Niacinamide Pore-Refining Serum
Niacinamide is the most versatile active ingredient in skincare — it addresses pore appearance, hyperpigmentation, barrier function, and sebum regulation simultaneously. At the right concentration, it does all of these without the irritation of acids or the photosensitivity of retinoids.
What This Is
The Niacinamide Pore-Refining Serum contains niacinamide (Vitamin B3) at 10% — the concentration at which the full range of its documented skin benefits are most consistently achieved — in a lightweight, water-based serum that is appropriate for twice-daily use on all skin types. It is the serum for the skin concerns most commonly experienced by people with South Asian skin: enlarged pores, excess sebum, hyperpigmentation, and uneven texture.
What Niacinamide Does
Pore appearance: Pores do not physically open and close — their apparent size is determined by the sebum production rate of the sebaceous gland and the degree to which the pore is distended by accumulated sebum and dead skin cells. Niacinamide at 5–10% has documented efficacy for reducing sebum production by inhibiting the synthesis of the fatty acids that form sebum — the reduction in sebum production reduces the distension of the pore and therefore reduces its apparent size. This effect develops over eight to twelve weeks of consistent use. Hyperpigmentation: Niacinamide inhibits the transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes — the step in the pigmentation process at which the melanin granules move from the pigment-producing cells to the surface-layer skin cells where they create visible pigmentation. This mechanism is different from the tyrosinase inhibition of Vitamin C, which means the two ingredients are complementary rather than redundant — used together in the morning (Vitamin C) and evening (Niacinamide) protocols, they address hyperpigmentation through two separate mechanisms simultaneously. Barrier function: Niacinamide stimulates the production of ceramides, free fatty acids, and cholesterol in the skin — the three components of the skin's intercellular lipid matrix that form the moisture barrier. At 10% concentration, the ceramide-stimulating effect is measurable and produces improved moisture retention and reduced transepidermal water loss with consistent use. Texture: The combined effects of reduced sebum production, improved cellular turnover (niacinamide accelerates epidermal cell turnover at high concentrations), and barrier improvement produce the smooth, refined skin texture that most people associate with "glass skin."
The 10% Concentration
Research demonstrates that niacinamide produces its full range of benefits at concentrations of 5–10%, with the dose-response curve suggesting that 10% is the concentration at which all mechanisms are most active simultaneously. Concentrations above 10% do not produce meaningfully greater benefit and are associated with increased risk of flushing — a temporary redness and warmth of the skin that is not dangerous but is uncomfortable. This serum uses 10% as the optimal concentration.
Supporting Ingredients
Zinc PCA at 1% — zinc is a cofactor in the enzymatic regulation of sebum production and has documented anti-inflammatory properties that complement niacinamide's sebum-reducing effect. The PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) complex improves zinc's bioavailability at the skin surface. Adenosine at 0.04% — the minimum effective concentration for adenosine's documented elasticity-improving and anti-wrinkle effects, providing an additional benefit layer in a multi-benefit serum. Allantoin at 0.5% — a soothing and cell-renewing agent that reduces the potential for any initial sensitivity in higher-niacinamide formulations.
How to Use
Apply after cleansing and toning, before heavier moisturisers. Two to three drops are sufficient for the full face — the lightweight serum spreads easily. Use morning and evening. Apply Vitamin C separately in the morning and Niacinamide in the evening to maximise the efficacy of both. Allow sixty seconds for absorption before applying the next product. Niacinamide is appropriate for use alongside retinol (apply niacinamide first as a buffer), alongside AHA/BHA exfoliants (wait twenty minutes after acids), and alongside all moisturising ingredients.
Details
30ml pump bottle. Niacinamide 10%, zinc PCA 1%, adenosine 0.04%, allantoin 0.5%. Free from: parabens, fragrance, alcohol. Dermatologist-tested. Suitable for all skin types. Particularly beneficial for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin. Made in India.
