Yes, it can. Here are 4 reasons why it can:
High concentration of Niacinamide in your product.
The sweet spot for niacinamide in a product is between 2 and 5%. Anything higher can irritate the skin.
Don’t assume the higher the percentage, the better the product is.
Those 10% and 15% niacinamide products on the market can cause more harm than good (and they also cost way more)!
Squeezing too much of the product onto your face?
Your face needs only 2 to 3 drops of niacinamide. Gently dab the product onto your skin.
Too many drops of niacinamide on the face can end up causing irritation and inflammation on the skin.
Maybe it ain’t niacinamide?
Check the product’s ingredients. Maybe something else is causing the irritation. The common culprits are essential oils, fragrances, and denatured alcohol.
Layers of niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a popular product in the skincare industry. Many cleansers and moisturisers also have it.
Maybe you are using a niacinamide serum and topping it off with a moisturiser, which also contains niacinamide, without realising that you have just applied two layers of niacinamide—that’s way too much.
Check the ingredients of all your products and stick to only one niacinamide product per routine.
Niacinamide is generally a non-irritating ingredient for many skin types. If it irritates your skin before you discard it, first check if it’s something you are doing (the above four reasons).
One quick note: Niacinamide can cause redness if used incorrectly, but it will not make your skin purge.