Niacinamide ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a water-soluble skin-care active used for barrier support, tone-evening, visible redness reduction, and oil-control claims. It also helps formulas target dullness and the look of enlarged pores without acting as an exfoliating acid.
What does Niacinamide do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a water-soluble skin-care active used for barrier support, tone-evening, visible redness reduction, and oil-control claims. It also helps formulas target dullness and the look of enlarged pores without acting as an exfoliating acid.
Is Niacinamide clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is broadly accepted and not a common restricted-list concern. It is usually well tolerated, though higher levels or poorly controlled grades can be associated with temporary flushing, especially if trace conversion products are present.
Is Niacinamide sustainable?
This material is typically made by chemical synthesis, often from nonrenewable feedstocks, rather than direct agricultural extraction. It is water soluble, used at low levels, and expected to biodegrade rather than persist in the environment.
Is Niacinamide COSMOS-approved?
It may be used in COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic products only when the specific grade and manufacturing route meet the standard’s criteria, so supplier documentation is important. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed: low-dose, water-compatible, and biodegradable, but commonly tied to synthetic, nonrenewable feedstocks.
How does Niacinamide work chemically?
The molecule is a small, polar amide form of a B vitamin, which explains its high water solubility and easy use in aqueous serums, gels, and emulsions. Typical leave-on use levels are about 2% to 5%, sometimes up to 10%, and it is most stable around mildly acidic to neutral pH, with very low pH formulas increasing the chance of conversion to a flushing-related acid form.
Last updated 2026-05-13