You can apply 2–3 drops morning and/or evening to your face (including around the eyes) and neck after cleansing, toning, and exfoliating, and follow with your serum and moisturizer. Alternatively, you can add a few drops to your moisturizer or any other Paula's Choice targeted solution or booster you're using.
Apply Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% both morning and night.
You can use this product as often as you'd like to because it's so mild. You don't need to worry about alternating it, and you can use it whenever you do your normal skin care routine.
Three drops of any serum is enough for the whole face. Rub the drops between the palms and pat into the skin, give plenty of time for things to absorb.
Apply on clean skin and follow with moisturizer. Use 1 to 2 pea-sized drops.
Niacinamide concentration can vary across products, though most formulations are 5 percent or less. Some reports suggest 5 percent formulas are effective in treating hyperpigmentation and damage related to sun exposure. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to start with a lower concentration.
What percentage of niacinamide should you be using? Most dermatologists and cosmetic chemists recommend staying within the 2–5% range. Neostrata's Illuminating Serum, for instance, features 4% niacinamide, which will be well-tolerated by most skin types.
Niacinamide is possibly safe when taken in doses up to 900 mg daily. It might cause side effects such as stomach upset, gas, dizziness, headache, and rash.
Applying 3 or 4 drops is enough for an excellent result, you will not need more. And the most important thing is: is this serum effective? ... For me, the best companion of this serum is another one that helps you keep your skin well hydrated, such as The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5.
About 3-4 drops of the face serum are enough to lightly cover your entire face.
Niacinamide Serum – As most niacinamide serums are water-based, it's best to apply them after cleansing and toning and before oil-based serums or moisturizers. This way, you ensure the highest possible absorption and effectiveness. Cover your entire face with the serum, but feel free to concentrate on oily areas.
When selecting niacinamide products, Dr Ho advises that “a concentration of 4-5% niacinamide is ideal—enough to improve acne and fine wrinkles”. Higher concentrations, like The Ordinary 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc, have not yet been proven to exhibit a higher rate of efficacy.
Niacinamide can be used morning and night. Because it plays well with other skincare ingredients (even potentially tricky actives such as exfoliating acids and vitamin C) it will sit happily alongside anything else you're using.
Any skin type and age can benefit from using niacinamide in their skincare routine. Ideally you should use it twice a day, both morning and evening. For the most beneficial results, opt for formulas (like serums and moisturisers) that can be left on the skin for maximum absorption.
Some people do report irritation, dryness, and redness when using a high concentration of niacinamide (around 10 percent). Switching to a lower potency (around 4 or 5 percent) may be easier on your skin.
3. Three is the magic number. While there is no limit to how many serums you can add to your regimen, esthetician Enrique Ramirez, founder of Face to Face NYC, suggests stopping at three.
Serum. A pea-sized amount of serum gives your skin a concentrated boost of ingredients that help with hydration, exfoliation, acne, or dull skin. If you use too much: Using too much of any product leaves active ingredients sitting on your skin. Some, such as exfoliating serum, can lead to stinging or peeling.
Limit to Two Serums Per Routine
We recommend you use no more than two serums per routine. Again, alternating skin care items is a strategy here. If you have many serums that you like, use one to two in your morning routine and two different serums in the evening.
Don't Mix: Niacinamide and vitamin C. Although they're both antioxidants, vitamin C is one ingredient that's not compatible with niacinamide. "Both are very common antioxidants used in a variety of skincare products, but they should not be used one right after the other," says Dr. Marchbein.
The short version: Your skincare products will be more effective if you wait for a little bit of time in between adding each layer. How long? Each product is different, but wait until the tackiness of the product has subsided. A good rule of thumb is to wait about one minute in between each product.
You can use multiple niacinamide-containing products in your routine, and it will still be non-sensitising as this ingenious B vitamin is well tolerated by all skin types.
"An effective product should have between 2 and 10 percent niacinamide," she explains. Dr. Allenby adds that products with niacinamide concentrations under 5 percent are especially well-tolerated.
If a person's concerns are mostly around enlarged pores and uneven skin tone, the 10% strength is a great option. For those with more advanced concerns such as sagging pores, orange peel-like texture or oil-related bumps, the 20% strength is preferred.
It's an ingredient found in a number of moisturizing skin-care products, as well as certain foods and supplements like multivitamins. Can you use niacinamide every day? Yes. In fact, you can use niacinamide-containing topical products in the morning and night because it's generally a gentle ingredient.