![Quantcast](http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-GS-HF4BKvzCmv.gif)
![Why Niacinamide Is The New Kid On The Skincare Block](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNzQ2MTM5NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3MTA1NTE4MH0.A9pW8zed6wrnr0ybko_8r0Tajm28uI1apF8SYT1Olwo/img.jpg?width=1200&height=600&quality=90&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C352)
Why Niacinamide Is The New Kid On The Skincare Block
When it comes to skincare, I have to say we are spoiled. We have a variety of products on the market that help us achieve that natural, youthful glow we all want. From gels, oils, serums, creams, foams, scrubs, and vitamins, we clearly can't go wrong. If you're obsessed with taking care of your skin or have been prone to skin problems like me, you've probably used retinol, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide as part of your skincare routine. These are just common key ingredients that have been on the market for decades. Now, there are so many other types of acids and supplements that give your skincare routine the upgrade you didn't know it needed.
Enter niacinamide. According to an article from Healthline, niacinamide is a form of vitamin B-3 that is an essential nutrient and is water-soluble. Vitamin B-3 is found in eggs, cereals, green veggies, beans, fish, and milk. When you are deficient in vitamin B-3, it can lead to skin disorders or other types of health conditions. Did you know our bodies can also produce niacinamide? When our body has too much niacin (vitamin B-3), it's converted to niacinamide. So, how does our skin benefit from niacinamide?
Overall, niacinamide builds proteins in the skin and prevents environmental damage by locking in moisture. It also helps treat skin conditions like acne and rosacea, and it protects against sun damage and oxidative stress (pollution or toxins).
Here are the specific skin issues niacinamide can help treat and the products you should add to your skincare routine:
A Smoother Skin Texture
Some of us were not blessed with smooth skin and invisible pores. I have what you call orange-peel skin, which is when the pores are enlarged and visible. Niacinamide improves skin texture by making pores look smaller and also helps balance oil production. It has also been proven to reverse and prevent signs of aging, reduce redness and irritation, minimize fine lines, and brighten the skin.
Hyperpigmentation Issues
If you are like me, you might struggle with dark spots or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). I've used medical-grade acne medication such as a sulfur wash, retinol, and hydroquinone to lighten my dark spots, but research has shown niacinamide can be almost as effective in comparison to hydroquinone when it comes to fading dark spots.
In a Vogueinterview, dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose recommended using niacinamide with skin brightening ingredients, such as kojic acid (found in mushrooms and a byproduct of fermented rice) and a tranexamic acid (a man-made form of amino acid) to maximize the benefits of niacinamide. However, niacinamide can be paired with retinol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid too.
How to Use Niacinamide in Your Skincare Routine:
Getty Images
To achieve the flawless skin you've always wanted, niacinamide should be applied topically via a cream, lotion, or serum. It's the type of ingredient that is well-absorbed by the skin.
You can safely use niacinamide twice a day with a moisturizer and sunscreen. Serums have a higher potency and higher concentrations, so you want to be sure to use a low concentration (2% to 5%) because a higher one can irritate the skin.
If you plan to add niacinamide to your skincare routine, it should look something like this:
- Cleanse your face.
- Tone.
- Apply niacinamide.
- Apply moisturizer.
- Sunscreen.
Recommended Products
Niacinamide has become a popular ingredient used in moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, and face masks. Some trending beauty products approved by skin experts containing niacinamide include:
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- CeraVe PM Moisturizing Lotion
- The INKEY List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum
- Fenty Beauty Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum
- Glossier Super Pure Serum
- Summer Fridays Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution
- First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum
- SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense
- EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
I personally haven't tried any serum-based products with niacinamide, but I can say I have tried other products from The Ordinary and I've used the EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum sunscreen. These are two of my favorite skincare brands because they are affordable. The sunscreen is recommended by my own dermatologist and esthetician.
I know trying different skincare products can be a hit or miss, but don't knock the product until after four weeks or more. Your skin takes time to heal, especially if you have hyperpigmentation problems. Any dermatologist will tell you that results become apparent over time with consistency and correct application.
Upgrade your skincare routine with niacinamide, sis.
To get your beauty fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Beauty section here.
Featured image via Getty Images
Camille is a lover of all things skin, curls, music, justice, and wanderlust; oceans and islands are her thing. Her words inspire and her power is her voice. A California native with Trinidadian roots, she has penned personal essays, interviews, and lifestyle pieces for POPSUGAR, FEMI magazine, and SelfishBabe. Camille is currently creating a life she loves through words, self-love, fitness, travel, and empowerment. You can follow her on Instagram @cam_just_living or @written_by_cam.
RELATED
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Mariee Revere On Her History-Making Million-Dollar Sales And The Future Of MoonXCosmetics
If the name Mariee Revere sounds familiar, it's probably because you heard of her beauty and skincare brand, MoonXCosmetics, or you may have heard about her history-making achievement of making $1.8 million in less than eight minutes. But before starting her million-dollar brand, Mariee was just a teenager trying to cure her acne.
While she grew up in the skincare capital of the world, South Korea, Mariee didn't really experience breakouts until her senior year of high school. Like many people who get their first breakout, she didn't know what to do, and there weren't many products out there at that time. So she decided to experiment. What she didn't know was that what she came up with would ultimately be her ticket to success.
"When I graduated high school, I moved back to America, Georgia, and I ended up making, like, the oil, the Rose Galore oil, which is like the staple product of my brand. I don't know what made me make it, but I did, and it literally cleared my face up," she tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview.
"I end up selling it as a body oil first because, obviously, I'm 17, [and] don't have any background as an esthetician or anything like that. I just made a product that worked for me, but people bought it and was using it, and I reformulated it, and then it just stuck like with me."
While MoonXCosmetics is known for its facial products, it wants to expand to body care and home. It just released its new product, Moon-Gel body wash, and it's only up from there. As Mariee continues to grow the brand, it's more than likely that she will see more history-making moments. And so far she has.
Photo courtesy
When asked if she feels pressure to obtain more of those milestones, she says yes and no. "I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more," she says.
"I want to say more reach than more like fast-paced sales. I do want that. Obviously, every girl wants that, but I do want to have a better overall reach for my brand because I did take two years off so I was able to learn, [and] study a lot of different things. See how things have changed from 2020 to now."
"I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more."
Another part of expanding for any company is hiring people. Finding the right person to help you can be a hassle, especially for business owners who are used to doing all the work themselves. Mariee can relate to this, and she touched on this topic in her documentaryThe Million Dollar Story. She recommends having someone be your "right-hand man" who you trust to handle the ins and outs of the company.
"I could say, definitely get, like a right-hand man to help you within the process because that really was what helped me. I never had a job. I literally was 18 now, being like, you know, the boss of over 30+ employees at one point in time, and I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything about no W-2s, no taxes, no clock in, clock out because all I [have] ever known was my brand," she explains.
"So I definitely partner with people who are very skewed and versed in those areas, and they helped me get through it. Even to this day, I still have my same person helping me with hiring, firing, [and] doing everything that I can right now because I'm still learning. But obviously people get jobs young, so they have way more experience than me, but still learning."
And though she is still learning, one thing she makes sure to stay on top of is being consistent. Consistency is what trips many people up when it comes to achieving goals, but Mariee says it's all about scheduling. Whether it's when to post on social media or email marketing, scheduling it out can make a world of difference. That same practice also works when planning out her future goals for the company.
"Right now, future goals would be to drop at least five more products before the end of the year. We always do outreach, where we do drives and all that, but definitely do way more this year, she says. "Then really dive into body [care], and then hopefully open up MoonXBody underneath MoonXCosmetics to let that branch out and be open and definitely get back consistent."
For more information, visit moonxco.com.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy