Niacinamide is one of the actives with the best evidence-to-price ratio in all of skincare. At 4–5% it has published studies on sebum reduction, enlarged pore reduction, anti-inflammatory effect in acne, skin barrier reinforcement and melanosome transfer inhibition (depigmenting). The gel texture makes it ideal for oily and combination skin: it hydrates without adding oil, controls sebum without drying out.

Niacinamide's Five Mechanisms

• Sebum regulation — inhibits synthesis of sebaceous triglycerides and fatty acids. Visible oiliness reduction in 4–8 weeks at 4%
• Pore reduction — enlarged pores are a consequence of excess sebum. By reducing sebum, pores visually contract
• Anti-inflammatory — inhibits production of IL-8 and PGE2, mediators of acne inflammation
• Barrier reinforcement — stimulates synthesis of ceramides, involucrin and filaggrin
• Melanosome transfer inhibition — reduces melanin transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes, with depigmenting effect

The Combination That Amplifies

Niacinamide and vitamin C in layers don't neutralise each other — the incompatibility myth has been debunked. Applied in separate layers (vitamin C → niacinamide) or at different times (vitamin C in the morning, niacinamide at night) they are perfectly compatible and their mechanisms complement each other.