NIACIN

📋 Quick facts

Description: NIACIN — vitamin B3 precursor form, circulation support (distinct from Niacinamide).

All Functions: vitamin B3 precursor form, circulation support (distinct from Niacinamide)

Quick Facts:

• Category: active

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Niacin and niacinamide are two forms of vitamin B3 used in skincare products
• Niacinamide is found in around 30 cosmetic formulations at concentrations ranging from 0.0001% to 3%
• Both ingredients are considered safe for use in cosmetics at current concentration levels
• Niacinamide is not a skin irritant, sensitizer, or photosensitizer in clinical testing
• Niacin deficiency (pellagra) is rare in industrialized nations but can occur with chronic alcoholism or malabsorption

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Nicotinate is a pyridinemonocarboxylate that is the conjugate base of nicotinic acid, arising from deprotonation of the carboxy group; major species at pH 7.3. It has a role as a metabolite and a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite. It is a vitamin B3 and a pyridinemonocarboxylate. It is a conjugate base of a nicotinic acid. Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin whose derivatives such as NADH, NAD, NAD+, and NADP play essential roles in energy metabolism in the living cell and DNA repair. The designation vitamin B3 also includes the amide form, nicotinamide or niacinamide. Severe lack of niacin causes the deficiency disease pellagra, whereas a mild deficiency slows down the metabolism decreasing cold tolerance. The recommended daily allowance of niacin is 2-12 mg a day for children, 14 mg a day for women, 16 mg a day for men, and 18 mg a day for pregnant or breast-feeding women. It is found in various animal and plant tissues and has pellagra-curative, vasodilating, and antilipemic properties. The liver can synthesize niacin from the essential amino acid tryptophan (see below), but the synthesis is extremely slow and requires vitamin B6; 60 mg of tryptophan are required to make one milligram of niacin. Bacteria in the gut may also perform the conversion but are inefficient.

Source(s): ChEBI, Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB), via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Niacin and niacinamide are two chemically distinct forms of vitamin B3, though they’re often confused. Niacin is also called nicotinic acid, while niacinamide goes by nicotinamide (Int J Toxicol, 2005; Skinmed, 2023). In cosmetics, both function primarily as conditioning agents for hair and skin (Int J Toxicol, 2005). #1: Safety profile — Clinical testing shows niacinamide produces no stinging sensation at concentrations up to 10%, no irritation in use tests up to 5%, and no cumulative irritation at 5% over 21 days. It is not a sensitizer or photosensitizer (Int J Toxicol, 2005). Both ingredients are considered safe as used in cosmetics, with the Panel noting that doses in animal studies were high relative to the low concentrations actually used in skincare products (Int J Toxicol, 2005).

#2: Absorption and metabolism — Both niacin and niacinamide are readily absorbed from skin, blood, and the intestines and widely distributed throughout the body. They are primarily excreted through the urinary tract (Int J Toxicol, 2005). #3: Potential roles in skin health — Research suggests niacinamide may promote epidermal sphingolipid synthesis, moderate photoimmunosuppression, and help reduce hyperpigmentation (Skinmed, 2023). Niacin in its NAD form participates in DNA repair and genomic stability processes (Nutr Cancer, 2003), though the clinical relevance of these cellular mechanisms to topical skincare use remains unclear from these sources. #4: Historical context — Pellagra, a disease caused by severe niacin deficiency, was first documented in Italy in the 1700s.

The disease became common in the early 1900s American South due to limited dietary niacin sources. Today it is rare in industrialized nations but can occur with chronic alcoholism, malabsorption syndrome, or anorexia nervosa (Skin Therapy Lett, 2020; abstract from peer-reviewed journal, 2026). #5: Availability and clinical use — Nicotinamide is recognized as a low-cost, evidence-based oral treatment option for certain skin conditions including actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinomas, though integration into clinical practice remains ongoing (Skin Therapy Lett, 2020). However, the sources provided do not detail topical efficacy for these conditions or typical skincare benefits.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (2005). Final report of the safety assessment of niacinamide and niacin. Int J Toxicol.
• Huber R et al. (2020). Nicotinamide: An Update and Review of Safety & Differences from Niacin. Skin Therapy Lett.
• Redzic S et al. (2026). Niacin Deficiency. a peer-reviewed journal.
• Kirkland JB (2003). Niacin and carcinogenesis. Nutr Cancer.
• Epstein H (2023). A Second Look at Niacin. Skinmed.

🧴 Products Containing NIACIN

• shampoo
• Balea, dm Jeden Tag Shampoo Mango
• Henkel, Schwarzkopf 3 Wetter Taft Power Wax
• Fa men, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Duschgel Fan edition
• Henkel, Schauma Repair & Pflege Shampoo mit Kokos-Extrakt
• Always, Procter & Gamble Night Always sensitive
• Essence I love flaw less skin
• Aroma zone Sérum Niacinamide 10%, cuivre & zinc
• sebamed Flüssig-Wasch-Emulsion
• Rossmann Urea Fussbad
• Elkos for Men Gesichtscreme
• Hairwell, EUCO, SERPOL-COSMETICS 7-Kräuter-Shampoo
• BCL Kansosan Skincare Moisture Base AQ
• clear nen
• Zollider Zollider
• Natura Siberica Conditioning spray
• inecto naturals
• Tiger Moon Retinol Night Cream
• Laab MEN Multi-Booster Ultralekki krem nawilżająco-kojący
• Nacomï White Black Face Mask
• Love Beauty and Planet Love Beauty And Planet Déodorant Femme Bille Douceur Huile d’Argan & Lavande Vegan
• Love Beauty and Planet Love Beauty And Planet Déodorant Femme Bille Soin Beurre de Murumuru & Rose Vegan
• Ponds
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Live Silver Shampoo 200ml
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Blonde Blondering Highlights M1
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Blonde Blondering Ultra Lightener L1+
• Farmatodo Mascarilla hidratante nocturna
• Dove,Unilever Dove zero original 50ml
• Head & Shoulders Apple Fresh
• Procter & Gamble Head and Shoulders
• hair biology Revitalize & Soothe
• head & shoulders Anti-roos shampoo + conditioner
• Carrefour Shampooing antipelliculaire intensif Cheveux gras
• Dermaself Night Cream Retinolo
• Istituto elvetico Sanders Enoxyl tonic
• Labcare, Labcare cosmetics Crema viso anti-age
• Deliplus Anti manchas
• Deliplus facial clean
• Deliplus Loción Corporal Hidrata
• Nivea NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Reinigingsgel