Niacinamide AKA Nicotinamide or Vitamin B3 is one of the best ingredients for your skin. It has been shown to help with a wide range of skin conditions, it is stable, can be easily absorbed by the skin and it is really well tolerated. That makes it the ultimate skincare allrounder!
It is a Vitamin that our bodies can’t make, so we generally get it in our diets from a wide range of foods including meat, liver, fish, green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, diary, mushrooms, tea and coffee.
Niacinamide is actually a vital component of 2 important coenzymes - nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) both of which are critical for hydrogen transfer in all cells. That means it plays an important role producing energy in cells as well as repairing cellular DNA.
When applied to our skin, Niacinamide has been shown to help with a wide range of skin concerns including:
Aging skin
In sun damaged and ageing skin, it helps with the process of building collagen.
It also prevents blotchiness, skin yellowing, combats skin roughness, as well as reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Niacinamide is also a critical moisturizing ingredient that has been shown to increase your skin’s own production of hydrating ceramides, improving the skin barrier and reducing water loss from the skin.
Reducing pigmentation
Niacinamide helps combat pigmentation and melasma. It reduces the transfer of pigment from melanocytes, where pigment is made, to the superficial skin cells (keratinocytes) where it is usually deposited and shows up as darker areas on our skin. That makes it an effective depigmenting agent.
Acne busting
Niacinamide, also reduces excess oil production, this together with its anti-inflammatory effects makes it an effective acne fighter.
Eczema
It’s ability to help make ceramides, improving skin barrier function and reducing skin moisture loss, make it a great aid in tackling eczema.
Rosacea
With its anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repairing abilities, it should not be surprising that it is also showing a role in reducing inflammation and sensitivity of rosacea skin.
Psoriasis
Niacinamide, due to it anti-inflammatory effects is even showing promise in helping manage psoriasis.
Reduced risk of UV induced skin cancer
Niacinamide not only helps DNA repair of cells, but it also suppresses an enzyme (stimulated by UV exposure) which is associated with cell aging and cancer. And while research in this area is ongoing, it looks like Niacinamide reduces the risk of skin cancer too.
And top it all off it is really well tolerated!!
With such a wide range of benefits coupled with its gentleness and ease of use in formulations, it’s no wonder Niacinamide has earned its place as the ultimate skincare allrounder.
When and How often to use
Most of the evidence for the benefits of Niacinamide are for daily use. But it can happily be combined with your other cosmeceutical ingredients including retinal, peptides, hyaluronic acid, AHAs and salicylic acid.
It can be as effective in a serum or a cream.
There is also no issue using it in the morning or night, or both!
Concentrations
While it seems there is no harm in concentrations of up to 10%, there is no evidence of additional benefits at higher concentrations.
The evidence for Niacinamide is for use at concentrations between 2 and 5%.
Shop ESK Pigmentation Collection
Meet B Quenched, a gentle hydrator designed for irritable skin. Powered by niacinamide and hemp seed oil, it helps support the appearance of a calm, hydrated skin barrier, while helping reduce visible redness. Free from scents, parabens, and sulphates, this pH-balanced formula locks in moisture and keeps irritants at bay. B Quenched leaves skin feeling soft, balanced, and refreshed, perfect for daily use.
B Quenched
Key Benefits
- Helps improve the appearance of hydration and softness
- Supports calm-looking, less inflamed skin
- Evidence-backed ingredients to maintain a resilient skin barrier
Enlighten is specifically designed to help reduce the appearance of pigmentation. This lightweight cream helps to gently create a more even skin tone and hydrate and improve the barrier function of the skin. While rarely used, 4-n-butylresorcinol (4nB) has some of the best evidence in this arena. Enlighten combines 4nB and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to create a rare combination of gentle yet effective ingredients. Enlighten helps tackle a mottled or uneven skin tone and is suitable for long term daily use
Enlighten
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