Here's Why Niacinamide Should Be Your New Favorite Skin Care Ingredient

Hang around the SkincareAddiction subreddit long enough, and certain ingredients are going to catch your attention. Niacinamide is one such ingredient, seemingly getting namechecked in every other thread. So what's the deal with it? What makes it such as superstar?

Niacinamide is technically a form of vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin. As for what makes it such a sought-after skin care ingredient? According to Dove Body Wash & Beauty Bar dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara, "It has an anti-inflammatory effect that helps with acne and rosacea — issues such as flushing, breakouts and pore size." This is largely due to its anti-inflammatory and powerful antioxidant properties. "It helps fight off free radicals, which wreak cosmetic havoc on the skin," she says. Niacinamide also helps to "strengthen the skin barrier" and may even "reduce skin cancer risk."

Thanks to all these protecting, soothing attributes, Gohara calls niacinamide a great pick for people with sensitive skin. It soothes redness, reduces the appearance of pores, quells breakouts and protects the skin from free radical damage. In other words? It's something you probably want to start incorporating into your skin care routine, so here are some of the best niacinamide-packed beauty products.

Image via Imaxtree