Should Niacinamide Be Used On Wet Or Dry Skin? Answered

Are you wondering if Niacinamide skincare products should go on wet or dry skin?

If yes, then you are not alone; a lot of people are in the same boat as you.

Niacinamide is an ingredient formulated from Vitamin B3, it is also called Niacin by chemistry experts.

An addition of this ingredient to any skincare product, be it a cleanser, serum, toner, or even moisturizer can improve the general health of the skin.

Consistent use of this ingredient or any product that has it as the main ingredient can eliminate aging signs, reduce the production of melanin, clear blemishes from acne, and reduce the overproduction of natural skin oils, among others.

With the hype that Niacinamide has been getting over the years, it has prompted many people to include the ingredient in their skincare regimen.

If Niacinamide is that good, how should it be used, on wet or dry skin? Keep reading to find out the best way to use it.

Should Niacinamide Be Used On Wet Or Dry Skin?

The short answer is that Niacinamide should be used on damp, almost wet skin.

This is because Niacinamide is a water-based vitamin, which means that it dissolves easily in water.

Meaning that its molecules and bonds loosen up and become active once it comes in contact with water.

Water helps with the absorption of some ingredients into the skin for better results.

So if you are using skin products that contain Niacinamide, you need to dampen your skin a little before layering them.

It doesn't matter all the other ingredients that the product contains, except it has Retinol as an active ingredient then applied on dry and clean skin.

What Happens If You Use Niacinamide On Dry Skin?

There is no negative effect in applying Niacinamide on dry skin, just that applying it to a damp skin prompts your skin to absorb it quickly for best results.

However, in the case where you have Retinol in your regimen, you should apply Niacinamide first, wait for it to dry then apply the Retinol. 

The general rule of thumb is to always layer water-based skincare products before every other product especially if they have a heavier consistency or are oil-based so as not to interfere with their effectiveness.

If the Niacinamide product also has Retinol in it, you should apply it on dry skin, here is why:

Retinol strictly requires that it should be layered on dry skin, whereas there is no strict rule on how to layer Niacinamide.

Conclusion

Niacinamide has several benefits and should be included in everyone's skincare routine.

It can be found in moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and even toners in different amounts.

The verdict is that Niacinamide can go on wet and dry skin, but it works better on wet skin.

However, the only time Niacinamide should be applied on dry skin is when the skin product also has Retinol as an active ingredient.

Overall, if you want to start seeing what the Niacinamide hype is about, start using it on wet or dampened skin.