What is Niacinamide? The Benefits of Vitamin B3 For your Skin
Sometimes referred to as nicotinamide or even just vitamin B3, it is a powerful nutrient. Beyond being essential to the proper functioning of your brain and kidneys, it has plenty of benefits for your skin.
Niacinamide is most often applied topically, and when done so, it has the ability to hydrate skin, protect it from environmental damage, reduce redness, minimize the appearance of pores, treat acne and hyperpigmentation, and even protect your skin from the sun’s harsh UV rays. In essence, vitamin B3 is a skin saviour!
Another question people often ask is whether niacinamide can be mixed with vitamin C. The answer is an overwhelming YES! Although it is a common misconception that vitamin C and niacinamide should not mix, research has actually shown that these ingredients become more powerful when used in conjunction. When niacinamide is used with certain vitamin C formulations, like ascorbyl acid, the duo has been proven to combat fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, dry skin, and loss of elasticity.
So what benefits does vitamin B3 have for your skin? Though we’ve provided a sneak peek above, continue reading as we go in-depth into some of our favourite niacinamide skin benefits.
4 Benefits of Vitamin B3 For Skin
- Vitamin B3 Has Restorative Properties
One of the main benefits of vitamin B3 is that it is deeply restorative. This super vitamin has the ability to rebuild healthy skin cells while simultaneously repairing damaged cells. This process works to reduce the harmful effects of the sun’s powerful UV rays. In essence, niacinamide has the ability to combat both internal and external stressors, which ultimately prevents the skin from deteriorating and slows down the aging process.
- Vitamin B3 Treats Inflammatory Skin Conditions
Vitamin B3 is a powerful anti-inflammatory, which makes it a great product for people who suffer from inflammatory skin conditions. Such conditions include rosacea and acne. Multiple studies have proven the ingredient’s capabilities when it comes to treating acne. Research has also shown that niacinamide can help reduce your skin’s natural oil production (more on that below), which is in part how it’s able to keep acne at bay. Further, vitamin B3 is often recommended by dermatologists to people with sensitive skin as it’s a relatively non-irritating ingredient.
- Vitamin B3 Helps Keep Skin Firm
Applying niacinamide to your skin results in an increase in protein synthesis, otherwise known as keratin. Keratin is key when it comes to building up your skin’s immunity. This additional keratin can work wonders for your skin, ultimately leaving you with a firm and healthy complexion. One study specifically monitored the effects of vitamin B3 on people with aging skin and it found that topical application of the ingredient improved the skin’s surface structure and smoothed wrinkles.
- Vitamin B3 Regulates Oil Production
The skin your oil produces, known as sebum, is responsible for making your face shiny and even for causing breakouts. Thus, many skincare products aim to control your skin’s production of sebum. However, most aim to reduce the amount of sebum by absorbing it. Vitamin B3, on the other hand, is able to go beyond the skin’s surface and actually help regulate your skin’s production of oil in the first place, ultimately reducing the amount of sebum your skin produces. Niacinamide naturally works to help your skin retain moisture, which in turn, signals to your sebaceous glands that they don’t need to produce as much oil.
