Niacinamide: The Ingredient Everyone Keeps Asking Me About

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about niacinamide, I could probably fund a whole product launch. It comes up constantly, at dinners, in my inbox, from my sister who still refuses to believe an ingredient with such a boring name can do anything at all. "What actually is it?" "Do I really need it?" "Isn't it just a buzzword?"

So I've decided to answer it all properly, once, in one place, and send everyone here from now on. Consider this the conversation I've had a hundred times, written down. Because niacinamide might not be the most glamorous thing on your shelf, but it's quietly one of the most useful, and I think everyone deserves to understand it.

Let's get into it.

"So what actually is it?"

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, and it's one of the most versatile, easygoing ingredients in all of skincare. Used regularly, it helps refine the look of pores, even out the appearance of uneven tone, and support a smoother, more balanced-looking complexion.

A few things it quietly does well:

Refines the look of pores: with steady use, pores can appear less obvious and skin looks smoother.

Evens the look of tone: it helps soften the appearance of uneven patches and dullness, for a clearer, brighter-looking complexion.

Balances: it's a favourite for skin that gets shiny by midday, helping everything feel more comfortable and balanced.

Its whole personality is gentle. It works so quietly that you often don't notice the change until you catch yourself in the mirror one day thinking, oh, my skin looks rather good.

"Do I actually need it?"

This is the one I get most, usually with a slightly sceptical face. And my honest answer is: niacinamide is the ingredient I'd recommend to almost anyone, precisely because it's so easy to live with. Where some actives demand careful introduction and can leave skin red or flaky, niacinamide is famously well-tolerated. It doesn't fight with your skin, and it plays nicely with almost everything else in your routine.

If retinol is the intense one that needs patience, and vitamin C is the potent one that needs a little care, niacinamide is the calm, reliable friend who just makes everything run more smoothly. It's the one I point people to when they feel overwhelmed by skincare, because it asks so little and gives so much.

"What strength should I look for?"

Another favourite question. You'll often see niacinamide listed with a percentage; 5%, 10%, and so on. Here's the thing I always tell people: higher isn't automatically better. A meaningful strength that stays comfortable is what you want, not the biggest number on the shelf. Around 10% is a lovely sweet spot; effective enough to make a visible difference, gentle enough for daily use.

"Okay, how do I use it?"

This is the easy part, and honestly one of the reasons I adore it, niacinamide is almost impossible to get wrong.

A simple way in:

• Cleanse: start with clean skin.
• Niacinamide: a few drops, morning or night (or both, it's that agreeable).
• Moisturise: follow with your usual cream to seal it in.
• Sunscreen: if you're using it in the morning, always finish with SPF.

It sits happily under makeup, layers well with your other serums, and doesn't demand any special scheduling. A little goes a long way.

"Anything I should watch out for?"

Not much, which is rather the point. But the honest notes I always pass on:

It's a great team player. Niacinamide pairs comfortably with most things, including retinol and vitamin C, which makes it a wonderful addition to an existing routine rather than a disruption to it.

Ease in if your skin isn't used to actives. Even the gentlest ingredient is best introduced one at a time, so you can see how your skin responds. Start once a day and build from there.

If your skin is very reactive or you have a specific condition, a quick word with your doctor or dermatologist is always worth it.

"And how long till I see something?"

The last question, always. Like all good skincare, niacinamide rewards patience over intensity. Because it works so gently, you won't get a dramatic overnight change, and that's a good thing. Most people notice their skin looking smoother, more even, and more balanced after a few weeks of steady use. The trick really is just… using it. Consistently, without fuss.

So the next time someone tells you niacinamide is "just a buzzword," you can be the one who knows better. It's the quiet all-rounder that earns its place, and once it's part of your routine, you'll wonder why you waited.

Why we created Sérum No. 10 Clarté

After answering these questions for the hundredth time, I realised I didn't just want to recommend niacinamide, I wanted to make the version I'd actually want to hand people. One strong enough to make a real, visible difference, but gentle enough to use every single day without a second thought.

So I created Sérum No. 10 Clarté. Ten percent niacinamide, that sweet-spot strength, in a formula designed to refine the look of pores, even the appearance of tone, and bring a little clarity to tired, uneven skin. No sting, no drama, no complicated rules; just the quiet, reliable ingredient everyone keeps asking me about, made properly.

Not to toot my own horn, but it's the serum I now can't imagine my routine without, and the one I finally get to point all those questions towards. That's the whole idea.