Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide or Vitamin B3, is unique because it has many benefits that other skin care ingredients do not have.

This blog will explain why niacinamide is one of the best cosmeceutical ingredients found in serums and creams.

It is used to soothe skin and decrease skin pigment.

Before you waste time and money on the wrong skin care products- take our 3-5 minute skin care routine quiz.

Once you take the quiz you can:

Get a step by step routine

Shop by your Baumann Skin Type

Find the best niacinamide brands your your skin type

Read niacinamide product reviews from others with the same Baumann Skin Type as you.

Niacinamide is a PAR-2 blocker that helps whiten skin.

Niacinamide will help lighten skin but should be paired in the skin care routine with a retinoid and a tyrosinase inhibitor for best results.

These are our dermatologist recommended products with niacinamide to use in a skin lightening routine.

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum -This serum combines skin lighteners form 3 skin lightening ingredient categories: niacinamide, retinol and kojic acid

SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense- This serum has 3% tranexamic acid, 1% kojic acid and 5% niacinamide

Medature Hydrobright- Combines hexylresorcinol, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Zerafite Brightening Barrier Cream- Combines unsaturated fatty acids, niacinamide, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Bilberry extract, and Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract

Yes niacinamide is a good anti-inflammatory ingredient to treat rosacea or a red face.

In fact, it is one of the best ingredients for a redness on the face- unless you are allergic to it.

1. Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer
2. Zerafite Soothing and Calming Barrier Repair Moisturizer
3. Zerafite Wrinkle Defense Barrier Repair Moisturizer

Niacinamide gives cells energy to repair themselves after sun damage.

This is why niacinamide is a good ingredient in sunscreen.

Here are the best sunscreens that have niacinamide:

Essopi Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 33

SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense SPF

EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Untinted

Niacinamide is used in serums, sunscreens, and creams to treat dark spots, melasma, skin aging and rosacea.

It may also be found in acne treatments but it is not the best treatment for acne.

Niacinamide has 3 main functions in a skin care routine:

1. Blocks PAR-2 receptors to help prevent dark spots
2. Gives cells energy to help repair damage and make important components like collagen
3. Anti-inflammatory and soothing

Niacinamide is not irritating to the skin unless you have an allergy to it.

It can be used once or twice a day in your skin care routine.

All moisturizers go well with niacinamide.

Choose a type of moisturizer that is best for your Baumann Skin Type.

Instead of mixing a niacinamide serum with a moisturizer, you can buy a moisturizer that already ahs niacinamide in it such as:

Zerafite Brightening Barrier Cream- best niacinamide cream for skin lightening in sensitive skin

Zerafite Soothing and Calming- best niacinamide cream for rosacea and sensitive skin

Trying to decide if niacinamide is the best ingredient or you- or maybe vitamin c, retinoids, or HA serums are better. We will tell you exactly what skin care products to use for your skin type.

You can find moisturizers that have niacinamide like these:

Vitamin C and niacinamide are very different, and which to choose depends upon your Baumann Skin Type.

They both can be used to lighten dark spots, but Vitamin C is a tyrosinase inhibitor while niacinamide is a PAR-2 blocker.

Niacinamide can be used on sensitive skin but Vitamin C should not be.

Niacinamide sooths inflammation while Vitamin C can cause inflammation.

Niacinamide can be used on a rash or burn, Vitamin C cannot.

Both can be used for skin aging but they work differently:

Vitamin C is an antioxidant, niacinamide is not

They both increase collagen production but through different mechanisms

Niacinamide increases cellular energy, Vitamin C does not

Niacinamide increases DNA repair, Vitamin C does not

Vitamin C is an exfoliant and niacinamide is not.

These are very different types of skin care ingredients. Hyaluronic acid hydrates, plumps and makes other ingredients absorb better.

Niacinamide is anti-inflammatory, antiaging, increases cellular energy, and lightens skin.

Both retinol and niacinamide are good for antiaging, but retinol is better.

These can be used together because they both have antiaging and skin lightening benefits.

Niacinamide can help decrease the side effects from retinol.

If you have to choose between the two- choose retinol for antiaging.

Niacinamide decreases inflammation which helps treat the symptoms of acne but not the cause. It should be combined with other ingredients to effectively treat acne such as benzoyl peroxide and retinoids.

Which acne ingredients are best to combine with niacinamide to treat acne depends upon your Baumann Skin Type.

Niacinamide does not cause acne but some impure forms can cause an allergic reaction.

Niacinamide does not help true acne scars.

However, when my patients say they have acne scars, they often are referring to the red marks left after a pimple heals. These pink or red marks are not scars- they are skin inflammation.

Niacinamide can speed up how fast the red spots from acne heal and disappear.

You can go in the sun while wearing niacinamide. Niacinamide does not seem to be a photoallergen and does not make skin more sensitive to sun.

Niacinamide when use topical has very few negative effects. However, it can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

The purity of niacinamide used in the skin care formulation effects the potential to cause a skin allergy. In other words- purer forms of niacinamide are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

This is why you may get an allergy to some products with niacinamide in them and not from others. In fact, it can vary from batch to batch depending on what form was used when the products were made.

To find what products are best for you, shop by your Baumann Skin Type

Although many people say you cannot mix niacinamide with Vitamin C, this is incorrect. Niacinamide and Vitamin C can be used together. Both are water soluble ingredients that are compatible together.

Yes, you can mix niacinamide with any skin care ingredients.

It does not react with anything.

AHAs like glycolic acid

Antioxidants

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

BHA (salicylic acid)

Hyaluronic acid

Peptides

Retinol and retinoids

No, the effects of niacinamide are temporary. It acts as a temporary PAR-2 blocker. It must be used consistently every day to have lightening effects.

References and Scientific publications about niacinamide in skin care:

1. L. Baumann. Ch 44 Niacinamide in Cosmeceutical and Cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)
2. Leyden JJ, Shergill B, Micali G, Downie J, Wallo W. Natural options for the management of hyperpigmentation. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Oct;25(10):1140-5.
3. Zhu W, Gao J. The use of botanical extracts as topical skin-lightening agents for the improvement of skin pigmentation disorders. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2008 Apr;13(1):20-4.
4. Greatens A, Hakozaki T, Koshoffer A, Epstein H, Schwemberger S, Babcock G, Bissett D, Takiwaki H, Arase S, Wickett RR, Boissy RE. Effective inhibition of melanosome transfer to keratinocytes by lectins and niacinamide is reversible. Exp Dermatol. 2005 Jul;14(7):498-508.
5. Mohammed D, Crowther JM, Matts PJ, Hadgraft J, Lane ME. Influence of niacinamide containing formulations on the molecular and biophysical properties of the stratum corneum. Int J Pharm. 2013 Jan 30:441(1-2):192-201.
6. Comaish JS, Felix RH, McGrath H. Topically applied niacinamide in isoniazid-induced pellagra. Arch Dermatol. 1976 Jan;112(1):70-2.
7. Benavente CA, Schnell SA, Jacobson EL. Effects of niacin restriction on sirtuin and PARP responses to photodamage in human skin. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e42276.
8. Surjana D, Damian DL. Nicotinamide in dermatology and photoprotection. Skinmed. 2011 Nov-Dec;9(6):360-5.
9. Namazi MR. Nicotinamide in dermatology: a capsule summary. Int J Dermatol. 2007 Dec;46(12):1229-31.
10. Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J, Chhoa M, Matsubara A, Miyamoto K, Greatens A, Hillebrand GG, Bissett DL, Boissy RE. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Jul;147(1):20-31.
11. Konda S, Geria AN, Halder RM. New horizons in treating disorders of hyperpigmentation in skin color. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2012 Jun;31(2):133-9.
12. Zhu W, Gao J. The use of botanical extracts as topical skin-lightening agents for the improvement of skin pigmentation disorders. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2008 Apr;13(1):20-4.
13. Gillbro JM, Olsson MJ. The melanogenesis and mechanisms of skin-lightening agents—existing and new approaches. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2011 Jun;33(3):210-21.
14. Surjana D, Damian DL. Nicotinamide in dermatology and photoprotection. Skinmed. 2011 Nov-Dec;9(6):360-5.
15. Greatens A, Hakozaki T, Koshoffer A, Epstein H, Schwemberger S, Babcock G, Bissett D, Takiwaki H, Arase S, Wickett RR, Boissy RE. Effective inhibition of melanosome transfer to keratinocytes by lectins and niacinamide is reversible. Exp Dermatol. 2005 Jul;14(7):498-508.
16. Sharlow ER, Paine CS, Babiarz L, Eisinger M, Shapiro S, Seiberg M. The protease-activated receptor-2 upregulates keratinocyte phagocytosis. J Cell Sci. 2000 Sep;113(Pt 17):3093-101.
17. Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J, Chhoa M, Matsubara A, Miyamoto K, Greatens A, Hillebrand GG, Bissett DL, Boissy RE. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Jul;147(1):20-31.
18. Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J, Chhoa M, Matsubara A, Miyamoto K, Greatens A, Hillebrand GG, Bissett DL, Boissy RE. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Jul;147(1):20-31.
19. Elliott RB, Pilcher CC, Fergusson DM, Stewart AW. A population based strategy to prevent insulin-dependent diabetes using nicotinamide. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 1996 Sep-Oct;9(5):501-9.
20. Gensler HL, Williams T, Huang AC, Jacobson EL. Oral niacin prevents photocarcinogenesis and photoimmunosuppression in mice. Nutr Cancer. 1999;34(1):36-41.
21. Damian DL. Photoprotective effects of nicotinamide. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2010 Apr;9(4):578-85.
22. Yiasemides E, Sivapirabu G, Halliday GM, Park J, Damian DL. Oral nicotinamide protects against ultraviolet radiation-induced immunosuppression in humans. Carcinogenesis. 2009 Jan;30(1):101-5.
23. Surjana D, Halliday GM, Martin AJ, Moloney FJ, Damian DL. Oral nicotinamide reduces actinic keratoses in phase II double-blinded randomized controlled trials. J Invest Dermatol. 2012 May;132(5):1497-500.[1]
24. Callender VD, St Surin-Lord S, Davis EC, Maclin M. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: etiologic and therapeutic considerations. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2011 Apr 1;12(2):87-99.
25. Mohammed D, Crowther JM, Matts PJ, Hadgraft J, Lane ME. Influence of niacinamide containing formulations on the molecular and biophysical properties of the stratum corneum. Int J Pharm. 2013 Jan 30:441(1-2):192-201.
26. Sivapirabu G, Yiasemides E, Halliday GM, Park J, Damian DL. Topical nicotinamide modulates cellular energy metabolism and provides broad-spectrum protection against ultraviolet radiation-induced immunosuppression in humans. Br J Dermatol. 2009 Dec;161(6):1357-64.
27. Otte N, Borelli C, Korting HC. Nicotinamide – biologic actions of an emerging cosmetic ingredient. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2005 Oct;27(5):255-61.
28. Mohammed D, Crowther JM, Matts PJ, Hadgraft J, Lane ME. Influence of niacinamide containing formulations on the molecular and biophysical properties of the stratum corneum. Int J Pharm. 2013 Jan 30:441(1-2):192-201.
29. Hakozaki T, Takiwaki H, Miyamoto K, Sato Y, Arase S. Ultrasound enhanced skin-lightening effect of vitamin C and niacinamide. Skin Res Technol. 2006 May;12(2):105-13.
30. Bissett DL, Robinson LR, Raleigh PS, Miyamoto K, Hakozaki T, Li J, Kelm GR. Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-undecyl-10-enoyl-L-phenylalanine and its combination with niacinamide. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2009 Dec;8(4):260-6.
31. Jerajani HR, Mizoguchi H, Li J, Whittenbarger DJ, Marmor MJ. The effects of a daily facial lotion containing vitamins B3 and E and provitamin B5 on the facial skin of Indian women: a randomized, double-blind trial. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2010 Jan-Feb;76(1):20-6.
32. Kimball AB, Kaczvinsky JR, Li J, Robinson LR, Matts PJ, Berge CA, Miyamoto K, Bissett DL. Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation after use of moisturizers with a combination of topical niacinamide and N-acetyl glucosamine: results of a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2010 Feb 1;162(2):435-41.
33. Fu JJ, Hillebrand GG, Raleigh P, Li J, Marmor MJ, Bertucci V, Grimes PE, Mandy SH, Perez MI, Weinkle SH, Kaczvinsky JR. A randomized, controlled comparative study of the wrinkle reduction benefits of a cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate product regimen vs. a prescription 0.02% tretinoin product regimen. Br J Dermatol. 2010 Mar;162(3):647-54.
34. Bissett DL, Miyamoto K, Sun P, Li J, Berge CA. Topical niacinamide reduces yellowing, wrinkling, red blotchiness, and hyperpigmented spots in aging facial skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2004 Oct;26(5):231-8.
35. Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J, Chhoa M, Matsubara A, Miyamoto K, Greatens A, Hillebrand GG, Bissett DL, Boissy RE. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Jul;147(1):20-31.
36. Bissett DL, Miyamoto K, Sun P, Li J, Berge CA. Topical niacinamide reduces yellowing, wrinkling, red blotchiness, and hyperpigmented spots in aging facial skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2004 Oct;26(5):231-8.
37. Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA. Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatol Surg. 2005 Jul;31(7 Pt 2):860-5; discussion 865.
38. Greatens A, Hakozaki T, Koshoffer A, Epstein H, Schwemberger S, Babcock G, Bissett D, Takiwaki H, Arase S, Wickett RR, Boissy RE. Effective inhibition of melanosome transfer to keratinocytes by lectins and niacinamide is reversible. Exp Dermatol. 2005 Jul;14(7):498-508.