Increasingly, men and women alike are looking cost-effective, non-invasive ways to improve the way their skin looks. Turning away from ingredients that do not work, and going towards ingredients that are bioactive, that means, these ingredients can create real changes in your skin, instead of temporary improvements. Niacinamide is one of such skincare ingredient that should be on your radar.

What is Niacinamide?

Also known as Vitamin B3 and nicotinamide, Niacinamide is an essential water-soluble vitamin, that produces an increase of ceramides and skin barrier proteins such as keratin and filaggrin.

What are the benefits of Niacinamide on your skin?

There is a long list of benefits that Niacinamide has on your skin. It can help to visibly reduce enlarged pores, smoothen the appearance of your skin, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and interestingly, reduce dark spots.

Niacinamide strengthens your skin barrier

The greatest benefit Vitamin B3 has is its ability to improve your skin’s first line of defence, that is, the skin barrier. Your skin barrier is made of ceramides, lipids (skin’s natural oil), and protein. These building blocks are crucial in keeping the functions of your skin barrier in tip-top condition, that is, locking in moisture, regulating sebum secretion and keeping out bacteria and free radicals from assaulting your skin. When your skin barrier becomes damaged or weakened, common skin blemishes such as acne, dark spots, sensitized skin can manifest. More serious conditions such as eczema can occur.

Because Niacinamide supports the increase of ceramides, keratin and filaggrin produced by your skin, it strengthens your skin’s natural protective shield, leaving you with a healthy skin that can better defend itself against external aggressors. A healthy skin that looks smoother, more radiant and younger.

How to use Niacinamide

Some skincare brands offer Niacinamide as a stand-alone product, unbundling from many other ingredients and offering a product that purportedly is more value for your money. We suggest using skincare products that are formulated with Niacinamide along with other ingredients. Regardless of how effective an ingredient may be, it is as good as useless if it cannot get into the skin where it is needed. Furthermore, with a multi-ingredient formulation, the skin can have access to the other ingredients that encourage a strong skin barrier. Think of it as a diet – if you are only eating spinach all the time, you will limit yourself to all the other nutrients your body needs to be healthy. The same applies to your skin.

For best results, use products that contain niacinamide along with ingredients that contain Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF) or support the production of NMF in your skin.

bSoul, certified natural skincare powered by phytoceuticals, has a range of products that contain the components of NMF in a similar proportion as your skin’s natural NMF. This includes bSoul’s face moisturizers, sinergy serums, eye and lip products.

Most of IOMA Paris products are formulated with Niacinamide too. A good product to start with is Youth Booster, a lightweight day and night moisturizer that reduces the formation of fine lines. It also happens to be the only skin moisturizer with a hydration sensor built into the cap to measure your skin’s hydration and advise you on how much moisturizer to replenish for the day.

Start on Niacinamide to your daily skincare routine to improve your skin’s appearance and health today.