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
This serum is so good, it keeps flying off the shelves. It's easy to see why it's so popular, too — with ingredients like firming peptides, skin-quenching hyaluronic acid and various botanical extracts along with its niacinamide, it's got all your bases covered. Basically, you can think of it as your one-stop shop for glass skin.
Though it's the benzoyl peroxide and the salicylic acid that do the heavy lifting when it comes to kicking zits to the curb, the addition of ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin ensure that your skin stays calm and hydrated. Consider us fans of this spot treatment.
Easily one of the best drugstore moisturizers in town, this high-performing pick combines niacinamide with other well-loved ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. It has a light, almost gel-like texture, but it still packs a major punch, hydration-wise — and it never leaves skin feeling tacky.
Murad's latest serum is meant to be used for both the face and the delicate, oft-troubled skin around your eyes. The niacinamide works together with wild indigo extract and caffeine to help de-puff and brighten the under eye area, while peptides help boost collagen production and hemp seed oil adds major all-around hydration.
