LÉ Blog

If there's one ingredient that shows up across nearly every skin type and concern, it's niacinamide. And unlike a lot of skincare buzzwords, the hype here is grounded in real research. Generally speaking, niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 (specifically, the amide form of nicotinic acid), and it plays a role in some of the skin's most fundamental functions. Barrier health, hydration, oil balance, pigmentation: it has a hand in all of it. The chemists consider it the jack of all trades in the...

Read more about What Does Niacinamide Do For Skin? Benefits Explained

In a skincare world full of buzzy ingredients that fall short of their promises, niacinamide has built a solid reputation. Dermatologists keep coming back to it because the research holds up, and the day-to-day results tend to match the hype. Niacinamide slides into routines without stirring up drama. From lightweight serums to richer moisturizers, niacinamide helps skin look brighter and more balanced. Ahead, you’ll get a clear breakdown of what niacinamide does, which benefits matter most, ...

Read more about Niacinamide Benefits: Why Dermatologists Recommend It

If you’ve ever stood in front of your skincare shelf, asking yourself, 'Can you use niacinamide with vitamin C?' you’re in good company. The mix-or-don’t-mix debate has been floating around for years, often leaving people more confused than confident. Some say these ingredients cancel each other out. Others claim they work beautifully together. Here’s what we know: both niacinamide and vitamin C are backed by solid research and show up in some of the most effective skincare formulas today. So...

Read more about Can You Use Niacinamide And Vitamin C? A Chemist's Opinion

Mixing active ingredients in your skincare routine can feel like a chemistry class no one prepared you for. Niacinamide and retinol are both popular skincare ingredients, but using them together in the same routine raises several questions. Is it too harsh? Will they cancel each other out? Should you be worried about irritation? It’s completely normal to feel unsure. The good news is, you don’t have to pick sides. When used thoughtfully, niacinamide and retinol can actually complement each ot...

Read more about Can You Use Niacinamide With Retinol? What Scientists Say

Understanding the order of skincare isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about helping your products work smarter, not harder. The right skincare order supports absorption, minimizes irritation, and makes even a simple routine more effective. And yes, it applies whether you're using two steps or ten. We understand that with a growing lineup of skincare treatments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed between cleansers, serums, and moisturizers. But with a little science and a lot of compassion, you ...

Read more about Order Of Skincare: A Scientist’s Step-By-Step Guide

As a skincare enthusiast, you’ve probably already heard of the irritation potential of heavy-hitting active ingredients such as retinol and glycolic acid. Niacinamide, on the other hand, gets touted as a highly efficacious yet vanilla, and gentle ingredient. But! When it comes to any ingredients, dose makes the poison… and the elixir. Most active ingredients have a tested effective range. Within that range, the ingredient should deliver those long-term benefits they promise without causing in...

Read more about How much niacinamide is too much niacinamide

Restoring your “skin barrier” seems like a pretty hot skincare buzzword right now – and it’s actually for good reason! As much as we love our high-efficacy actives like glycolic acid and retinol, our core skincare philosophy is to always first have your skin barrier care down pat before diving into the other more glamorous skin concerns. But what even is skin barrier function and how do you take care of it? The good news is, you’re probably already doing a lot of things that are good for your...

Read more about So You Want to Restore Your Skin Barrier?

*Updated as of 5/17/2022 When you start dabbling in actives, you’ll easily fall into the rabbit hole of what you can and can’t layer. One of the complicated aspects of trying to figure out actives layering and why brands may not even be able to give clear answers is simply the fact it hasn’t gone through enough testing to truly know. Not to mention, the formulas these actives sit in can add another layer of complexity. The good thing is there are some active combinations that have been looked...

Read more about Actives Pairings With Clinical Testing Behind Them

One of our most popular articles of Chemist Confessions and the center of a lot of questions is combining actives. In How to Combine Actives Like a Pro Pt. 1 we shared some tips and tricks on how to combine the big 4 actives of retinol, niacinamide, AHAs, and vitamin C. But what about all the other active ingredients? And what does it all really mean when it comes to product layering? It’s finally time for How to Combine Actives like a pro part 2! *Note: We wrote this for individuals that hav...

Read more about How to Combine Skincare Actives like a Pro pt 2

So you wanna get some niacinamide into your routine eh? Welp unfortunately in the past couple of years, this category has become quite the circus of products. So let’s take a stroll through the niacinamide landscape and see if we can find your next niacinamide discovery. But Wait! A Quick Recap Before We Explore If you haven’t already, we highly recommend going back to our niacinamide intro to recap what niacinamide can do for your skin. To sum up in one line, niacinamide has shown that with ...

Read more about I'm Shopping for Niacinamide! Halp!