Learn How To Give Your Skin A Healthy Dose Of Niacinamide Serum Or Moisturizer For An Instant Glow With This Ultimate Guide On How To Use Niacinamide!
In a world full of retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C, be someone’s niacinamide!
Umm…if you are into skincare, I am sure you must have heard about this not-so-easy-to-pronounce, active skincare ingredient. It is a hell of a multitasker and pampers your skin with truckloads of benefits. However, niacinamide has not yet got the fair share of attention it deserves.
If you are planning to incorporate this magic ingredient into your daily skincare regime and are wondering how to use niacinamide, scroll down and dive deeper.
‘Coz your girl is here once again with an elaborate guide that covers all the Hows, Whys, and Whats of niacinamide. Let’s not waste any more time and dive straight into the details!
Niacinamide – Let’s Know More About This Hero Ingredient!
Niacinamide, or nicotinamide, is a type of Vitamin B3. It is water-soluble in nature and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The best part is that niacinamide is extremely versatile and can be used solely or with suitable formulations. But my personal favorite version of niacinamide is the serum.
How To Use Niacinamide In Your Daily Skincare Routine?
Here comes the part for which you have been waiting so eagerly!
Use a good quality niacinamide serum/moisturizer on a daily basis:
1. Cleanse Your Face With A Cleanser That Targets Your Issues
Of course, let’s begin by getting rid of all the dirt, makeup, and oil so that your skin can absorb what’s coming for it.
2. Pat Dry Your Skin With A Soft Cloth
Unlike hyaluronic acid, you need completely dry skin for niacinamide, no matter if you’re using a serum or moisturizer. So pat dry all the water with a soft cloth or towel.
3. Apply A Toner, If You Like
You may not know this but toner isn’t an utmost essential step in your skincare routine. But if your toner is jam-packed with beneficial skincare ingredients like glycolic acid or rose water, then you can incorporate this step as well!
I particularly LOVE the glow I get after applying glycolic acid toner and niacinamide serum.
Take a cotton pad and swipe your face with a toner of your choice. Wait for 15-20 seconds for it absorbs and fires through the next step.
4. Now Apply Niacinamide Serum
If you’re using niacinamide in the form of a serum, then this is your cue to take it out. Apply a few drops of a niacinamide serum to your face. Gently massage the serum into your skin, making sure you get complete coverage on cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin, especially focusing on areas where you have specific concerns such as hyperpigmentation or fine lines.
Also, be sure to apply niacinamide before other actives like retinol or vitamin C, as it helps to stabilize them and prevent irritation.
Wait for it to get absorbed deep into your skin. It may take about 1-2 minutes. Do not start with the next step until it gets absorbed fully as it can sometimes conflict with ingredients in following products.
However, if you’re using a niacinamide moisturizer, you can add any antioxidant serum in this step, for instance, a bakuchiol serum or even vitamin C serum
5. Seal Everything With A Moisturizer
Once the niacinamide serum has fully absorbed, apply a moisturizer to your skin. This will help to seal in the niacinamide and provide additional hydration.
Even though niacinamide in itself is quite hydrating, you may still need something thicker to lock everything in.
6. Secure It With An SPF
Finish off the regimen with a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or more as niacinamide can make the skin quite photo-sensitive so prevention is always better than cure.
Is It OK To Use Niacinamide Every Day?
Nicknamed as a “miracle vitamin”, it is absolutely safe to use niacinamide every day due to its gentle yet effective concentration and wonderous skin benefits.
When Should I Apply Niacinamide?
Niacinamide should be applied in the morning and/or evening after cleansing and before you apply your moisturizer. For best results, use products with a concentration of at least 5%. Start out gradually, using small amounts of the product 2-3 times per week to test your skin’s reactivity, then increase usage if needed.