How To Use A Niacinamide Serum and Its Benefits

6 minute read

There’s a round of applause and there’s a standing ovation; in skincare land, Niacinamide, also known as Nicotinamide, has earned both. Skin-famously known as an essential active for ultimate skin health, and deservedly crowned the most researched type of Vitamin B (or to most of us, searched as Niacinamide Serum), Niacinamide is an active, water-soluble form of Vitamin B3 most known for its skin brightening abilities.

This powerhouse skin brightening ingredient works to:

• Minimise Pore Size: Normalising the lining of pores and preventing sebum and debris from becoming backed up which leads to congestion, rough and bumpy skin. With accumulated use research has shown Niacinamide to bring pores back to their original size when they’ve been cleared of excess oil and skin.
• Increase Hydration Levels: Natural, necessary and a proven way to stimulate your skin’s own lipids, Niacinamide will restore barrier function by ensuring ceramide levels in the skin are balanced, contributing to greater water retention and preventing Trans Epidermal Water-Loss (TEWL) ensuring deep hydration levels are not only restored but maintained long term.
• Brighten Skin: Famously used for its pigmentation lightening and skin brightening abilities, this popular pigmentation treatment prevents the transfer of excess melanin into the skin cells targeting the problem at the source as well as lightening discolouration and evening out skin tone. While Niacinamide won't assist in pigmentation removal, it will certainly aid in pigmentation treatment, providing additional support for maintaining a healthier and more even complexion.
• Reduce Inflammation: The calm to the skin’s storm, Niacinamide rapidly reduces inflammation in the skin by strengthening its immune system, in particular the immune cells of the epidermis known as Langerhans Cells (the soldiers of skin that clear the pathway of microorganisms and reduce inflammatory processes).
• Fight Acne: Closely linked with its immune strengthening and barrier restoring skills, Niacinamide fights acne in both a greater and more natural way than topical antibiotics.
• Promote Skin Radiance: Niacinamide increases cellular energy which boosts all skin mechanisms and equips skin cells with the energy they need to do their job. This increased energy brings light and radiance into dull and devitalised complexion while targeting further skin pigmentation: just like a morning that starts with Berocca!
• Increase Antioxidant Protection: The master of antioxidant protection, Niacinamide protects the skin and its cells from external aggressors like free radicals that wreak havoc and lead to almost all skin conditions. 

With all that said it’s no surprise that every skin type regardless of its condition will benefit greatly from the daily use of this skin brightening ingredient. Results can be seen in as little as 2-4 weeks; at O COSMEDICS we are big believers in prevention being better than a cure, so if you’re not yet getting your daily dose of pure B3 now is the time to start, drum roll please….B3 Plus Serum!

Increasing celebration of the power of Niacinamide means this fan favourite is now being used in a range of formulations and shows exactly why we’ve incorporated it in our Core Four ingredients featured in almost every O COSMEDICS product. On top of the myriads of benefits featured above, this pigmentation treatment also has the clever ability to reduce the possible irritation of exfoliating ingredients such as Retinols and AHAs and BHA s when used in the formulation together. 

01  High concentrations of Niacinamide (5% and above) will generally be delivered in water-based serums and therefore application order should following the thinnest-to-thickest consistency rule of application. Niacinamide Serums (O Biotics B3 Plus) are applied onto clean skin that is slightly damp from either Micellar Treatment Gel or O Biome Setting & Hydrating Spray as this helps the skin to be as permeable (easy to absorb) as possible.

02  Both our Potent Retinol Serum and Retinol Concentrate are fortified with Niacinamide to reduce the possibility of irritation making them the perfect anti aging and pigmentation treatment to your evening regime. Ready to find the best Retinol Serum to go with your Niacinamide serum? Read more about How to Use a Retinol Serum!

03  Layering Niacinamide with Hyaluronic Acid is a must as both these ingredients combat dehydration and reduce dryness. For best results, layer B3 Plus and follow with 3D Hyaluronic Serum for skin brightening, plumping and ultimate hydration.

04  Niacinamide paired with AHAs and BHAs alleviate the chance of possible irritation, hence our O Pro Dermal Professional Clinical Peels performed in Certified O COSMEDICS Clinics contain 10% Niacinamide in each AHA, BHA and Retinol peels.

05  As Niacinamide is a universally calming and inflammatory reducing ingredient, it plays nicely with all other ingredients which can be used to target most skin conditions including aging, dry, dehydrated, acne-prone and oily skins while stopping further skin pigmentation. Learn more about active skincare ingredients here. 

Still unsure how to add Niacinamide into your skincare routine? Check out our blog on How to Layer Skincare Products! 

Simple! This skin brightening ingredient is best used morning and evening or at a minimum in the morning on freshly cleaned skin in order of consistency (thin-to-thick). If you’re using a Niacinamide Serum for targeted results such as pigmentation treatment, then it is vital it is used twice a day: once for correction and once for prevention. If you’ve chosen the B3 Plus Serum this will be the first serum applied followed by gels, lotions, hydrators and oils. Always remember to apply your Mineral Pro SPF diligently each morning to protect and prevent from sun damage and skin destruction.  If you need help choosing a SPF Sunscreen that is best suited for your skin, we’ve written The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Sunscreen!

Let’s say it up the back for those that didn’t hear; all hail the almighty Niacinamide!