After collagen and hyaluronic acid, will the next powerful oral beauty ingredient be this?

With the rise of the concept of 'makeup and food sharing the same source', collagen and hyaluronic acid have become the star ingredients in oral beauty functional foods. Another important beauty ingredient, niacinamide, although slightly less popular, has also emerged strongly in recent years, especially with a surge of new products recently. These three ingredients, as the three mainstays in anti-wrinkle, hydrating, and whitening skincare products, are also making significant strides in the food sector.

What is niacinamide?

Niacinamide (nicotinamide) is an amide related to niacin and belongs to vitamin B3. Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin that can be converted into niacinamide in the body. Niacin and niacinamide have similar functions; niacin is a colorless needle-like crystal, while niacinamide appears as a white powder and is more soluble than niacin.

Physiologically, niacinamide is a component of coenzyme I and coenzyme II, participating in lipid metabolism, the oxidative process of tissue respiration, and the anaerobic breakdown of carbohydrates. Clinically, it is mainly used for conditions such as pellagra, stomatitis, ischemic heart disease, and thromboembolic diseases. In the cosmetics field, niacinamide is an extremely commonly used star ingredient, applicable for moisturizing, whitening, acne treatment, anti-wrinkle, and sun protection. Among these, whitening is the most well-known function of niacinamide. In experiments involving Japanese women, a 5% niacinamide lotion and a sunscreen containing 2% niacinamide were used. Comparisons with control experiments and computer data analysis showed that niacinamide has the function of inhibiting the transfer of melanin from melanocytes to keratinocytes. At the same time, niacinamide promotes skin metabolism, accelerating the shedding of melanin-containing cells in the epidermis. Although it cannot fundamentally control melanin production, it can intervene and reduce melanin deposition, thus achieving a whitening effect.

So, does oral niacinamide also have a whitening effect? Research has confirmed that niacinamide can prevent the transport of melanin to keratinocytes in the body, while also promoting metabolism to accelerate the breakdown of melanin, hindering the transport of melanin particles to the skin's keratinocytes. However, the whitening effect of niacinamide can only serve as an auxiliary means; the primary method for whitening remains sun protection. Additionally, oral niacinamide can help combat dermatitis, increase skin moisture, improve skin barrier function, reduce photoaging, and promote collagen production. Moreover, as a water-soluble vitamin, niacinamide can be fully absorbed when taken orally.

According to GB14880, niacinamide/niacin is included in the list of permitted edible nutrient fortifier compounds and can be used in beverages, solid drinks, bread, instant cereals, grain powders, wheat flour, rice, soy milk, soy powder, soy milk powder, and formulated milk powder (for children and pregnant women). The 2013 revised version of the 'Chinese Dietary Nutrient Reference Intake' recommends a maximum daily intake of 300mg/d.

Source: 'Standards for the Use of Nutritional Fortifiers in Food' GB14880-2012

CBNDataThe '2019 Oral Beauty Consumption Trend Report' shows that oral anti-aging, oral whitening, oral hydration, and oral anti-hair loss are currently the most focused themes in the oral beauty product market. Among consumers purchasing beauty oral products, half are buying for the whitening function, and niacinamide, as an important whitening ingredient, is gaining attention. In 2019, the consumption scale of niacinamide oral products increased 15 times year-on-year. During this year's Tmall 618 event, sales of niacinamide oral beauty liquids grew by 261%. According to data from Data Iceberg, among the existing skincare product ingredients on the market, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and amino acids rank in the top three, far ahead of other ingredients, demonstrating strong market recognition, which also lays a good foundation for its entry into functional foods as a beauty ingredient. It can be anticipated that after collagen and hyaluronic acid, niacinamide will become the next rising ingredient.

Source: Data Iceberg

Latest Applications of Niacinamide in Beauty Foods

1Lele Tea Coconut White Series

Recently, Lele Tea collaborated with skincare brand OLAY to launch the Coconut White series of co-branded new products, including Coconut White Water Gel, Fresh Coconut Milk Gel, Coconut Cooling Dessert, Coconut Mochi Mango Ice, Coconut Mango Sago, a large Coconut Milk Tea, and Coconut Mochi Mango Buns (European-style buns), among which the Coconut White Water Gel combines edible niacinamide with sweet coconut water.

2Quaker Health Meal Replacement Series Small Q Bottles

Quaker's low-calorie meal replacement has launched a new flavor health series small Q bottles, with new flavors including black sesame black bean, red bean and coix seed, and oatmeal and quinoa. This product is a niacinamide slow-carb meal replacement, using Q slow-carb factor black technology, which helps scientifically satisfy hunger for 4 hours; the protein content is twice the national 'high protein' standard; it adds high dietary fiber, with a content of 11.4-11.9/100g, and one small Q bottle has approximately 205~207kcal.

3Heytea Sea Salt Lychee Flavor Sugar-Free Sparkling Water

Heytea launched lychee sea salt sparkling water in May, with sea salt sourced from the ecological sea area of the Leizhou Peninsula, offering a sweet and salty taste. Each bottle of sparkling water contains about 100mg of vitamins, and the product also adds niacin and vitamin B6. The product is advertised as 0 sugar, 0 calories, and 0 fat, with real fruit juice added.

4Zimei Tang Niacinamide Little White Drink

Zimei Tang launched the Little White Drink in March this year, building a whitening system with 7 major ingredients. In addition to high-purity niacinamide that inhibits melanin transfer, it also includes ceramides that rebuild the skin barrier, amla that clears surface melanin cells, glutathione that inhibits melanin proliferation, 2000mg of collagen peptides that repair cell damage, and elastic collagen.

5Tongrentang Yep Water Light Bottle

Tongrentang launched the new Yep Water Light Bottle in June, adding 95mg of small molecule sodium hyaluronate, along with niacinamide that inhibits melanin formation and pomegranate fruit powder containing various nutrients needed by the human body, with 0 fat, 0 added sucrose, and 0 estrogen.

60 Sugar Version Vitamin Drink Pulse 0

In April this year, Danone launched its first product with 0 sugar and 0 fat, "Pulse 0". The product uses steviol glycosides and erythritol to achieve "0 sugar". It is also enriched with vitamins and dietary fiber, including vitamin C, vitamin B6, niacinamide, and various other nutrients. Each bottle of Pulse 0 contains dietary fiber that meets 27% of the daily dietary fiber requirement for adults.

Summary

In recent years, thanks to the rise of the "beauty economy", China's oral beauty industry has developed rapidly. According to CBNData's "2020 New Health Consumption Trend Report", the three major skincare demands of whitening, antioxidant, and hydration correspond to ingredients such as niacinamide, collagen, anthocyanins, and hyaluronic acid, which are becoming the main offerings of oral beauty products. The trend of popular skincare ingredients becoming "internal" is evident.

*Source: Food Research Association FTA (ID: FTA_21FOOD)