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I cut a single ingredient from my skincare routine and my acne cleared right up – it’s tricky because brands sneak it in

The ingredient is popular in anti-aging products

AN acne sufferer in her mid-30s was amazed by how cutting a single ingredient from her routine transformed her skin.

She raged that beauty brands “sneak” it into their products without clear labels.

A Redditor revealed how stopping the use of a popular skincare ingredient reduced her acne within two weeks
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A Redditor revealed how stopping the use of a popular skincare ingredient reduced her acne within two weeksCredit: Reddit/prettylittlejojo

She told members of Reddit’s 30 Plus Skincare forum that she began to experiment with beauty during lockdown.

Since her teens, she had been using benzoyl peroxide to control her acne and breakouts.

However, at age 35 she began to notice her skin increasingly getting worse following the birth of her second child. 

“I tried using some expensive serums (Glow Recipe etc) and my skin was getting worse,” she said, writing under the handle Prettylittlejojo.

Read more skincare tips

“I then got a Skin and Me prescription thinking tretinoin would be the answer. 

“I stayed on it for over six months but it didn’t make any difference. 

“My skin was in fact worse than before.”

The Redditor decided to take a closer look at the products in her daily skincare routine.

“A few weeks ago something clicked for me, and I decided to stop using any products with niacinamide,” she said.

“I realized skincare brands were sneaking it into products without any clear labels. 

“Even my Beauty of Joseph sunscreen has it.”

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She showed impressive photos of how her face looked before and two weeks after she stopped using niacinamide. 

“Yea, my pores are a bit more obvious but I would rather that than breakouts,” she said.

INSUFFERABLE INGREDIENT

Many people upvoted the post and vented their frustrations about the popular skincare ingredient.

“Niacinamide is such a sneaky b***h,” one person said.

“I had the same experience but it happened so slowly after starting using it that I thought it must have been some other product I added to my routine more recently. 

“Turns out I am one of the lucky people who now get to check the ingredient list for niacinamide on every single product.”

Another commenter raged that brands assume because it works for some people it must do wonders for everyone.

They said it’s “so frustrating” seeing niacinamide listed on almost every new product. 

“I despise niacinamide,” they added. 

“Every time I've tried it, no matter the brand it's from, it's destroyed my skin and left me with a deep and itchy red flush.”

PROMISED PERKS

Despite the complaints, niacinamide is often listed as a potential treatment for acne.

Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3 that according to Healthline improves skin health and prevents environmental damage. 

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It can also help to regulate oil production and minimize pores and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Experts recommend doing a patch test with a dime-sized amount of the ingredient on the forearm.

Read More on The US Sun

Then wait 24 hours to see if it causes an allergic reaction such as itching or swelling. 

Niacinamide is generally considered to be safe to use with people seeing an improvement in their skin within as little as four weeks.

Niacinamide is known to improve skin health and prevent environmental damage (stock image)
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Niacinamide is known to improve skin health and prevent environmental damage (stock image)Credit: Getty
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