NIACINAMIDE
Ingredient Spotlight
Every issue , we put one of the most popular skin care ingredients under the metaphorical microscope to better understand how it works its magic on the skin , and the latest ingredient to submit to this interrogation is Niacinamide which , * SPOILER ALERT *, passed with flying colours .
Also known as Niacin and Vitamin B3 , Niacinamide is one of the few ingredients on the market that could easily win the award for Most Effective Problem Solver . In scientific terms , it is a water-soluble vitamin that can pretty much handle anything , from a breakout to moisture loss , which is why most dermatologists , beauty editors and general skin care nerds will tell you that it trumps even the major players in the game , like Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid .
How It Works
What makes it so versatile is its ability to improve the communication between the cells , which helps to stimulate microcirculation within the skin . This means it can essentially tell the skin what to do in order to tackle any issues it has at the surface from the inside . It encourages collagen production to prevent the development of wrinkles , it increases ceramide synthesis to help strengthen the epidermal barrier which prevents water loss and dehydration , and it stops the transfer of melanosomes ( the cells that contain melanin ) to the surface to prevent dark spots from peppering the skin .
Wait , There ’ s More
Sources : FutureDerm
And it doesn ’ t stop there . Niacinamide has been shown to curb inflammation caused by both external stressors ( like pollution ) and nasty breakouts , calming the skin during a flare-up so that it looks and feels more balanced , which then has a knock-on effect on the severity and frequency of future pimples . Basically , it eliminates stressful skin days for the long term . Sensitive skin sufferers aren ’ t excluded from the party either as Niacinamide is generally well tolerated by all skin types , so you can apply it daily without worrying about the side effects , which is why you can find it in everything from serums and moisturisers to sunscreens and face masks .
ISSUE # 02 | WINTER 2016 | SkinHealthMagazine . com 23