Is niacinamide good for dry skin? Let’s find out!

If you have followed the skincare industry for a while, niacinamide as an ingredient might not be unknown to you. This active ingredient has too many benefits to ignore, especially when it comes to managing dry skin.

There are many causes of skin dryness: heat, cold weather, pollution, UV rays, use of the wrong skin care products, aging, and excessive washing.

Inherently, dry skin produces lesser natural oils and has low moisture retention making it vulnerable against aggressors. It also often has a weakened skin barrier caused by the lipid degeneration on the outermost layer of your skin. 

Incorporating hydrating ingredients like niacinamide can help manage dryness in the skin, providing adequate nourishment and moisturization.

Let’s look at the benefits of niacinamide and understand if niacinamide is good for dry skin.

Relieving dry skin with niacinamide

Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3. On one hand, water solubility ensures maximum absorption into our skin.

But on the other hand, it hinders the storage of the vitamin in our body for a longer time. This creates the need for a topical application of niacinamide, ensuring your skin always has access to it when needed.

Why is niacinamide good for dry skin you ask?

Niacinamide has several properties that can benefit dry skin

1. It boosts the production of ceramides. They are essential lipids, part of the skin barrier on the stratum corneum, responsible for maintaining skin's hydration levels. Ceramides help restore the skin's barrier, alleviating its effectiveness against external aggressors.

2. It gives a boost of hydration to your skin

3. It soothes the skin owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. Dry skin is often prone to redness and itchiness to which niacinamide provides effective relief.

4. It regulates oil production which benefits dry skin too. Although seemingly counterintuitive, balanced oil production in dry skin means, your skin will never be too dry.

5. It boosts the production of natural moisturizing factors (NMF) in the skin. These substances are naturally synthesized by your skin to attract and retain water. A healthy abundance of NMF ensures naturally plump and hydrated skin.

6. It boosts collagen production, effectively targeting all signs of aging.

If your skin feels flaky and dry, niacinamide is something you ought to try!

How to use niacinamide for dry skin

1. In a complete skincare range: Niacinamide is excellent for daily use. A regulated dosage of niacinamide in each step of your skincare routine would be ideal for maintaining your skin.

2. In a serum: Serums work best as targeted treatments, thanks to their concentrated formulations. Incorporating a niacinamide serum in your regular skincare ensures targeted action on blemishes like acne scars, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, skin dryness, and more. Serums also ensure that the ingredient penetrates better into your skin.

3. In a moisturizer: Niacinamide is 'buffered' in moisturizer formulations. This choice is ideal for those who are using more than one active ingredient in their skincare. Buffering ensures that the potency of any active ingredient ultimately balances with the others, upon layering. Eg. While using a salicylic acid serum in your skincare, a niacinamide moisturizer will help tackle its potential side effects like increased sensitivity to the sun.

4. In a toner: Niacinamide is known to prep the canvas for your skincare. When used in the form of a toner, it helps your skin prepare for any actively potent ingredient that may follow in the next steps of the routine. It also unclogs the pores, ensuring better absorption of products that follow next. In cases of using serums with slightly more aggressive ingredients like retinol and salicylic acid on dry skin, using a niacinamide toner for skin prep is highly recommended.

5. In a sunscreen: Niacinamide provides hydration to the skin while reducing tan caused by sun exposure, making it one of the most sought-after ingredients in a sunscreen formula. Especially when using active ingredients like salicylic acid and retinol that increase the skin's photosensitivity, a niacinamide sunscreen is a wise decision.

Niacinamide skincare routine for dry skin

Morning/ Night time Skincare:

A. Cleanse: Begin by washing your face with any gentle cleanser. Massage gently to clean your face off any product residue or more. Pat dry with a soft towel.

B. Tone: Use a niacinamide toner. You can try Plum's 3% Niacinamide Face Toner with Rice Water.  Spritz the toner all over your face and neck; and wait for a few seconds to allow for its absorption. 

C. Treat: Once the toner is absorbed in your skin, dispense a few drops of Plum’s 10% niacinamide face serum with rice water on your face and neck and gently pat it in. The niacinamide in the formulation actively targets dehydrated, hyper-pigmented, and sun-damaged areas on your skin while the rice water gives a gentle detox to your face. 

D. Hydrate: Moisturize with Plum's Oat & 1% Ceramide Barrier Love Face Cream. Its ceramide-boosting formula ensures that all the hydration from the niacinamide serum stays locked in.

E. Protect: Finish your morning skincare routine with Plum's 2% Niacinamide & Rice Water SPF 50 PA+++ Hybrid Sunscreen, even when indoors. The 2% boost of the niacinamide further enhances the potency of SPF 50 PA+++, giving all-around protection to your skin against the sun.

F. You can follow the same steps for your PM  regimen. Opt for Plum's 2% Niacinamide & Rice Water Gel Cream instead of sunscreen. Its formula is crafted to boost the night-time rejuvenation cycle of your skin.

Things to keep in mind

• Although active ingredients are structurally supportive to our skin, a patch test on your skin is a must before introducing any ingredient to your skincare regimen. 

• Always start with lower concentrations—It's better to give your skin time to test the suitability of the active ingredient. 

• You can try new products and combinations to find the right recipe for your skin but don’t overdo it. Your skin is as delicate as a snowflake- love and care for it.

Girls, don't let dry skin win, let niacinamide take it on the chin!

FAQs

Can niacinamide help with dry skin?

Yes, niacinamide has proven to be incredibly effective for dry skin care. Its hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties are suited to what dry skin needs.

What niacinamide products are best for dry skin?

You can incorporate niacinamide in your regular skincare in various formulas ranging from serum to sunscreen. Depending on your skin goal, you can choose whichever formulation works best for you. At Plum, we have the Niacinamide Bright & Clear Skin Combo - an entire niacinamide skincare range formulated to suit all skin types.

Is niacinamide suitable for sensitive dry skin?

Niacinamide is proven to be compatible with all skin types but we recommend a patch test before you incorporate any active ingredient into your skincare regimen.

How soon can I see results from using niacinamide on dry skin?

With consistent regulated use of niacinamide on dry skin, you can see visible results in less than 2 weeks. Continue following the regimen diligently, and regularly, to optimize your results.

Can niacinamide be used on dry skin daily?

Yes, niacinamide can be regularly used as a part of your skincare regimen but make sure you keep the concentration in check. The total concentration of niacinamide used should not go beyond 20%. Be patient and follow the regulations while using any active ingredient.