THE DIRECTORS’ CUT: NIACINAMIDE
Two beauty journalists, two very different approaches. ELLE’s beauty directors George Driver and Jennifer George give us the lowdown
One product, two different approaches: ELLE’s acting beauty directors reveal the ways they incorporate niacinamide into their skincare routine
Last year sent my skin into a meltdown of dry patches, spots and stress-induced redness that
all-too-accurately reflected my emotional state. For complexion self-preservation, I hopped onto the ‘skinimalism’ trend, swapping out endless actives for a paredback routine to get back to normality. Luckily, I like my skincare how I like my social life: low-key, low-effort and,
aside from the odd champagne splurge, low-budget. Fast forward to now and my skin might not be having an existential crisis, but it’s not exactly glowing either. It’s
time to baby-step back into actives. First up: do-it-all niacinamide. It’s a one-stop shop for better skin, promising to increase hyaluronic acid production, reduce pores and minimise melasma. How did I ever manage without it? Of course, I wonder if the most expensive will be the
best option, then remember that it’s efficacy that’s important, not swanky packaging. When you’re dealing with just one ingredient, you can be smart about how you
add it to your routine. The key to going cheaper is to check the percentage – the higher up the ingredients list it
is, the more potent it will be. So I choose the 100% powder booster by single ingredient experts The Ordinary. At just £4.90, the monochrome pot of powder promises filter-worthy skin for the price of a Happy Meal. And it delivers. A scoop into my morning hyaluronic acid a few times a week and I feel smug about my bargain bespoke
skincare routine that brightens my WFH complexion.
Niacinamide’s quiet brilliance is why I’ve been a fan for so long, thanks to my go-to innovative (and, yes, expensive) brands catching on before it got to the high street. I love a bargain as much as anyone, but I often
(not always) find that the higher the price, the more research has gone into a formula.
My skin is in reasonably good nick. I don’t have any severe issues, but constant niggles such as creeping wrinkles and congested pores. So when I get asked by a doctor or facialist (a fortnightly treat for this treatment junkie) what I’d like them to target, my answer is always: a bit of everything. I’m not enamoured by the idea of a prescribed regimen of multiple serums and lotions to iron out each problem. Which is where niacinamide comes in.
As George says, niacinamide is, truly, the ultimate all-rounder ingredient. So why haven’t you heard of it?
It might have been disguised as Vitamin B3, its alter ego. And it doesn’t need to shout. Because even in small quantities it could already be boosting the efficacy of your face cream or super-charging your serum (anything around or above a 5% level of niacinamide is considered effective).
Unlike George, who takes time to boost her routine with measured doses, the joy for me is not having to think about it, or add in another skincare step. But it’s there – in some of my do-it-all serums – keeping everything in check. Keeping my T-zone oil-free, redness soothed, wrinkles under control. Everything in ‘good nick’, as it should be.