Niacinamideis truly the Swiss Army knife of skin care ingredients.

Got dry, sensitive skin with a compromised barrier?

Niacinamide can help lock in moisture.

Jamie Schneider

Dealing with a stubborn breakout?

Niacinamide cantackle moderate acneandfade lingering hyperpigmentation.

Concerned about fine lines?

Niacinamide has been shown to producenew skin cells1andimprove elasticity2in the skin.

Not nearly as fun as its aforementioned accolades but important to dissect nonetheless.

Why it’s easy to go overboard on niacinamide.

“There’s no reason to think 30% niacinamide is six times as effective as 5% niacinamide.

You’re more likely to irritate your skin with ultrahigh concentrations than anything else.”

), and brands are formulating with it at breakneck speed.

What to do about it.

Just double-check you’re not going overboard.

You may also want to check how much niacinamide you’re slathering on.

The takeaway.

Niacinamide receives a ton of hype for very valid reasons.

Consider this a lesson in restraint: Like accessorizing ortrimming your brows, less is more.