How to use niacinamide? When do you start to see results? Can it be mixed with Vitamin C?
First of all, do you know the benefits of niacinamide? Niacinamide is one of the best cosmetic ingredients I've tried. I noticed a radical change. I am talking about the benefits of niacinamide corroborated with scientific studies in this post.
1. How to use niacinamide
How is niacinamide applied?
Depende en qué formato utilices la niacinamida (su es en sérum, si es un ingrediente de tu crema, si es niacinamida al 100% en polvo…).
Lo habitual es que sea en sérum. Si es en sérum, aplica la niacinamida después de tu tónico o esencia habitual y antes de tu crema. Aplica Apply one or two drops and spread all over the face. Espera hasta que se absorba.
How long do I have to leave the niacinamide on the skin?
Wait until it is absorbed before applying other products, such as your cream or oil. I usually wait for 30 seconds to 1 minute if it is a serum.
If it is a mask, let it act between 10 and 20 minutes.
The longer you leave the niacinamide on the skin, the better the niacinamide will work.
Therefore, if you want to quickly notice the benefits of niacinamide on the skin, choose niacinamide in serum, mask or night creambetter than a facial cleanser (although I already noticed benefits when using only niacinamide in facial cleanser).
What comes first, the niacinamide or the moisturizer?
Normally, niacinamide comes in a serum, so niacinamide would go first and then, your facial cream.
But that really depends on the texture and the type of product.
Niacinamide comes in facial cleansers, in facial masks, in toners, in creams... In this case, we should follow the typical skincare routine order1º Cleanser, 2º toner, 3º Essence, 4º Serum, 5º Cream.
In doubt, just follow rule number 1 to order your facial routine: from more liquid to more dense products.
What comes first, niacinamide or hyaluronic acid?
It is indifferent. It depends on the density of the product. Apply the lighter one first and the heavier one later. You can also mix serums: Gel Cream Mixer from THE POTIONS can really help you mixing serums.
What should not be mixed with niacinamide?
It is often commented that niacinamide should not be mixed with pure Vitamin C pura, because niacinamide mix up with an acidic pH (3-4), is converted to nicotinic acid, which can cause redness.
Es decir, So, it really depends on the pH of the product with which we mix the niacinamide.
In any case, there are those who defend that this is unlikely. For this reaction to form, lots of heat during a extended time is needed. durante un tiempo prolongado, algo poco habitual, por lo que según ellos sí podrían mezclarse. Yo prefiero asegurarme y repartir los ingredientes a lo largo del día o esperar un tiempo prudencial entre ellos until completely absorbed. It is recommended between 10 and 15 minutes, making sure that the skin does not redden.
So I can't mix Vitamin C with niacinamide?
It depends.
In order for niacinamide to be transformed into nicotinic acid, it is necessary that niacinamide is combined with a fairly acidic pH (3-4). According to this, we are faced with two cases, pure Vitamin C and its derivatives:
a) Pure Vitamin C Pura and niacinamide
Since pure Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), in order to be more stable and effective, is formulated at fairly acidic pH, it is recommended not to mix pure Vitamina C with niacinamide.
b) derivatives of vitamin C and niacinamide de la Vitamina C y niacinamida
Pero la niacinamide But niacinamide is not totally incompatible with Vitamin C. For example, Vitamin C derivatives, such as Ascorbyl Glucoside, are formulated at neutral pH (5.5), so there would be no problems when combining this or any other derivative of Vitamin C with niacinamide.
How many days can niacinamide be used? What happens if I use niacinamide every day?
No problem. You can use niacinamide every day you want. It is one of the ingredients you can always include in your skincare routine.
Even so, I like to do rest periods, such as spending a couple of days or a week without including niacinamide and several with other ingredients such as Alpha Arbutin.
I also like to rotate brands: sometimes I use The Ordinary's Niacinamide and many others I use Beauty Drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% (one of my favorite products).
Also, I always reintroduce the niacinamide when I notice that my skin is more oily than usual or when I see an acne tendency.
2. When do you start to see the effects of niacinamide?
From what I have been researching (here you can consult the post where I show the studies that corroborate the benefits of niacinamide), in most of the tests the benefits of niacinamide are more noticeable from the 8th week of treatment. Almost all of the benefits of niacinamide are seen among 8 to 12 weeks.
It should be noted that most of these tests were done with niacinamide concentrations of the 4% and 5%, applying the treatment 2 times a day. These concentrations are much lower than what we can find now on the market. Currently, most products that contain niacinamide do so in more than a 10% concentration. superior al 10%.
This means that you may perceive the benefits of niacinamide much faster, like in 3 or 4 weeks. 3 o 4 semanas.
Does niacinamide cause breakouts?
It doesn't have to. But, in my experience I did had a "purge" effect by introducing this ingredient into my facial routine. That is, an acne "breakout" or small pimples appears when you start using it. This occurs because the sebum that was accumulated on the skin comes out quickly. But don't worry, it doesn't have to happen, especially if you don't have an acne tendency and, furthermore, this effect is very much temporary.
How long does the "purge" effect of niacinamide last?
It usually does not last more than 6 weeks. In my case, it lasted about one week. I thought it was a reaction, so I stopped the application. When I figured it was really a "purge" effect, I thought I reintroduced it again. Since then, after only a couple of weeks, my skin cleared up, I had no purge effect and I started to notice all the benefits.
3. Personal experience using niacinamide
The first time I used niacinamide, I used the niacinamide from The Ordinary.
My skin had a small acne breakout the first few days (now I know it was possibly a small "purge" of my skin). For this reason, I suspended the application for a couple of weeks. I decided to give it another chance a few weeks later and I was consistent with the routine: I applied it in the morning and at night.
In about 3 or 4 weeks I started to notice all the benefits. cambio brutal , Mi skin was better than ever: much closed pores, velvety look, los no blackheads,much more beautiful and even skin tone, luminous, juicy skin, la piel más tersa . The red acne spots were completely gone.
It wasn't something that I only noticed, but also friends and family.
For this reason, niacinamide is a must in my skincare routineI use it in the facial cleanser and serum. low cost de niacinamida).
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