Cheryl Lee MD Truelipids Hydrate, Correct, And Perfect Lotion Versus Cheryl Lee MD Truecider Gentle Creamy Cleanser

Your skin makes its own natural anti-inflammatory hormone called cortisol and it also has an enzyme that switches cortisol off. Glycyrrhetinic Acid slows down that enzyme so your skin's natural calming power sticks around a little longer.

The research is pretty encouraging, especially for calming redness:

This is a good ingredient to look out for if your skin gets red, itchy, or irritated easily. It's also nice for anyone recovering from a harsh treatment or whose skin barrier is feeling a bit stressed.

It's typically found up to 2% because a little goes a long way.

Safety experts at the Cosmetic Ingredient Review found it safe as used in cosmetics. Even at 6%, three times the typical amount, it didn't cause irritation or allergic reactions in clinical testing.

Allergies to it are very rare with only a handful of reported cases over the years. But as with any new product, it's a good idea to patch test if you have reactive skin.

Fun fact: Glycyrrhetinic Acid is also used as a flavoring agent. Its sweet licorice roots mean it's sometimes used to help mask bitter tastes in medicine.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!