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10 best niacinamide serums to help minimise pores and fine lines
From pigmentation to blemishes, this skincare ingredient can treat (almost) anything
With new buzz-worthy skincare ingredients coming at us left, right and centre, it can be hard to know what is really worth adding to your routine. Well, we’re here to tell you that niacinamide should definitely be one of them.
Unlike some ingredients that only target a specific skincare concern, niacinamide tackles a number of common issues – more on that later. If you’re looking to improve everything from blemishes to pigmentation, and even wrinkles, this ingredient is should be your go-to.
We asked 267 testers to trial serums packed with niacinamide to measure the difference to skin over a month of use. Scroll down to see our picks of the best niacinamide serums...
What can niacinamide do for your skin?
Niacinamide – otherwise known as nicotinamide – is a form of vitamin B3 (found naturally in food such as fish, meat and grains) and is quite the multitasker when it comes to tackling our skincare concerns.
We're handing over to our expert, GP and founder of Mind Body Doctor, Dr Tosin, to list the many benefits to this single ingredient:
“Niacinamide has an anti-inflammatory component so it is great for those with sensitive skin and conditions such as acne and rosacea. It’s been found to have benefits for keeping the skin youthful and plays a role in many anti-ageing products... by helping generate new skin cells, and prompting the production of collagen.”
If that wasn’t enough, Dr Tosin goes on to say: “It also helps with pigmentation and brightening the skin by acting on the pathways that produce melanin. And it prevents moisture loss from the skin's surface, therefore preventing dehydration which is really important for our skin's health.”
Suffer from regular or random breakouts? The ingredient will also help prevent the spots themselves. “Niacinamide has also been shown to regulate sebum (oil) production,” adds Dr Tosin, “and therefore can help with reducing acne and enlarged pores”.
How do I use niacinamide?
Unlike some skincare ingredients that must be used either in the day or at night, niacinamide can be used at any time. In fact, many choose to apply twice daily.
How you use it is flexible too. You’ll find niacinamide in everything from moisturisers to serums and oils. Whatever format your skin prefers, there’s a product out there for you.
What ingredients can I use with niacinamide?
“As well as having so many benefits, niacinamide is also very adaptable and can be used with many other active skincare ingredients,” explains Dr Tosin. It’s compatible with AHAs, BHA, hyaluronic acid and retinol to name a few. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties it can also potentially decrease any possible irritation other active ingredients can cause.
How we test niacinamide serum
Our panel of 267 testers put 19 brands to the test for four weeks to see which niacinamide serums were the most impressive.
They gave feedback on ease of use, packaging design and how well they targeted skin concerns, including radiance, brightness, hydration, blemishes, pores and/or fine lines and wrinkles.
In the Red beauty lab, we used a VISIA machine to look for differences in wrinkles, pores and brown spots and pigmentation, from week one to week four.
Find the best niacinamide serum for you...
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