Why i looked for Niacinamide in the first place

I started a proper skin care routine in my mid twenties to address my hyperpigmentation, acnes and to control the oiliness of my skin, so with a proper skin care routine i followed for quite some time i was able to achieve some level of balanced, glowy skin.. but with time i noticed even though i was able to overcome my past skin issues, my overall skin has developed pretty huge pores which ultimately loss it’s plumpiness and gave kinda old look.. so i did a research online and found niacinamide, known as an active ingredient which tighten pores and give series of other benefits along the way.. first of all let’s see what niacinamide is..

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A bit about niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 which is water soluble. There are many names that refer to vitamin B3 as niacin, niacinamide and nicotinamide. Vitamin B3 is present in food in the form of niacin which is essential to convert carbs into fuel that our body needs.. food like rice, fish and green vegetables are enriched with niacin. When it comes to skin care Niacinamide and nicotinamide are the terms that refer to vitamin B3, but essentially niacinamide is what you need to know. Since this is a water soluble vitamin, mostly can be found in water based serums, moisturizer, toners and sheet masks. Niacinamide is considered as one of the most stable active ingredients in skin care, which also is a light chemical exfoliant but considered non irritating which makes it work really well on all skin types.

Let’s look at Benefits of Niacinamide on skin care

1. Reduce skin hyperpigmentation

2. Reduce acne and scars

3. Reduce fine lines and wrinkles

4. Improves skin barrier function

5. Reduce redness and blemishes

6. Reduce the appearance of pores

I mean.. what! This single ingredient basically gave me what I have looked in an entire skin care routine, and that blew my mind. So I did some more reading on the variety of brands that offer niacinamide and decided to purchase Naturium niacinamide facial serum 12% plus zinc 2% (The most rated one available on Amazon) and started incorporating it in my nighttime skincare routine.

I would cleanse my face, pat dry and directly apply 3-4 drops of niacinamide on my face, (don’t apply more than that and I’ll tell you why at the end) and topped it off with a moisturizer. My main concern leading to buying niacinamide was to minimize the large pores on my skin, so I used this for about 2 weeks and noticed that this doesn’t just stop at it and continued evening out my skin tone and showed very good improvement on my skin texture. Since I have combination skin I occasionally get some pimples on my cheeks and noticed those have shrunk too.. so looking at the results within 2 weeks i was over the moon by my new discovery of magical niacinamide in my skin care.. but something went wrong along the way

Suddenly I got a face full of breakouts!

So I was devastated.. how come i got breakouts by using acne clearing treatment.. So I searched more and got to know about “niacinamide purging” niacinamide is identified as a very mild exfoliant so it can exfoliate the top layer of the skin revealing the new skin underneath, increasing the cell turnover. This can bring up the clogs that are deep down the pores up to the surface faster, and boom breakouts. So niacinamide purging happens mainly when it is used in excessive amounts. Mostly it is advised to start off with only 2-5% niacinamide at the beginning.. Since I have 12% niacinamide on hand I should always use no more than 3 drops on my face, and there’ll be no unnecessary drama.

So there you go..this is my niacinamide story. Even though there was a small hiccup I loved the way it improved my overall skin health and how it made my skin look younger than it was before.. I am currently using the 2nd bottle of niacinamide and can’t recommend this amazing thing enough..

Conclusion

In the pursuit of flawless skin, niacinamide emerged as a game-changer. Its potency, though not without challenges, revolutionized my skincare routine. A small hiccup, a significant triumph—my niacinamide journey is one I’d gladly take again.

FAQs

1. Can niacinamide be used for all skin types?
   • Yes, niacinamide is suitable for all skin types.
2. How to avoid niacinamide purging?
   • Start with lower concentrations (2-5%) to minimize purging.
3. Is The Naturium niacinamide facial serum 12% plus zinc 2% suitable for sensitive skin?
   • While generally well-tolerated, patch test to ensure compatibility.
4. Can niacinamide be used in the morning?
   • Yes, it can be incorporated into both morning and nighttime routines.
5. How long before seeing results with niacinamide?
   • Results may vary, but noticeable improvements often occur within a few weeks.