How to use niacinamide serum on the 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 fine lines and wrinkles. 

The best part is that niacinamide 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 your 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 oil-free, 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 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 open 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 other 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 serum 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 used before it. 

When to apply niacinamide serum?

There is much confusion among people regarding when to use niacinamide morning or night.

According to dermatologists, the best way to see benefits is to use niacinamide serum twice daily.

Within 8-10 weeks of using niacinamide serum day and night, you’ll start observing results.

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 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. 

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. 

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

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

Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid serum 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. 

How much dosage of niacinamide can be used? 

Niacinamide serums are available in different concentrations and in combination with different actives but using less than 10% concentration is advised.

FAQs

1.How often to use niacinamide serum? 

The most commonly asked question regarding niacinamide serum is how often to use niacinamide serum. Niacinamide can be used at any time, up to twice daily, depending on the formulation.

2.Do I need moisturizer after applying niacinamide serum?  

You have to use moisturizer after applying niacinamide serum, as serums and moisturizers benefit the skin differently. In addition, moisturizers lock in the effect of active serums.

3.Can niacinamide serum be used in the morning? 

Yes. You can use niacinamide serum in your morning routine after cleansing the face and before moisturizing and using sunscreen. 

4.What can you not mix with niacinamide? 

Niacinamide is a gentle serum that is known to mix well with almost all other ingredients and combinations. However, avoid using it with AHAs and BHAs as they are very acidic.

5.Is niacinamide serum safe for sensitive skin? 

Yes, it is. Niacinamide serum has anti-inflammatory properties .So even if you have sensitive skin, niacinamide reduces irritation and gives a soothing effect.

6.Can you use Vitamin C and niacinamide together? 

Like Niacinamide, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant with a long list of benefits for skin care. However, there have been a lot of myths about using these two substances together in skin care regimens. Recent research has shown these reports to be false and validated the safety of combining these two substances. 

If you prefer to use a niacinamide serum, let it thoroughly penetrate your skin before applying vitamin C in the morning. 

7.Is niacinamide serum good for the face?

Yes. Niacinamide serum benefits the face by preventing pigmentation, acne, excess oil, large pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines, and freckles.