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I stumbled across this juicy tip while reading random skin care blogs, and at first it really sounded too good to be true. I mean, seriously? ONE product that can help your acne, is anti-aging, AND fade the marks left behind by zits? But it's really interesting, and several studies have been made on its anti-aging and skin brightening/lightening properties. I only saw one for acne, but it was conducted by NYU College of Medicine.
It's niacinamide aka Vitamin B3. Let me C+P some info I found:
1. Get your hands on some high quality niacinamide, either at a Vitamin Shoppe/GNC or online (VitaCost or a bulk supplier like BulkActives)
2. Use about 1-2 pea sized droplets of your choice of base (serum, water, contact solution, etc - don't use Vit C products or acidic bases).
3. Add 1/2 to 1 capsule or .5g (tiny sliver like 2 sesame seeds) of niacinamide to your liquid base.
4. Vigorously blend it in the palm of your hands, then RUB ALL OVER YOUR FACE or effected area.
5. Let sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing or use a cream or sunscreen over it to blend it in if you prefer to have it on all day.
The "recipe" is from SkinGeek.
I'm kind of excited to try this, since I'm dealing with tons of stress breakouts and their aftermath (hyper-pigmentation) after getting laid off a few months back.
If anyone else has tried or want to try this, please post your thoughts and results here!
It's niacinamide aka Vitamin B3. Let me C+P some info I found:
You can find niacinamide in Olay's Regenerist line, relatively high up in the ingredients list. I was in love with their eye cream and regenerating serum a while back, but that line proved too pricey for me at the time. And now, the economy being what it is, I just can't justify indulging myself. Which is where the DIY aspect comes in:"Also called vitamin B3, niacin, and nicotinic acid, this water-soluble ingredient is stable in the presence of heat and light.
Topical application of niacinamide has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in skin, prevent skin from losing water content, as well as stimulate micro-circulation in the dermis.
2% niacinamide was shown in one small study to be more effective than petrolatum (Vaseline) for reducing water loss from skin and increasing its hydration levels.
Procter & Gamble, whose Olay skin-care line sells several products with niacinamide, published a double-blind study involving 50 women. The subjects used a product containing 5% niacinamide (whether that amount is included in Olay's niacinamide products was not mentioned) for a period of 12 weeks. Results included an improvement in the appearance of wrinkles, skin discolorations, less redness, a reduction in sallowness, and improved elasticity.
Another study seconded P&G's findings that niacinamide is a helpful ingredient to address skin discolorations. It appears that topical niacinamide has an inhibitory effect on the transfer of melanosomes to skin cells, thus it can interrupt the process that causes irregular pigmentation to form.
In addition to niacinamide's growing reputation as an excellent barrier repair and skin lightening agent, some existing animal studies and in vitro studies on human fibroblasts (cells that produce connective tissue such as collagen) have demonstrated that niacinamide may have a mitigating effect on skin tumors.
Fewer studies exist to examine niacinamide's anti-acne properties. An older study compared a gel containing 4% niacinamide with the prescription acne medicine Clindamycin and found it works just as well as the prescription, but without the risk of antibiotic resistance."
SOURCE: Paula Begoun
1. Get your hands on some high quality niacinamide, either at a Vitamin Shoppe/GNC or online (VitaCost or a bulk supplier like BulkActives)
2. Use about 1-2 pea sized droplets of your choice of base (serum, water, contact solution, etc - don't use Vit C products or acidic bases).
3. Add 1/2 to 1 capsule or .5g (tiny sliver like 2 sesame seeds) of niacinamide to your liquid base.
4. Vigorously blend it in the palm of your hands, then RUB ALL OVER YOUR FACE or effected area.
5. Let sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing or use a cream or sunscreen over it to blend it in if you prefer to have it on all day.
The "recipe" is from SkinGeek.
I'm kind of excited to try this, since I'm dealing with tons of stress breakouts and their aftermath (hyper-pigmentation) after getting laid off a few months back.
If anyone else has tried or want to try this, please post your thoughts and results here!