The world of skincare can be a mindboggling place. Do you know your salicylic acid from your hyaluronic acid? Did you even know you can use certain types of acids safely on your skin? It certainly sounds a bit daunting.
Should we be using a 12 step skincare routine every day? Or is a simple cleanse and moisturize enough? What about if we have certain aspects of our skin that worry us, such as oiliness or dryness, should we be targeting them?
See? It’s a minefield.
That’s why here at Vice Reversa, we like to take the time to highlight the ingredients we use, and explain what they’re for and how they work, so that you can decide which of our products will suit your skin’s needs best.
In the spotlight this time, is niacinamide. What does niacinamide do and how to use niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a super versatile ingredient that’s being increasingly used in skincare products that target specific skin concerns. In our case, we’ve added it to our Pigment Fader patches that help to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.
So here’s the lowdown on niacinamide.
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What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is also sometimes referred to as nicotinamide and despite its alternative name, it’s nothing to do with nicotine! Instead, niacinamide is actually a form of vitamin B3. In the diet, vitamin B3 is known as niacin and it helps the body release energy from the food we eat and plays a role in keeping the nervous system healthy.
Niacin is also important for skin health, hence this derivative of niacin, niacinamide, being a new and innovative ingredient in skincare products by forward thinking skincare brands.
Don’t worry, that’s enough new words beginning with “nia“… Now, what does niacinamide do for the skin?
What Are the Benefits of Niacinamide for the Skin?
Niacinamide has multiple benefits for the skin due to its ability to help build a protein called keratin. Keratin helps to keep the skin healthy and able to perform its barrier function to help protect us from invaders and infections. The skin is part of the immune system after all. Niacinamide also helps to manufacture the protective lipids in this barrier called ceramides which protect the skin against dryness, flakiness and sensitivities.
Together, these properties mean that niacinamide can help to strengthen the moisture barrier in the skin, helping to protect it against moisture loss, dehydration and damage from environmental pollutants.
This wonder ingredient also helps to reduce inflammation in the skin, which can be helpful if you experience redness and irritation or if your skin is prone to breakouts and acne.
But perhaps one of the most exciting benefits of using niacinamide in skincare products is its ability to reduce areas of hyperpigmentation. Research has shown that niacinamide can help to lighten dark spots on the skin and other visible signs of environmental damage.
How Does Niacinamide Work on Skin Hyperpigmentation?
So, what does niacinamide do for skin that’s struggling with dark spots and pigmentation problems? Areas of hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone are caused by an excess amount of the skin pigment called melanin appearing under the surface of the skin.
Niacinamide has a twofold effect on this by breaking down existing areas of excess melanin and helping to prevent more areas from appearing.
Is Niacinamide Safe?
Yes, niacinamide skincare products for skin hyperpigmentation are considered safe for all skin types to use. It’s especially beneficial for those with skin that’s too sensitive for products such as retinoids, that can cause irritation in some skin types.
Niacinamide is also safe when combined with other active ingredients that you may be using in other skincare products at the same time, including peptides and hyaluronic acid.
How Do I Know if My Skin Would Benefit from Niacinamide?
If you experience areas of hyperpigmentation or darkened patches of skin, then using skincare products that contains niacinamide will benefit your skin. It will also help if you have skin that suffers acne breakouts, redness, inflammation and enlarged pores.
How to Use Niacinamide in Your Skincare Routine
Niacinamide might sound like an unusual ingredient and you might not have seen it in many skincare products before. But we know you’re excited to try it, so that’s why we’ve added it to our brand new Vice Reversa Pigment Fader microneedle patches.
Don’t be put off by the word microneedle, as our microneedle patches are actually made from microcrystals that penetrate deeply into the skin by dissolving painlessly to where they’re needed.
How to use niacinamide Pigment Fader patches – it couldn’t be easier, simply apply our microneedle patch to your areas of concern and leave for a minimum of two hours, we recommend using them overnight. The microcrystals will get to work helping to even out your skin tone and you won’t feel a thing.
Far superior to using creams and serums designed for managing areas of hyperpigmentation, our Pigment Fader microcrystal patches are the future of revolutionary skincare – when will you be ordering yours?
