Niacinamide

What is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide (also known as Vitamin B3), is an essential nutrient found in a variety of animal and plant-based foods. It is a water soluble vitamin which our bodies cannot store, so eating a balanced diet and consuming foods enriched with Vitamin B3, or Niacin, is essential in maintaining normal cellular function within the body, including the skin.

With our skin being our largest organ and made up of billions of cells (approximately 35 billion), it requires a little extra care and attention to maintain a naturally healthy and nourished skin.

What does Niacinamide do?

Within skincare, Niacinamide has several uses. It inhibits the transfer of Melanin to the upper, visible layers of the skin. Melanin is the dark pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their colour, however when overproduced it can cause hyperpigmentation, resulting in the appearance of age spots, sun spots, melasma and freckles. Niacinamide can help slow down the production of Melanin and lighten existing dark patches of skin.

Additionally, Niacinamide has been shown to boost collagen, improve skin hydration levels, tighten and smooth pores and even strengthen the skin to protect against environmental pollutants.

Benefits of Niacinamide for your skin

This multi-tasking antioxidant has so many benefits making it essential for beautifully radiant skin.

• Intensely hydrates and prevents moisture loss
• Reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation such as age spots, sun spots, and melasma
• Brighten and even skin tone
• Minimise enlarged pores
• Anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce redness
• Strengthen the skins cellular structure to help protect against environmental factors
  
• Improve skin elasticity and signs of ageing
• Rebuild healthy skin cells and help protect against UV radiation

Is Niacinamide right for my skin?

Niacinamide is considered safe to use and suitable for all ages and skin types. It’s a fantastic all-rounder that is generally well tolerated, even with those who have sensitive skin. However, we would always recommend performing a 48 hour patch test before adding new products into your skincare regime.

How to use Niacinamide

As with most skincare products, benefits will start to become visible with prolonged use so we recommend using for a minimum of 4 weeks for optimum results. As Niacinamide inhibits the production of melanin, discontinuing use will cause the production of melanin to reactivate so dark spots are likely to return.

Hyaluronic Acid can help to improve the absorption of Niacinamide so we advise using a product with both of these ingredients, or in conjunction of each other for best visible results.