensitive skin. It contains high purity niacinamide paired with a zinc oxide sunscreen to calm skin redness while protecting against UV damage.
SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense SPF 30 – a low 2% niacinamide concentration, this offers gentle brightening and evens skin tone as it prevents sun damage.
Serums & Treatments:
SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense – a moderate 5% niacinamide concentration with tranexamic acid and kojic acid supports this serum in providing clinically-proven results, reducing dark spots and discoloration in all skin tones.
Sente Bio Complete Serum – a friendly retinoid for sensitive-skin-friendly and first-time users, this serum combines retinol with niacinamide to reduce fine lines, improve skin texture, and support barrier function.
Eye Cream:
Sente Illumine Eye Cream – a tone-correcting eye cream that visibly brightens dark circles with a blend of niacinamide and peptides. It’s designed to be gentle enough for daily use on skin in the delicate under-eye area.
Toner Pads/Acne Products:
MD Skin Essentials Control It Pads – easy-to-use toner pads that clear acne breakouts and refine pores with a combination of niacinamide and exfoliating acids.
Conclusion: Is Niacinamide Right for You?
There are absolutely good reasons why niacinamide has become such a buzzworthy skincare ingredient, but no active is right for everyone. If you’re interested in the results possible with niacinamide, there is a good niacinamide option for almost any skin type or skincare need. When in doubt, talk to a dermatologist for personalized recommendations.
Find the Best Skincare Products for You from DermSkincare
Whether you’re searching for the perfect niacinamide product, or you want to boost your skincare routine with dermatologist-recommended solutions, DermSkincare has you covered. We hope you’ll take some time to explore the curated list of products available on our site. For even more skin health tips and dermatologist product recommendations, come back to read our blog.