Why Vitamin B3 is Good for Your Skin
Vitamin B3 is also known as the secret to glowing skin. Nothing say’s superhero ingredient than being able to hold up to 1000 times your own weight, which is exactly what this moisture binding molecule can do. Sometimes overlooked in favour of vitamin C, vitamin B3 is a powerhouse ingredient for hydration and skin brightening.
Types of Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 is apart of a family of vitamins that includes, nicotinamide (niacinamide), niacin (nicotinic acid) and nicotinamide riboside. Within the body all three forms are converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Ageing scientist Professor Derek Richard explains why NAD+ is so important to your skin.
“Niacinamide is a really important component of the DNA repair that our cells and skin do every day and is broken down into a compound called NAD+. As we get older, our NAD+ levels drop, and we start to see the signs of ageing in our skin.”
You will find niacinamide and nicotinamide riboside in your skincare products because of their ability to brighten and hydrate skin. Both ingredients are based off the same chemical structure but have different impacts within skin cells.
Niacinamide provides your skin with an initial burst whilst nicotinamide riboside is a slower release, giving your skin protection over a longer period of time.
Benefits of Vitamin B3 To Your Skin
- Repair UV induced skin cell damage
- Protects skin against free radical damage
- Strengthens skin barrier against moisture loss
- Regulates oil production
- Evens skin tone and lightens dark spots
How To Use It
You can combine vitamin B3 with most other ingredients without any major issues. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and is suitable for all skin types and colours. You can find vitamin B3 in serums, moisturisers and sunscreens and always look at the percentage of niacinamide or nicotinamide riboside in the product, as more is not always best. Studies have shown that between 2 and 5% concentrations of niacinamide in skincare products effectively reduce pigmentation and strengthen the skin. However, using products containing 10% niacinamide is more likely to cause irritation and redness and overall is not any better for your skin than using a formulation that contains between 2 and 5%. So less is more in this case.
