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SUMMARY
BEST | SAFE TO BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH VITAMIN C | APPROVED BY REGULATORY BODIES
A popular, useful and safe cosmetics ingredient used in most of the personal care products for refining the texture of the skin and fighting the signs of ageing skin.
WHAT IS NIACINAMIDE?
Niacinamide also known as nicotinamide is an active form of vitamin B3. According to scientists, Niacinamide is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+). These molecules are extremely important for skin cells to repair the damage. They are also responsible for cell proliferation. Niacinamide promotes the production of ceramides which maintain the protective barrier of skin. It restores skin, enhances the appearance of skin and results in even toned skin by fighting the signs of ageing. It is also known to be stable when exposed to light and heat. It is used in skin serums, toners and leave in skin products.
REVIEW OF NIACINAMIDE
| Name of Brand/ Organization | Paula's Choice | EWG | CIR | FDA | EU Cosmetics Regulation |
| Rating/Review | BEST | 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Niacinamide is one of the most researched and reviewed ingredients. Top regulatory bodies like FDA (Food and Drug Administration ensures the safety, efficacy and security of humans by making sure that cosmetics are safe to use), CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review thoroughly investigates the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics), EU Cosmetics Regulation (It ensures the safety of the consumers while using the cosmetic products) and EWG (Environmental Working Group Skin Deep is a cosmetic data base for ensuring the safety of ingredients being used in personal care products) along with popular skin care brand Paula's Choice have rated it as being safe to be used in cosmetics and personal care products.
QUESTIONS ABOUT USING IT WITH VITAMIN C
There are many beauty magazine articles and blogs portraying the use of Niacinamide with Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to be harmful as these two products react to form nicotinic acid that is an undesirable by-product which causes skin irritation. However, this was based on a research done in1960s using unstabilized forms of both Niacinamide and Vitamin C. It is also interesting to know that Niacinamide does not react to light or heat the way Vitamin C does. Only under high temperatures and prolonged period do they react to form nicotinic acid.
Unlike the research done in 1960, the current skin care product manufacturing industry does not use an environment of high temperature while combining these two elements. In addition to this, the cosmetic experts know the right method of fusing these two ingredients in order to maintain their compatibility. Hence, they are deemed to be safe when used in a combination of each other. These ingredients, individually are know to reduce dark spots, fight signs of ageing, dullness of skin. But when used together, they form a terrific combination that makes the skin radiant, youthful, even-toned and smooth.
