Niacinamide pops up in tons of different skincare products including dark spot treatments to exfoliants and even sunscreen. Its versatility and numerous benefits makes it a great addition to skincare products that target discoloration, large pores, a weak skin barrier, and a number of other skin concerns. 

For the most part Niacinamide can also be used by most skin types, including sensitive skin. Among its many benefits, Niacinamide helps support the barrier and moisturize the skin, making it a great option for sensitive skin types. 

That’s why Niacinamide plays a starring role in multiple Hanhoo products including our Pore Serum, Brightening Microdart Patch, and Post-Blemish Corrector. While all these products contain Niacinamide as a key ingredient, they do each play a different part in your routine. 

How to use Niacinamide 

First off, let’s break down the uses of Niacinamide. As mentioned above, Niacinamide helps with a number of skin concerns including dark spots, pores, and a damaged skin barrier. It also helps to: 

• Boost hydration 
• Sooth the skin 
• Balance production of sebum 
• Protect the skin via antioxidant properties 
• Minimize redness and inflammation 
• Smooth the look of fine lines 

While Niacinamide is well-tolerated by all skin types, it is also important to gauge your own tolerance to this ingredient. Typically you can use a product with Niacinamide up to twice a day. But, use of a product with Niacinamide can also vary depending on the type of product. For example, if using an exfoliant with Niacinamide it may be recommended for use between two to three times a week. Alternatively, if you’re using a sunscreen with Niacinamide then you are encouraged to use it daily. 

Ultimately, we recommend you check the product’s recommended usage to best determine how to use your Niacinamide skincare product. 

Niacinamide for dark spots

Diving a little deeper into the benefits of Niacinamide, dark spots (and discoloration in general) seems to be one of the primary concerns that this ingredient is used for. Niacinamide is known to help reduce the appearance of dark spots and even skin tone. It does this by blocking the transfer of melanin to skin cells to help improve the look of discoloration over time. 

Niacinamide is also often paired with other dark spot-targeting ingredients to best help improve hyperpigmentation. For example, our Post-Blemish Corrector combines 3% Niacinamide, 2 % Tranexamic Acid, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (from Licorice Root) to minimize the look of post-blemish marks. This includes post-blemish marks that may appear as dark spots (usually brown or dark brown in color) or red spots (that usually pop up on lighter skin tones). 

The Post-Blemish Corrector is also bolstered by skin soothing and hydrating ingredients like Ceramide and Aloe to help hydrate the skin and makes the product great for use up to twice a day. 

On the other hand, our Brightening Microdart Patch contains 2% Niacinamide, Green Tea, and Hyaluronic Acid and is best used up to two to three times a week. Made with over 165 self-dissolving microdarts to better reach the source of the dark spot. Niacinamide and Green Tea work to minimize dark spots while Hyaluronic Acid helps keep the skin hydrated.

The Brightening Microdart Patch is best for overnight use while the Post-Blemish Corrector is best for daily use and use under makeup.  

Niacinamide for pores 

When it comes to enlarged pores, Niacinamide can help in a few ways. For one, this ingredient is known to help balance sebum production. Sebum can contribute to the look of enlarged pores and clogged pores since the overproduction of oil can stretch the size of the pore. 

Niacinamide also helps improve the look of enlarged pores via its collagen support properties. Pores can start to look larger with age as less collagen is produced. But, since Niacinamide helps with elasticity in the skin, enlarged pores can appear less visible with consistent use of a serum or cream with this ingredient. 

Our Pore Serum stars Niacinamide as the key ingredient to help improve the look of pores. Paired with Salicylic Acid, our Pore Serum gently exfoliates to help unclog pores. Niacinamide also helps keep the skin hydrated to help make pores appear less noticeable. Regular exfoliation helps keep pores clear of pore-clogging gunk that would otherwise make pores appear larger. 

In conclusion…

Niacinamide is a beloved ingredient because it has a number of benefits that can alleviate multiple skin concerns and is well suited to every skin type. Choosing the right Niacinamide product can depend on the skin concern you are looking to target. For example, if your skin barrier is going through a rough patch, a serum or cream with this ingredient would be best. But, let’s say you want to diminish dark spots then it is best to look for a spot treatment or even a sunscreen so that you target the dark spots while protecting the skin from further sun damage.