First things first, how do we pronounce this popular beauty ingredient? Google tells me it’s supposed to be said as nah-yuh-sin-uh-mayd. Repeat after me: nah-yuh-sin-uh-mayd.
Why is it popular? Like other cult-fave ingredients and products, niacinamide has had its claim to fame for its *magical* effects of improving or addressing practically or all of your skincare concerns!
What is it? Essentially, niacinaminde is Vitamin B3. It’s an antioxidant that helps promote cell turnover rate and makes your skin produce more lipids, which then result in more youthful, elastic, and healthier skin.
How to use it? For best results, it’s recommended to apply niacinamide in the morning (it’s relatively safe for sun exposure) and evening. You can apply niacinamide after cleansing and toning your face, follow it up with your creams, serums, or moisturizer, from the thinnest consistency to the thickest.
What not to mix with it? Vitamin C! Both ingredients work *great* on skin but are practically useless when mixed together. What happens is, together, they become “inactive.”
Acidic skincare products like chemical exfoliants, e.g. AHAs and BHAs also don’t mix well with niacinamide. Used together, it can actually cause the opposite of what you want to achieve: redness and flushing.
Skincare experts often recommend using niacinamide in the morning, and your acids in the evening. If you insist on applying it twice a day, however, it’s best to wait for at least thirty minutes between applying the products. Don’t risk it!
What niacinamide products should I use? The Ordinary’s Niacinamide is back in stock, so hurry and hoard before it runs out again! The product has long been a cult-fave, because its formula of niacinamide plus zinc has been effective for many!
Other products that list niacinamide as one of its main ingredients are: Dove Intensive Renew Deodorant for even-toned underarms; COSRX Mela 14 White Ampoule, which brightens the skin and helps prevent dark spots; Hello Gorgeous Brightening Facial Toner, which combines niacinamide with other natural extracts to get ~glass~ skin; Cathy Doll Acne Solution Serum + Foam Cleanser that’s great for sensitive skin; In Her Element Skin Rose Toning Essence, a brightening and renewing toner; and Leejiham Vita Propolis Ampoule, a super concentrated serum that boosts your *glow*.
Written By:
Patti Sunio aka Tita Pacita
BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR
Tita Pacita of www.titapacita.com is a lifestyle, culture, and fashion & beauty writer from Manila. With her wisdom and almost thirty years of life experience, she likes to share what she knows and give unsolicited advice, true to her Tita ways. Her makeup choices are primarily based on instinct, and, believe it or not, K-Beauty.
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