The benefits of niacinamide for different skin types

You’ll be hard pressed to find a skincare product without niacinamide these days – it’s safe to say it’s the ‘It’ girl of ingredients right now. Here’s why you should incorporate niacinamide into your skincare routine.

What is niacinamide?

Niacinamide – aka vitamin B3 – is an essential nutrient that strengthens the skin barrier and works to improve skin health. And the key to a great skin day? Healthy skin! While niacinamide brings with it a whole host of benefits, the powerhouse ingredient effectively aids in cell regeneration and allows your skin cells to repair damage, making it exceptionally restorative. It can also help to promote ceramide production within the skin, which helps your lipid barrier (the layer of your skin that often diminishes with age) retain moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss.

What are the benefits of niacinamide?

Spoiler alert: there are many. Let’s start with brightening – niacinamide has been shown to reduce the appearance of pigmentation or dark spots on the skin. It works to boost cellular energy and repair the skin cells, evening out your skin tone. The beauty of niacinamide in comparison to other skin brightening ingredients like retinol is that it is simultaneously anti-inflammatory and calming for the skin, meaning you can get the benefits of a brightening product sans irritation.

Can I use niacinamide if I have sensitive skin?

Big yes. Whilst nothing in skincare is a one-size-fits-all, niacinamide is often recommended for sensitive skin types due to its anti-inflammatory properties. For those who suffer from acne, rosacea, eczema or other skin conditions that may leave you with stressed out skin, it can be a calming ingredient to incorporate into your skincare routine. That’s because it helps to improve your skin’s barrier function, building your skin’s resilience and helping it stay cool, calm and collected.

Is niacinamide good for acne?

Another key benefit of niacinamide is that it can help to regulate the skin’s production of sebum (oil). Given acne is caused due to sebum being trapped in congested pores, niacinamide can step in to keep the oil production – and the resulting pesky breakouts – in check. Further, as many of us know, one of the downsides to acne is the resulting scarring that can occur, so incorporating niacinamide into your skincare routine can help to improve the skin’s tone by reducing redness, supporting the skin’s barrier and possibly fading acne scars.

That’s exactly why it’s a key ingredient in our Honey Shots Clearing Gel, as it’s a fast-acting targeted formula that actively works to banish blemishes, all while keeping your skin calm and hydrated thanks to its 2% niacinamide composition. Thank us later, honey!