How many days a week should you use niacinamide?

Over the past year, niacinamide has sprung up as the It-skincare ingredient. Not for nothing, it's largely-considered a holy-grail solution for many of the most common skin issues—ones that have only been exacerbated by an influx of maskne and pandemic stress.

"Niacinamide is well-loved by those in the know for good reason," says Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, dermatologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center. Among its many benefits, it's been shown to reverse and prevent signs of skin ageing, brighten and smooth skin, calm inflammation and redness, reduce hyperpigmentation, decrease the appearance of pores, and hydrate and support the skin barrier, she says. Here, a breakdown of what niacinamide is, the multitude of ways it benefits the skin, and the most effective ways to build it into your regimen.

What is niacinamide, and how does it benefit the skin?

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a form of Vitamin B3 that is water-soluble, which means that it is not stored in the body and is important to replenish. "We can get niacinamides orally through the foods we eat, but they are also ingredients found in skin-care products as they are known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing, antioxidant, and skin-brightening benefits," explains New York dermatologist Dendy Engelman. Because niacinamides nourish while calming redness and inflammation, Engelman likens its benefits to that of retinol. "It has similar effects by strengthening the skin barrier, however it fortifies from the get-go without sensitivity or irritation," she explains, adding that it also acts like an antioxidant by limiting free radical damage. What's more, it boosts hydration. "It prevents transepidermal water loss and actually boosts the ability of other moisturising ingredients to do so as well," says Murphy-Rose.

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Niacinamide is THE ingredient that WORKS for everyone – you can be dry, oily, combination, normal, acne-prone, and a million other things. There’s a high chance you’ll see positive results after including this ingredient in your skincare routine.

I have oily skin with an uneven skin tone. I desperately needed something that could control the oil production and even out my complexion. And I ordered The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Solution to see if it’s actually worth the hype!


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If you struggle with excessive oil, uneven skin tone, and appearance of pores or just want something to brighten your complexion and strengthen your skin barrier, you might want to hear what I have to say about the ordinary niacinamide serum.

How many days a week should you use niacinamide?

Key Ingredients

The Ordinary serum has 10% Niacinamide and 1% Zinc as the key ingredients. The product claims to regulate sebum and minimize pores.

What Is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide (also called Vitamin B3) is an antioxidant that reduces enlarged pores, improves uneven skin tone, brightens the complexion, and strengthens the skin barrier. This ingredient is surprisingly compatible with a majority of actives like AHAs, BHAs, Vitamin C, etc.

What is Zinc?

Applying Zinc topically controls the oil production on your skin and this ingredient is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Complete Ingredients List: Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

Price: US$9.80 for 30ml

You can buy the niacinamide serum from ULTA or the brand’s website.

Product Details: pH 5.50-6.50, alcohol-free, oil-free, gluten-free, silicone-free, nut-free, cruelty-free, vegan

My Thoughts on The Ordinary Niacinamide+Zinc Serum

I was not using any serum before I started with The Ordinary’s Niacinamide. My routine before this was the usual cleanse, moisturize, SPF, and exfoliate (3x a week). And this serum was a game-changer for my skin – it had never looked better.

BTW, I was exfoliating my face with The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution.

PACKAGING

How many days a week should you use niacinamide?
The Ordinary Niacinamide10% + Zinc 1% | Packaging

The Niacinamide+Zinc serum comes in a small, thick glass bottle that has a matte finish. You can see through the bottle to check the quantity left. You get a dropper to pick the product. Everything comes enclosed in cardboard that has all the product details.

TEXTURE & SMELL

The product is transparent and is slightly heavier than water. It feels very lightweight and non-sticky on the skin. The texture is slightly viscous and it foams on application so make sure you apply the ordinary niacinamide serum on dry skin and don’t go overboard with the quantity.

This serum doesn’t have any added fragrance and the smell isn’t really detectable.

Another favourite Niacinamide based serum of mine is Tiam Vita B3 Source. It has 10% Niacinamide but the texture is watery and more elegant.

How many days a week should you use niacinamide?
The Ordinary Niacinamide10% + Zinc 1% | Texture

HOW TO USE THE ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE + ZINC SERUM?

In your skincare routine, you can use the ordinary niacinamide serum after cleansing and toning (optional). I tend to use it once a day, either morning or night but it can be used twice a day too. If you’re oily, acne-prone my post on The Ordinary Skincare Routine for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin might be helpful for you.

All you have to do is take 2 drops of the niacinamide serum in your palms and pat in on the skin. It gets absorbed quickly leaving no residue or sticky feeling behind.

As mentioned before, Niacinamide is compatible with almost all the actives so you don’t have to worry about layering with different acids. Just find the combination that works the best for your skin and stick to it.

How many days a week should you use niacinamide?
The Ordinary Niacinamide10% + Zinc 1% | Review

RESULTS OF THE ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE+ZINC SERUM

I have been using this product for 3 months now and it has worked extremely well for my skin. I was facing skin issues like blemished skin, excess oil production, and enlarged pores. And with consistent use of the ordinary niacinamide serum, my pores appear smaller and my skin has a beautiful glow to it.

While it did help me in evening out my skin tone, I didn’t see faster results with stubborn acne spots. But my skin always felt soft and supple.

The ordinary niacinamide serum combined with the ordinary glycolic acid has been worked really well for my skin. Since Niacinamide increases cell turnover, you might experience purging when you have just started using it. If that happens, keep going and it should clear up within 3-4 weeks.

Some skin types can’t tolerate a high percentage of Niacinamide so if you’re one of them, go for a lower concentration.

Buy The Serum

How many days a week should you use niacinamide?

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a clearer, evened out skin that shines brighter than anyone’s future, you should give The Ordinary Niacinamide & Zinc Serum a shot! While it does reduce oil production for oily skin, people with dry skin would enjoy this product too as it doesn’t dry out the skin.

Why You Should Buy the ordinary niacinamide serum?

  • Reduces oil production
  • Evens out skin tone
  • Brightens the skin
  • Cruelty-free & Vegan
  • Strengthens skin barrier
  • Reduces appearance of pores
  • Leaves skin soft and supple

Why You Should Avoid the ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE SERUM?

  • Not an elegant formulation (viscous texture that foams)

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How many days a week should you use niacinamide?

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Is it OK to use niacinamide everyday?

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.

How many times should I use niacinamide in a week?

Generally speaking, niacinamide can be used at any time of day—one to two times daily depending on the formulation—and generally in combination with other products without issue.

How many times a week can I use the ordinary niacinamide?

The Ordinary niacinamide can actually be used daily both day and/or night after cleansing the skin. Niacinamide is an ingredient that is great for overall skin health, so it can easily slot into any skincare routine.

How often should a beginner use niacinamide?

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Ideal for oily skin, apply it twice daily and you'll soon notice you skin balancing out.