Niacinamide is Just What Dr. Hadley King Ordered—Here’s Why!
Get your pencils out and get ready to take notes—Dr. Hadley King, an award-winning New York City dermatologist and PÜR’s expert advisor, has entered the chat! Not only does Dr. King run a highly sought-after practice, but she also boasts publications in some of the country’s leading scholarly and popular publications. You might have caught her on Good Morning America! or in Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, or Elle, but this week we’re bringing you the benefits of Dr. King’s expertise with a deep dive on one of the buzziest ingredients of 2022: Niacinamide. Ready to learn? We sure are!
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide may have an intense-sounding name, but it’s trending in part because it’s incredibly gentle. Where more intense ingredients might cause redness or flaking, Niacinamide, or Vitamin B3, typically works well for sensitive skin. Dr. King is especially excited about how versatile this super ingredient can be:
“Niacinamide…is trending right now, and it should be because it's a great multi-tasking ingredient! It can help with oil regulation, barrier function, aging, hyperpigmentation, acne and eczema! It's great for improving both tone and texture. And not only is it effective, it's also easy to use.”
We’re counting six uses for this one ingredient in the above quotation—feel free to check our math! That easy-to-use part is especially great to hear—there’s not much need to worry about how many times a week you use Niacinamide, or whether you’re using it in the morning or at night. As long as it’s paired with a mineral SPF, this ingredient can work its magic and not damage your skin. Need a little more info? Here’s Dr. King again:
“Niacinamide has been shown in several studies to help reduce some signs of skin aging, particularly skin tone and texture. Some studies have found that it may help reduce the appearance of age spots and other forms of skin discoloration (A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial of Niacinamide 4% vs Hydroquinone 4% in the treatment of Melasma. (Dermatol Res Pract 2011)”
Why Does Niacinamide Work?
Like many other key ingredients, Niacinamide works by helping your skin create new skin cells more quickly. According to Dr. King, it “serves as a precursor to molecules in the body that are responsible for cell proliferation, the repair of cellular damage, and other biochemical necessities.” So basically, Niacinamide is helping your skin to get brighter-looking and more even-looking at the molecular level!
This antioxidant-rich ingredient also works to help your skin barrier, the thin layer that helps keep out bacteria and impurities, work more effectively. When your skin barrier is working better, it can help your skin look fuller, plumper, and more rejuvenated and youthful. Dr. King points out that “… studies have shown that topical Niacinamide can have stabilizing effects on the skin’s barrier function, which can help improve moisture retention and the appearance of wrinkles!” Niacinamide’s antioxidant properties can also help to brighten skin and the look of an uneven complexion, especially if you incorporate products with at least 5% Niacinamide into your skincare routine. As Dr. King says, “That's the percentage that's been proven to visibly make a difference without causing any irritation.”
Tone UP & Other PÜR Favorites with Niacinamide
In case you hadn’t heard, one of our favorite Niacinamide-infused PÜR products recently got a travel-friendly makeover! Tone Up Niacinamide Firming Eye Serum has a whole new look that helps make it extra stash-able for your next getaway, but it kept its uber-brightening, antioxidant rich formula. This lightweight, cooling eye serum is loaded with good-for-your-skin ingredients—Niacinamide is our superstar today, but it also includes Sodium Hyaluronate to lock in hydration, Squalane to help soften the look of skin, and Aloe to help soothe dry skin and reduce the appearance of redness. Tone UP is just what Dr. King ordered—here’s what she had to say about why she loves this age-defying serum:
“The Tone UP Niacinamide Firming Eye Serum is a great way to incorporate this multi-tasking ingredient into your skincare routine. I love the lightweight texture and cooling sensation that soothes and can help to de-puff… the formulation also contains a number of ingredients with antioxidant properties that can help to protect the skin from damage from free radicals. Niacinamide improves tone and texture without irritation in this delicate area, and aloe and turmeric root extract offer anti-inflammatory properties.”
You can also squeeze some extra Niacinamide into your daily beauty routine with Go with the Glow Niacinamide Drops. These uber-hydrating drops can be mixed with Love Your Selfie or 4-in-1 Tinted Moisturizer or worn alone for a more radiant-looking glow, and the Niacinamide can help improve skin’s tone and texture over time.
Looking for even more of this gentle but potent ingredient? You can help prep your skin for glowy, longer-lasting makeup AND bring some Niacinamide into your life with our 4-in-1 Correcting Primer Anti-Blemish and Mattifying Primer or No Filter Primer Blurring Photography Primer . And if you’re looking to amp up your eye skin care routine with some extra-soothing TLC, Mellow Eyes Hemp-Infused Eye Patches are formulated with Niacinamide to help even skin tone and smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles.