|
The skincare benefits of our pal, vitamin B3. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
|
NIACINAMIDE
our knight in brightening armor |
Nia-cina-who? Ni·a·cin·a·mide is compound C6H8O2 —for those of us who don’t get along with chemistry (‘tis I, the writer of this email), it’s most commonly known as vitamin B3, or “niacin.”
Niacinamide is an actual hero, and not just in our biased eyes. It was first discovered in 1937 to treat “pellagra,” a nutritional disease caused by a vitamin B3 deficiency. Pellagra can cause severe skin inflammation, gastrointestinal system malfunction, and even nervous system issues from headaches to dementia. Today, reported cases of pellagra in the US are very low—this is thanks to more niacin-enriched food sources. However, communities around the world where corn/maize dominate the diet still experience pellagra, given the lack of niacin in these crops.
As a skincare ingredient, niacinamide’s benefits are plentiful. It helps with the improvement of hyperpigmentation, skin clarity, evenness of skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, the appearance of pore size, and enhancing our skin barrier. This means ensuring our skin keeps unwanted things out, hence acting as a strong “barrier,” while running at its optimal capacity and performing functions such as retaining moisture. |
|
|
|
|
|
Aside from being a vitamin, niacinamide is also a humectant—an ingredient that is water loving and binding—that works by clinging onto and pulling in moisture from the deeper layers of skin and its surrounding environment. This helps with hydration + moisture retention + plumping = the juicy equation for healthy skin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The concentration of niacinamide that will provide these skin benefits is 4-5%.
|
|
|
|
|
We’ve seen lots of formulas on the market that go well above 10%, though more is not more! Things can go awry when we get greedy—the “everything in moderation” motto is transferable from good wine and desserts to skincare actives. Niacinamide is safe for topical application below 10%, though as you go above this amount, there is an increased chance of irritation and redness happening. If you’re new to this ingredient, conduct a patch test just to be sure, and if you’re allergic, completely opt-out of course.
Niacinamide is a hero ingredient in two Soft Services treatment products: Clearing Mist, our medicated breakout tonic, and Software Update, our performance retinol serum. Both featuring it at 5%.
|
|
|
|
|
|
While these two products focus on different concerns—Clearing Mist treats body acne and Software Update is a preventative and active measure for skin aging—niacinamide plays a skin brightening, evening, and moisture-barrier supporting role in these products. On top of these mentioned benefits:
|
|
|
In
Software Update, niacinamide eases the drying side effects commonly associated with retinol.
|
|
|
|
In
Clearing Mist, niacinamide provides breakout control to treat and maintain your results.
|
|
|
As with all other pigmentation fighting and brightening ingredients, pairing with diligent sunscreen use will be key to maintaining your results.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Got any specific niacinamide questions after digesting this read? Ask away, we love getting nerdy together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free shipping on orders over $65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
