Shereene IdrissBoard Certified Derm, Founder and Chief Nerd

Niacinamide at 10% ?! #shorts

26 Sept 2023 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:44

A short YouTube clip (creator: Shereene Idriss) advising on niacinamide concentrations in skincare. The speaker warns that niacinamide above about 5% can cause irritation for many people, criticizes pairing 10% niacinamide with zinc as counterproductive, and recommends using niacinamide at 5% or less to avoid inflammation.

Questions this video answers

5% or less.

Above about 5% (example given: 10%).

Chapters

Doctor Ecarest, what's on your mind? This guy Niacinamide is a great ingredient at a certain level. Anything above 5% I usually shy away from because although niacinamide is meant to strengthen your skin barrier, help retain hydration, keep your skin intact, it has anti inflammatory benefits. It also has effects on your collagen, your elasticity, etc and even your pigmentation. Above 5% it can be irritating for a lot of people. So to marry a 10% niacinamide with zinc, which is traditionally used as an anti inflammatory kind of pisses me off because it's almost like you're inducing inflammation to try to calm it down. Just use niacinamide at 5% or less and your skin will be happy versus trying to flush your face with 10% and blow up in the process.