When it comes to achieving healthy, radiant skin, niacinamide has emerged as a hero ingredient. Known for its multifaceted benefits, niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, not only helps to restore and strengthen the skin barrier, but also addresses concerns such as uneven skin tone, signs of aging, and dryness. While niacinamide has long been praised in facial skincare products, its transformative powers have now extended to body lotions and even body washes.
If you suffer from dry skin, a dull complexion, or even skin conditions like keratosis pilaris (KP), using a niacinamide infused body lotion can completely change the way your skin looks and appears. The hero ingredient combines hydration, nourishment, and skin-enhancing properties like restoring a compromised skin barrier when used regularly.
Whether you're looking to improve the appearance of stretch marks, fade discoloration, or simply achieve a smoother and more even skin texture, we've rounded up the best niacinamide body lotions to meet your skincare needs and goals. Read on for the eight best niacinamide body lotions to add to your routine and care for your skin in the best way possible.
Meet the Expert
Dendy Engelman, MD, is a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Caren Campbell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in the San Francisco and Napa areas in California.
What Is Niacinamide?
But first, let us dive a little deeper into what niacinamide is, exactly. An ingredient that was once commonly found in serums, it can also be found in acne products to improve texture and balance oil, cleansers and even eye creams.
Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a form of niacin that plays a crucial role in energy metabolism and cell health. It offers a range of benefits for the skin, making it a popular ingredient in skincare products.
One of the key benefits of niacinamide is its ability to boost hydration and strengthen the skin's barrier function. By enhancing the function of the skin's lipid barrier, niacinamide helps to lock in moisture and protect the skin from pollutants and potential irritants, resulting in a more hydrated and less sensitive skin.
Niacinamide has also been found to have brightening properties, making it effective in reducing hyperpigmentation and improving overall skin tone.
According to dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, niacinamide is great as both a primary or supporting ingredient—meaning it plays well with a range of other ingredients. Other common superstar skincare ingredients, like peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, all help to build a protective barrier for your skin. Pairing niacinamide with any of these actives can help to amp up their potency.
Looking for a deeper dive on niacinamide? Check out our ingredient 101 here and learn if it's right for your skin type and concerns.
What Are the Benefits of Niacinamide on Your Body?
One of the key benefits of niacinamide is its ability to enhance skin health. It can boost hydration and strengthen the skin barrier, which helps to lock in moisture and protect the skin from pollutants and potential irritants. Additionally, niacinamide has been found to have brightening properties and can help improve the overall tone of the skin by reducing hyperpigmentation.
Niacinamide has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, which can help calm redness and soothe irritated skin. “It [niacinamide] helps with your skin barrier function, provides antioxidants and reduces redness when used in correct concentration,” says dermatologist Caren Campbell, MD.
1. It can repair your skin barrier and protect your microbiome. This will help protect and strengthen your skin and keep moisture in. It has similar effects to retinol in this way, but without the sensitivity or irritation, says Dr. Engelman.
2. It can calm redness and inflammation. By reducing inflammation in skin, niacinamide helps to minimize red spots and blotches in your skin, creating a more even skin tone.
3. It’s nourishing and hydrating for your skin. The vitamin helps boost hydration within your skin, keeping it plump and supple.
4. Preventing free radical damage. As a powerful antioxidant, it can neutralize free radicals and protect your skin cells from environmental stressors like pollution and the sun.
5. It fades hyperpigmentation. A higher percentage (think five percent) in skincare products can help reduce dark spots and uneven skin tone.
6. It reduces the appearance and size of pores. While you can’t technically change the size of your pores, niacinamide helps lessen the appearance of pores by keeping your skin healthy and hydrated.
It can be used to treat acne. By minimizing inflammation in your skin, using a product with niacinamide can help reduce breakouts. Plus, it has been known to help regulate sebum (a.k.a. oil) production, leading to less pimples.
The Best Niacinamide Body Lotions for Every Skin Type
1. Best Niacinamide Body Lotion for Dryness:
NÉCESSAIRE The Body Lotion
If one of your skin concerns is dryness or even keratosis pilaris (also known as strawberry skin), this lotion can definitely help. The niacinamide will help target your KP and gently slough away dead skin cells and keratin blocking your pores while vitamin C and vitamin E will nourish skin. It also contains five anti-aging peptides to target any loss of elasticity or firmness.
2. Best Multipurpose Niacinamide Body Lotion:
OLAY Age Defying & Hydrating Niacinamide Hand/Body Lotion
This hydrating lotion is specifically designed to address the signs of aging and provide intense moisture to the skin. With the powerful combination of niacinamide and other beneficial ingredients, this lotion helps to nourish and revitalize both the hands and body and any signs of aging they have endured overtime.
3. Best Lightweight Niacinamide Body Lotion:
PAULA’S CHOICE 5% Niacinamide Body Serum
Who doesn’t love a fast-absorbing body product. Instead of waiting to dry or worse, feeling sticky as you rush to put clothes on and head out the door why not try a body serum? This Paula’s Choice formulation features 5% niacinamide and 5% d-panthenol to even skin tone and restore a healthy skin barrier function.
4. Best Targeted Treatment Niacinamide Body Lotion:
CCMD Restorative Neck Cream
Dr. Campbell swears by this neck cream to care for and smooth your decollate. Its filled with ceramides, peptides, antioxidants and niacinamide. It's the perfect addition into your anti-aging skincare routine for a targeted approach within this area.
5. Chicest Packaging Niacinamide Body Lotion:
MIZON Niacinamide Smoothing Body Lotion
This body lotion is designed to deeply hydrate and moisturize the skin, providing long-lasting relief from dryness. The lightweight formula absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple, and smooth without any greasy residue.
6. Best Drugstore Niacinamide Body Lotion:
CETAPHIL Moisturizing Lotion with Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is known for its moisturizing properties and is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion with Avocado Oil is a deeply hydrating and nourishing lotion that is specially formulated to replenish and restore dry and sensitive skin. Enriched with the benefits of avocado oil, this lotion provides intense moisture, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth, and revitalized.
7. Best Niacinamide Body Lotion for Sensitive Skin:
LA ROCHE-POSAY Lipkar Body Lotion
La Roche Posay creates some of the most effective products for individuals with sensitive skin. They have products that cater to skin conditions like rosacea, eczema and cystic acne. This body lotion is tried and tested by many of our beauty editors and its safe to say we’re obsessed. It’s a product many of us Ipsy editors continue to purchase over and over with soothing ingredients like thermal water, shea butter, niacinamide and glycerin. Plus, it’s fragrance-free.
8. Best Vitamin C-Infused Niacinamide Body Lotion:
SHEA RADIANCE Vitamin C + Niacinamide Brightening Body Lotion
This rejuvenating body lotion combines the power of vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten and enhance the overall appearance of the skin. This lotion is specifically formulated to address hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and dullness, making it an ideal choice for those looking to achieve a more radiant and even complexion.
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