How to use niacinamide serum on skin?

Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin B3 used primarily for skin care and is renowned for its calming and healing properties. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , vitamin B3 (niacin) can be found in dietary supplements and some foods, such as meats, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

Its numerous benefits make including it in your skincare routine essentially equivalent to taking a daily multivitamin. Its antioxidizing properties enable it to work from within the skin as it gets absorbed deeply. 

Topical serums containing niacinamide as one of their active ingredients help brighten skin, build keratin,  retain moisture, reduce acne, and fight aging signs like dark spots, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles. 

The best part is that niacinamides can easily be added to your current routine and used with other active ingredients without causing adverse side effects.

If you are a beginner and want to know how to incorporate niacinamide in skincare routine, read the next section.

How to use niacinamide serum on the face? 

Niacinamide, although a gentle active, must be layered with other skincare products for better results. The pointers below explain how to use niacinamide serum for beginners. 

• Begin with a cleanser or facewash

Cleansing is the first step in the skincare routine. If your skin is clean and free of oil, the actives will absorb into it much better. Preferably use a mild cleanser or facewash to wash your face. Apply it to your face and gently massage it in with lukewarm water. Use your hands to lather it up, then rinse it with lukewarm water. 

• Use a micro fibre towel to pat your face and neck.

To remove the water from your skin, grab a clean towel and gently pat it over your face. Avoid scrubbing or rubbing your skin because doing so might cause dryness and irritation. Be sure to use a clean towel; else, you might risk rubbing dirt and oils back into your skin. 

• It’s time for the niacinamide face serum

Now unscrew the niacinamide bottle’s dropper and take two drops of niacinamide serum on your palms. Spread the product on your palms before you begin applying it on your face and then spread it and massage it onto the skin using fingertips..

• Apply the niacinamide serum over the face

It’s essential to know how to apply niacinamide serum to reap its maximum benefits. To apply the serum to your entire face, use your palms. Then, apply evenly on your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks. Do not worry about product build-up. The serum will begin to absorb quickly, leaving no residue on your skin. 

For better results, use hyaluronic acid before niacinamide, as the properties of these two water-based substances effectively balance one another, profoundly hydrate your skin, and keep it supple. 

Hyaluronic acid improves the skin’s suppleness, while niacinamide promotes keratin production. In addition, the excellent humectant properties in both serums complement each another to draw moisture into the skin and lessen the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Many people are unsure of how to use niacinamide and hyaluronic acid together. Start with hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin cells and finish with niacinamide to shield the skin’s surface.

• Apply a moisturizer at the end

You can now apply moisturizers to complete your routine. Apply it to your skin after the face serum you used, along with the niacinamide. You should apply the moisturizer last because they take the longest to absorb into the skin compared to active serums & they lock in all the products applied before it. 

When to apply Niacinamide Serum? 

Who should use niacinamide face serum? 

Niacinamide can be part of everyone’s skincare regimen. All skin types, including those with sensitive skin, can use niacinamide serum. In fact, those who have rosacea, redness on their skin, or are more prone to breakouts will benefit more.

However, the type of niacinamide you should utilize will depend on your skin type. For moisture, dry skin types can use a niacinamide serum with hyaluronic acid, while oily skin types might prefer a niacinamide product with salicylic acid.

Why should you use niacinamide face serum? 

Use niacinamide serum for glowing skin 

Niacinamide face serum is ideal for glowing skin because it contains high antioxidants and reduces hyperpigmentation. Additionally, it regulates the synthesis of melanin by blocking the transfer of melanosomes. In addition, it stops the production of harmful enzymes. 

Niacinamide effective concentration varies from 1% to 10%, with other actives for different skin concerns.

• If you are a newbie, you can use hyaluronic acid face serum with niacinamide. Hyaluronic acid hydrates your skin at all levels, and niacinamide gives a soothing effect to the skin and prevents oil production.
• If you want to start using niacinamide for pores, try pore control serum containing 2% salicylic acid and niacinamide effective concentration of  3%. This combo exfoliates dead cells, debris, and dirt pores and reduces sebum production and pore-clogging.
• If you want to try niacinamide for dark spots, you can go for a clearing serum, a powerful combination of 5% niacinamide and 2% alpha-arbutin. This efficiently reduces hyperpigmentation, spots, and marks by preventing melanin production. 
• A concentration of 10% niacinamide is used in skin-brightening serums to reduce hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and freckles. In addition, 0.3% alpha arbutin with 10% niacinamide lightens tans and brightens the skin by reducing melanin production and shielding it from UV rays.

Use niacinamide serum to reduce enlarged pores

Niacinamide inhibits excess oil and debris from clogging pores, preventing them from stretching. This action results in smaller pores by absorbing excess sebum from the pores. This gives the skin a smoother appearance. 

In addition, 2-3% niacinamide and other actives help in pore reduction. A powerful combination of 2% salicylic acid and 3% niacinamide serum effectively treats pores, blackheads, and whiteheads. This combination of pore cleansing and oil control serum effectively removes debris, sebum, and dead skin cells from pores while reducing oil production from the skin.

Use niacinamide face serum with hyaluronic acid serum to get oil-free plumy skin

To incorporate niacinamide for oily skin, combine it with hyaluronic acid.

Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are water-loving humectants that hydrate the skin to preserve its protective barrier function. 

Combined, the two active ingredients have no significant adverse effects, are safe to use, and are less prone to irritation. Niacinamide keeps your skin soothed and reduces sebum production, and hyaluronic acid moisturizes skin from deep within and keeps it hydrated. 

The powerful combination of 2% hyaluronic acid with 1% niacinamide hydrating serum gives you oily-free and plumy skin.

How much dosage of niacinamide can be used on skin? 

Niacinamide serums are available in different concentrations and in combination with different actives. Dermatologists suggest incorporating niacinamide in a lower concentration if you are a beginner. 

• 2% hyaluronic acid with 1% niacinamide hydrating serum can be used for hydrating, reduced sebum production, and plumy skin.
• Pore control serum with 2% salicylic acid and 3% niacinamide is a rare combination that effectively treats pores, blackheads, and whiteheads.
• Clearing serum with 5% niacinamide and 2% alpha arbutin is a unique combination that efficiently reduces hyperpigmentation, marks, and spots by preventing melanin production.
• Brightening serum with 10% niacinamide and 0.3% alpha arbutin is a rare combination that improves skin texture, gives even skin tone, and treats hyperpigmentation, tanning, and freckles.