Niacinamide vs. Vitamin C: Which Is Better for Lightening Dark Spots

Skincare is a beautiful way to show some love to your skin while allowing yourself the time to stop and smell the roses in your busy routine. As we pursue the skin of our dreams, we encounter a number of skincare ingredients that can help us along that journey. In this blog, we shall talk about two of such skincare superheroes; Niacinamide and Vitamin C. We shall also draw a comparative analysis between these two ingredients and see what works best for dark spots. 

What is Niacinamide

To make a comparison between Niacinamide vs Vitamin C, we must first try to understand both of these ingredients in detail:

Niacinamide is a kind of Vitamin B3. It can be naturally found in food but people also take it in the form of dietary and nutritional supplements. This is a water-soluble Vitamin and it has multifaceted benefits when it comes to skincare. Let us take a look at some of these benefits:

• Skin Brightening 

Niacinamide is known for its ability to brighten your skin. (1) It can work wonders for dark spots, pigmentation and an uneven skin tone. 

• Anti Aging Benefits

Niacinamide is full of antioxidants that can protect your skin cells from oxidative damage. (2) This helps protect your skin from signs of premature ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles etc. 

• Anti Inflammatory Benefits 

Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties which means that it is a very useful skincare ingredient for people with sensitive skin.

• It Gives A Youthful Appearance To Your Skin

Niacinamide can boost collagen production which will enhance skin elasticity and give a youthful glow to your face. In fact, a boost in collagen production is good for your overall skin health. 

What Is Vitamin C

Vitamin C has been regarded as a skincare sweetheart for the longest time. It is a water-soluble vitamin that is mainly found in citrus fruits and vegetables. It is also available as a dietary supplement and as an ingredient in skincare products for topical application. 

Let us take a look at some of its benefits for your skin: 

• It Is A Potent Antioxidant

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can protect your skin from oxidative damage. This can help in impeding the signs of premature skin ageing. 

• Skin Brightening 

Vitamin C can inhibit melanin production which can help in brightening up your skin tone and dimming down the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation. 

• It Can Protect Your Skin From Sun Damage 

Vitamin C is known to provide an extra layer of protection to your skin when exposed to sun. Although this ingredient isn’t a substitute for sunscreen, it can help in reducing the detrimental effects of sun exposure. 

Niacinamide vs Vitamin C - Which Is Better For Dark Spot

If you are wondering about niacinamide or vitamin C which is better for dark spots, we have to acknowledge the fact that both these ingredients bring their own set of benefits to the table and hence it is very difficult to pin down one out of them for helping in managing dark spots. Therefore, the choice between the two depends on a wide range of factors. You can check out 3AM and explore their range of skincare products that are enriched with the goodness of these two ingredients. You can even check out the plethora of other ingredients that have gone into those products and then take a pick as per your choice and preference. 

In the quest for figuring out the efficacy of niacinamide vs vitamin C for dark spots, it would be of consequence to factor in the above-mentioned points while making a decision. While there is no clear winner out of these skincare heavyweights, the choice between the two boils down to one’s personal choice, skin type and texture. 3AM’s speed dial most face mist with Niacinamide and their Vitamin C serum with lactic acid are two of our favourite products. 

Frequently Asked Questions On Niacinamide vs Vitamin C

Q. Does niacinamide lighten dark spots?

A: Yes. Niacinamide can lighten dark spots. 

Q. Can vitamin C serum remove dark spots?

A: Yes. Consistent application of Vitamin C serum can help in reducing dark spots. 

References 

1. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/niacinamide 
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6824628/