Is niacinamide good for beginners?

Author: Waldo Sanford V  |  Last update: Saturday, May 17, 2025

Concentration: Niacinamide serums typically range from 5% to 10% concentration. For beginners, a 5% concentration is a good starting point. You can increase the concentration as your skin gets accustomed to the ingredient. Skin type: If you have sensitive skin, look for a fragrance-free and gentle formulation.

Can a beginner use niacinamide daily?

Niacinamide is well tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin. It is regarded as a gentle yet effective ingredient that can be used daily.

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.

Who should not use niacinamide?

Niacin and niacinamide may make allergies worse by increasing histamine. People with low blood pressure should not take niacin or niacinamide because they may cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

At what age should I use niacinamide?

Yes, niacinamide is safe and beneficial for people of all ages, including 19-year-olds. It helps with acne, improves skin tone, and strengthens the skin barrier. It's gentle and works well in combination with other ingredients, making it an excellent choice for maintaining healthy skin.

Is 10% niacinamide too much for beginners?

Now, most people can tolerate niacinamide well even at 10% twice daily. But if you have a mysterious skin rash or unexplained irritation, it could be time to take a closer look at your niacinamide levels.

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.

What should you never 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.

What are the cons of niacinamide?

Safe but not totally for people with sensitive skin. As mentioned above, niacinamide seems to have an irritating effect when used with concentration formulas. Redness and itching are some of the common reactions. Although these are rare issues, they may still cause a great impact on someone's skin health.

Is it bad to put niacinamide on your face everyday?

You can use niacinamide after cleansing or moisturizing but before using sunscreen during your skin care routine. You can apply it once or twice daily, as a part of your morning and nighttime routine. It is generally safe to use niacinamide. It rarely causes any side effects, no matter when you use it.

Why am I breaking out when I start niacinamide?

Can Niacinamide Cause Acne? There is limited research on whether niacinamide can cause breakouts. However, you may experience skin purging when using this ingredient. In other words, your skin may start to look worse before it gets better.

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.

Is 20 percent niacinamide too much?

Is 20% niacinamide too strong? While 20% niacinamide is potent, the independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded that it is safe to use concentrations up to this amount.

What happens when you start using niacinamide?

Minimise enlarged pores

As clogs form and worsen in this scenario, the pores stretch to compensate, resulting in enlargement. Routine usage of niacinamide helps pores return to their natural size. Sun damage can cause pores to become stretched too, leading to what some describe as "orange peel skin".

What percentage of niacinamide is best for beginners?

Skincare products containing 5% niacinamide offer skin-enhancing benefits at a beginner-friendly concentration that is gentle enough for all skin types. Using a lower concentration can have several benefits depending on skin type.

What to avoid when using 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.

Does niacinamide cause weight gain?

The present study also showed that nicotinamide supplementation was associated with a dose-dependent increase in oxidative tissue injury. This may account for why high doses of nicotinamide do not promote weight gain (see Fig. 7(a) and Shibata et al.

Why do some people not like niacinamide?

How do you know if niacinamide is not for you? You might find that niacinamide isn't for you if you experience side effects like redness, itching, or irritation after using it. Some people may also have an allergic reaction, resulting in hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

What pairs with niacinamide?

Check out the list of ingredients that positively combine with niacinamide to benefit your skin effectively:
  • Niacinamide and vitamin C. ...
  • Niacinamide and retinol. ...
  • Niacinamide and salicylic acid. ...
  • Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. ...
  • Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica.

Do you put retinol or niacinamide first?

It is not unusual to find a combination of niacinamide and retinol in a single skincare product, but you can use niacinamide and retinol as separate steps in a consistent routine. If you're using separate products, it is recommended that you apply retinol first then move forward with niacinamide application.

Is it okay to use 10% niacinamide for beginners?

Concentration: Niacinamide serums typically range from 5% to 10% concentration. For beginners, a 5% concentration is a good starting point. You can increase the concentration as your skin gets accustomed to the ingredient. Skin type: If you have sensitive skin, look for a fragrance-free and gentle formulation.

Is it OK to use niacinamide everyday?

How often should you use niacinamide? For optimal benefits, we recommend using niacinamide either daily or twice a day. Whether you apply niacinamide once or twice a day will depend on your skin type, skin concerns and which other ingredients are contained within your morning and night routines.

Does niacinamide clog pores?

Niacinamide is a powerhouse in regulating oil (sebum) production. Too much oil can clog pores, cause inflammation and lead to acne. Niacinamide helps stop oil production from going into overdrive, which in turn helps prevent blemishes from appearing in the first place.

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