Niacinamide Serums For Beginners — Everything You Need To Know
Here’s everything you need to know about niacinamide serums for beginners and how to use it in a skincare routine.
Table of Contents
What is niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It is a water soluble vitamin, so this means niacinamide helps to retain moisture in the skin. In addition, niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory properties along with many other benefits. It’s a skincare active that works well with many other products, which is why it is so popular.
What are the benefits of using niacinamide?
- Helps skin retain moisture
- Protects the skin barrier
- Softens the appearance of enlarged pores and fine lines
- Improves skin texture
- Reduces pigmentation
- Brightens the skin
- Reduces inflammation and redness from conditions such as acne and eczema.
Niacinamide serums for beginners
The most common way niacinamide is formulated in skincare is in serum form.
You will also see it as an ingredient in cleansers, toners and moisturizers because it offers so many different benefits.
Niacinamide serums are available in different potencies, which are indicated with a % sign on the product.
For beginners, starting with a 5% niacinamide serum is recommended. You can use it morning and night after cleanser and toner/essence (refer to the table below for more notes on how to combine niacinamide with other skincare products).
If you have very sensitive skin, then try something gentler like an essence or toner with niacinamide as the key ingredient at potencies of 2-3% until the skin is used to it.
Once the skin is used niacinamide, then using a serum with 10% niacinamide is fine, but anything higher may cause irritation, redness or sensitivities.
How to apply niacinamide
AM routine: Cleanser > Toner > Niacinamide Serum (instead of Vitamin C) > Moisturizer > SPF
PM routine: Cleanser > Toner > Niacinamide Serum > Retinol > Moisturizer
Niacinamide essences and toners
- Naturium Niacinamide Essence 3%: USD 16
- Good Molecules Brightening Toner with 4% niacinamide: USD 14
Affordable 4-5% niacinamide
- Minimalist Niacinamide 5% Face Serum: USD 8
- Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum (approx. 4%): USD 16
- Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum (tranexamic acid + 4% niacinamide): USD 12
Related:
Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum Review For Scars and Hyperpigmentation
Affordable 10% and higher niacinamide serums
- The Inkey List Niacinamide: USD 10
- The Ordinary 10% + Zinc 1% : USD 11
- Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum: USD 12
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Niacinamide Serum: USD 15
How to use a niacinamide serum with other skincare actives
Is niacinamide good for oily skin and acne?
In a nutshell, niacinamide offers many benefits and is a good supportive skincare product for oily and acne-prone skin to help soothe redness, lessen inflammation, reduce excess sebum, brighten skin and even out texture. However, to see these benefits, it may take 2-3 months because niacinamide is an all-rounder product vs being a targeted acne solution. To treat acne, you will need other skincare products in your routine along with niacinamide.
Related:
Can You Use Niacinamide And Vitamin C Together? Everything You Need To Know
How To Use Salicylic Acid And Retinol In Your Skincare Routine
A Beginners Guide: What Is Retinol and How To It In A Skincare Routine
