How to start using niacinamide serum?

Author: Mrs. Maggie Bradtke II  |  Last update: Monday, December 15, 2025

How to Apply Niacinamide in Your Skincare Routine
  1. Cleanse: To begin, clean your face to remove any dirt, oil, or makeup. ...
  2. Tone: After cleansing, use a toner to balance your skin's pH and prepare it for the following steps in your routine.
  3. Serum: Apply a niacinamide serum to your face.

How do you use niacinamide serum for beginners?

Begin by cleansing your face thoroughly. A clean face aids in better absorption and gives better results. Use the handy dropper provided with the serum to dispense a few drops onto your fingertips. Apply 2-3 drops of the serum evenly to your face & neck and gently dab it in.

Is 10% niacinamide too much for beginners?

I have nothing against 10% niacinamide 🤣, I even recommend it to some. But the problem with such 10% is that it can dry you out to the point that you start to break out. Just becareful with 10%, and rearrange your skincare for the 10% by adding hydrating and moisturizing products.

What happens to your skin when you start using niacinamide?

"Niacinamide reduces sebum production, which can both help prevent acne and also diminish shine," says dermatologist Kenneth Howe, MD.

What step in routine should I use niacinamide?

Niacinamide can be applied after cleansing and toning but before moisturizing. If you're using it in serum form, dispense a small amount and gently pat it into the skin. You can follow with a moisturizer to lock in hydration. It can be used both in the morning and at night.

How to use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | Full Demonstration

What not to mix niacinamide with?

DON'T MIX: AHA/BHA and niacinamide

Niacinamide is used to treat hyperpigmentation and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are chemical exfoliants. To understand why niacinamide shouldn't be mixed with AHAs and BHAs, you need to consider pH.

How to know if niacinamide is working?

Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid

While you may not see any significant results during the first few weeks, there should be a notable difference by about 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, you should notice more hydrated, smoother, and toned skin.

Does niacinamide cause purging at first?

Niacinamide isn't typically known to cause purging, but some people may experience mild breakouts as their skin adjusts. These usually clear up within a few weeks.

How often should a beginner use niacinamide?

We recommend using it four times per week (at night). If you're new to chemical exfoliation or have easily-irritated skin, start with once-weekly usage and gradually increase the frequency as your skin acclimates.

Can you put niacinamide under eyes?

You can use niacinamide-containing products around your eyes, too.

Can I use 10% niacinamide everyday as a beginner?

For Beginners: 2-3 Times a Week

If you're just introducing niacinamide into your regimen, start with a gentle approach. Use our Dermabay Niacinamide Serum 2-3 times a week to allow your skin to acclimate. This ensures your skin isn't overwhelmed and can reap the benefits without any irritation.

Can I use hyaluronic acid and niacinamide together?

You can use hyaluronic acid and niacinamide serums in the same routine. Fact. Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are actually quite complementary. Hyaluronic acid helps hydrate and plump the skin, while niacinamide supports skin barrier function, reduces excess oil, and helps brighten the skin tone.

What are the side effects of using niacinamide on your face?

Niacinamide is possibly safe when taken in doses up to 900-1500 mg daily. It might cause side effects such as stomach upset, gas, dizziness, headache, and rash. When applied to the skin: Niacinamide is possibly safe. Niacinamide cream might cause mild burning, itching, or redness.

Do I need moisturizer after niacinamide?

After the skin has properly absorbed the serum, apply a moisturiser. For oily skin, opt for a gel or water-based lightweight hydrating moisturiser. If you have dry skin, choose oil or cream-based heavy moisturiser. If it is a night routine, this is the last step, but the day routine has one more step left.

Which skin type should not use niacinamide?

Though niacinamide is a soothing and non-irritating ingredient, applying products with a higher concentration (10 percent or more) can irritate the skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.

How do I prepare my skin for niacinamide?

Cleanse: To begin, clean your face to remove any dirt, oil, or makeup. Use a gentle cleanser that will not remove your skin's natural oils. Tone: After cleansing, use a toner to balance your skin's pH and prepare it for the following steps in your routine. Serum: Apply a niacinamide serum to your face.

What not to pair with niacinamide?

Similar to retinol, niacinamide should not be used with acidic skincare ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids. Ordinary niacinamide combined with an acid can cause a bad chemical reaction of redness and flushing.

How long does it take for skin to adjust to niacinamide?

How long does Niacinamide take to work? Using 5% or 10% Niacinamide-containing products show better effects with no skin problems like irritation. Most studies show that even though you may find improvement immediately after starting Niacinamide, it usually takes anywhere between 8-12 weeks for a visible change.

Is niacinamide better in the morning or night?

Should You Use Niacinamide In the AM Or PM? Niacinamide is recommended to be applied up to two times per day. Given this advice, it is typically applied once in the AM and again in the PM before bed. Unlike retinol, niacinamide doesn't increase skin sensitivity and higher chance of reactions from the sun.

Can 10% niacinamide cause breakouts?

Niacinamide has several benefits for your skin and does not increase your skin cell turnover. You may experience skin breakouts at first, but regular use may not cause any reaction.

What does skin purging look like?

In other words, when you use certain products, your skin is likely to look worse before it looks better. A purge can look like blackheads and whiteheads, and it's likely to appear in the places where you normally break out.

How long does niacinamide flush last?

Niacin users often experience “prickly heat” or a sense of warmth in the face, neck, ears, trunk, and, less frequently, the upper or lower extremities. Other common features include erythema, itching, and tingling. Symptoms typically last for less than 1 hour to 2.5 hours.

How to use 10% niacinamide serum for beginners?

Things You Should Know
  1. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry before applying a couple of drops of Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% to your skin.
  2. Apply heavy creams or other oil-based serums on top of the Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1%.
  3. Use Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% if you have red, oily skin.

Why is my skin getting darker after using niacinamide?

Some may also have skin discoloration due to using niacinamide combined with other active ingredients that are too harsh for your skin type. Niacinamide can also cause problems when it's mixed with the following substances: Acids, including lactic acid, glycolic acid, and azelaic acid.

Can you put niacinamide on a popped pimple?

But wait—don't just use any pimple sticker: According to Dr. Zeichner, it's best to keep things simple and go for plain hydrocolloid. “Certain soothing actives [like niacinamide] can be helpful, but with an open wound the goal is to just support healing without increasing any potential for irritation,” he explains.

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