From the fine print on your serum label to the TikTok trend, niacinamide is everywhere. This superstar ingredient promises healthy skin, with smoothed fine lines and reduced imperfections. New to beauty formulations? We explain to you what the real benefits of niacinamide are on the skin and how to integrate it into your routine.

Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide, is a specific form of vitamin B3, an essential water-soluble vitamin that is not synthesized in the body, meaning we must consume it to benefit from its benefits. Luckily, vitamin B3 is present in a wide variety of food products such as poultry, legumes, and eggs, but also in our beauty products, so there is little chance that you suffer from a deficiency.
Did you say beauty? An aspect not to be overlooked since this powerful antioxidant, which is found in certain components of our beauty creams, has numerous benefits for the skin: it promotes cellular repair and acts as an anti-inflammatory on skin problems. Anti-wrinkle, anti-dark spots, anti-pimples, smoothing and lightening, niacinamide has it all!

According to a report by spate.nyc, a data organization on beauty trends emerging on the web, searches for niacinamide treatments have increased by 193% in 2 years! A figure which can be explained by consumers' growing interest in the ingredients of their beauty products, and the desire to take care of their skin.
Thanks to its antioxidant power and anti-inflammatory properties, niacinamide helps prevent and treat skin aging, reduces redness and inflammation of the skin (aka pimples), significantly eliminates hyperpigmentation and evens out skin tone while by promoting hydration. It is also a great ingredient for visibly reducing dark spots, since it prevents the transfer of pigment into the skin while repairing cells damaged by UV rays.

In a study published in 2004 in theInternational Journal of Cosmetic Science, researchers asked 50 women (all Caucasian and aged 40 to 60) to apply a moisturizer containing 5% niacinamide to half of their face and a placebo moisturizer to the other half for 12 weeks. Their results showed that face halves receiving niacinamide had fewer hyperpigmentation spots, reduced redness and blemishes, and improvement in skin appearance compared to the control side.  

In short, whatever your skin problem, niacinamide necessarily has a role to play in your beauty routine.

In addition to being beneficial as a nutrient, niacinamide offers a whole host of benefits for the skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent shield to fight against internal and external stress factors which, as we know, cause inflammation of the skin, and therefore acne and pimples. Doubt about the root cause of your acne? Learn where your acne comes from here. A study published in 2013 in theInternational Journal of Dermatology demonstrated that a topical preparation containing 4% niacinamide significantly improved moderate acne when applied twice daily for eight weeks.

Additionally, it's worth knowing that niacinamide is relatively non-irritating compared to other acne treatments, such as retinol or salicylic acid, so it's a good option for people with eczema, rosacea, or having dry or sensitive skin.

READ ALSO : My fight against adult acne at 30, by Laure, founder of HO KARAN

Whether you have oily, combination, normal or dry skin, niacinamide generally works well with all four types.

If you are testing niacinamide for the first time, it is recommended to start with formulations at low concentrations (1 to 2%) and gradually increase to 5% to accustom the skin. You can apply your niacinamide treatment (serum, cream or mask) morning and/or evening to cleansed skin. The advantage of vitamin B3 is that it also matches very well with certain ingredients (take a magnifying glass and help you decipher the labels):

-Niacinamide + hyaluronic acid : winning combo for smooth and perfectly hydrated skin.

-Retinol + niacinamide : Vitamin B3 soothes the skin and reduces redness that can be caused by retinol, while the latter provides an additional anti-aging effect.

-Niacinamide + CBD : a winning duo that you can find in thee anti-imperfection roll-on Farewell Button. CBD provides a purifying and anti-inflammatory action while niacinamide reduces redness and inflammation of the skin, significantly eliminates hyperpigmentation, and evens out skin tone while promoting hydration. The results are visible after a few days!

-Niacinamide + zinc + CBD : the magic trio that composes the HO KARAN “cure of greenery” mask, CBD acts as an anti-stress for the skin, zinc will help purify and heal imperfections, while niacinamide will reduce enlarged pores, even out the complexion, smooth fine lines, strengthen the skin barrier and restore radiance.  

Be patient, the effects of niacinamide will begin to be visible on the skin after 8 to 12 weeks, so don't give up, we guarantee it works!