Is Niacinamide Good for Oily Skin?
Is niacinamide good for oily skin? Clogged pores, greasy-looking skin, and that inevitable mid-day shine that breaks through layers of foundation and powder... we know the struggle all too well. If you have oily skin, you’re not alone in dealing with these daily challenges. Maybe you’ve tried all kinds of active ingredients in the hope that they’ll mattify your skin and resolve your oily issues. So, what about niacinamide for oily skin? Can it help?
Niacinamide—also known as Vitamin B3—is definitely a gamechanger in a skincare routine. We already know it’s good for dry skin and sensitive skin, but what can it do for oily skin types? Here’s what you should know.
Is Niacinamide Good for Oily Skin?
Niacinamide (or nicotinamide) can be a superhero for oily skin. Studies have shown that niacinamide can help regulate excess sebum production. Sebum is the natural oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. While sebum is essential for maintaining skin hydration and protection, overproduction can lead to oily skin, clogged pores, and acne breakouts.
Here's how it works: Your skin naturally produces oil called sebum to keep itself hydrated and protected. But sometimes, it goes into overdrive, making your skin look shiny and feeling greasy. Niacinamide ultimately helps stops oil production from going into overdrive, which in turn helps prevent clogged pores, blemishes, and shine.
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, niacinamide is a go-to ingredient for supporting oil control, minimizing pore size, and preventing breakouts. What’s more, it also keeps the skin’s barrier intact, preventing water loss and limiting dryness, redness, and irritation. By supporting skin barrier function, skin stays healthy and hydrated, and your skin’s oil levels will remain balanced.
Some dermatologists even recommend using niacinamide skincare products 1-2 weeks before your period to prevent breakouts and manage increased sebum production that commonly occurs during your cycle.
Benefits of Niacinamide for Oily Skin
Is niacinamide good for oily skin? It certainly is. Here are all the skin benefits of using niacinamide for oily skin.
It Regulates Sebum Production
Niacinamide helps regulate sebum production. Sebum is important for keeping the skin hydrated, but too much of it can lead to excess oil, shine, clogged pores, and pimples. Niacinamide keeps things balanced by stopping your oil glands from going into overdrive. Since niacinamide is also super hydrating, your skin won’t have to compensate by producing more oil.
It Combats Acne
Since acne is commonly caused by clogged pores, niacinamide can help prevent blemishes by balancing sebum production and ultimately, stopping pores from getting clogged. Plus, it has bacteria-fighting properties which can further help in unclogging pores and reducing breakouts.
It Minimizes Pores
Niacinamide serums, cleansers, and toners can be incredibly helpful at minimizing pores. Pores always appear larger when they’re clogged with dirt, sebum, and dead skin cells. Niacinamide's oil-reducing properties stop your pores from getting clogged and appearing enlarged. When pores are smaller, you can enjoy a smoother, more even skin tone.
It Soothes Redness and Irritation
Niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help alleviate redness and irritation often associated with acne. Over time, regular use of topical niacinamide can lead to fewer blemishes and an improved skin texture.
It Fades Hyperpigmentation
A common aftermath of oily skin and acne is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Those dark spots you get once your blemishes have healed. Studies show that niacinamide can decrease hyperpigmentation after four weeks of daily use. It helps by breaking down excess melanin that can cause dark spots and discoloration on your skin.
Best Niacinamide Products for Oily Skin
De-Grease Your Skin for Summer
Niacinamide is a powerhouse skincare ingredient that can tackle all kinds of skin concerns ranging from oily skin to acne, redness, irritation, dryness, hyperpigmentation, and even fine lines and wrinkles. Here are the best niacinamide skincare products for oily skin.
Best for Large Pores and Blemishes
Truly’s Glass Skin Set
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This 2-step routine features a purifying cleansing balm + refining serum to give you a clear, glass-like complexion. With a precious blend of niacinamide, jojoba oil, and probiotics, this duo balances sebum production, clarifies pores, and supports optimum skin barrier function to give you a fresh, dewy, but not greasy finish.
Best for Body Acne
Truly’s Cherry Jelly Anti-Bacne Body Cleanser
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This Vogue-award-winning cleanser deep cleans pores and absorbs excess oil to banish body acne for good. Powered by niacinamide, salicylic acid, and mandelic acid, this body cleanser gently exfoliates to remove dead cells and decongest pores for visibly clearer skin within the first few uses.
Best for Oily, Irritated Skin
Truly’s Glazed Donut Shave Set
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Experience a new level of smooth with this supermodel-loved shave set. Formulated with powerhouse ingredients like peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, this shave routine can also be used as a daily body care routine for keeping your skin nourished, hydrated, and glowing (but not greasy!).
How to Use Niacinamide for Oily Skin
To use niacinamide on oily skin effectively, we recommend incorporating this ingredient into more than one step of your regimen. Look for it in cleansers, toners, serums, eye creams, and moisturizers. The great thing about niacinamide is that it’s gentle on the skin, so most people can tolerate it well without any side effects.
Dermatologists say niacinamide pairs well with most other ingredients, especially retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, ceramides, and glycolic acid. In fact, niacinamide’s anti-inflammatory properties can counteract any sensitivities that may be triggered by some of these potent active ingredients and even enhance each other’s effects.
For instance, if you’re prone to blemishes, using niacinamide and salicylic acid together can be extremely beneficial.
Be sure to always finish your routine with a generous layer of sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to protect against UV damage and the skin concerns that come with it, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation issues, and of course, skin cancer.
Should I Use Niacinamide if I Have Oily Skin?
The simple answer is yes. Niacinamide is a powerful vitamin with antioxidant activity that can work all kinds of wonders for your skin. With its hydrating, anti-aging, soothing, and brightening effects, niacinamide definitely deserves a place in your skincare routine. But is niacinamide good for oily skin? Absolutely!
Niacinamide prevents excess oil production and in turn, stops your skin from getting greasy. Ultimately, this can also prevent clogged pores and blemishes. To get the most out of niacinamide for oily skin, use it consistently in your routine.
