Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelee 3%: what it does and how to use it

What are you buying?

The Naturium US listing is $18 for 210 ml. The formula contains 3% niacinamide, plus glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, and has a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Naturium describes a soft, smooth finish and designs the cleanser for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Check your bottle's ingredient list because formulas can change.1

What does the cleanser actually do?

Cleansers use surfactants, ingredients that loosen oil and dirt so water can carry them away. One part of a surfactant attaches to oily material, while another part allows it to rinse off. Cleansing removes excess oil, makeup, sunscreen and dirt, so the sink already has a job without becoming a full skincare clinic.2

Naturium reports effective makeup removal and immediate and all day oil control in a one day clinical test that included different skin types and people who considered their skin sensitive. Those are the product's specific tested benefits; use it primarily as a cleanser, not as your entire dark spot or acne routine.1

What does the niacinamide add?

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. In skincare generally, it may support the skin barrier, the protective layer that helps hold moisture in and keep irritants out. Niacinamide can also calm inflammation and redness, and may help regulate oil production. These are general ingredient benefits, separate from the tested outcomes of this cleanser.3

Some research suggests that formulas containing 5% niacinamide can help lighten dark spots. That is a different concentration from this 3% cleanser. Niacinamide may also make pores look less noticeable, but nothing has been proven to reduce their actual size. Choose the cleanser for cleansing and oil control rather than expecting it to erase spots or permanently shrink pores.3

How do you use it?

1. 1Start with dry or damp skin. If you wet your face, use lukewarm water.
2. 2Apply a few pumps and massage gently with your fingertips. Avoid scrubbing or using a washcloth, sponge or brush.
3. 3Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water until the cleanser and any residue are gone.
4. 4Pat dry with a clean, soft towel rather than rubbing.
5. 5Follow with your serum, if you use one, and moisturizer. Wear sunscreen during the day.

The Gelée is rinsed off, so the French accent does not buy it permanent residence on your face.1

Naturium also allows a quick mask: leave the cleanser on for five minutes, then rinse. That is an optional use, not a required step in every wash.1

Can you use it every day?

Naturium permits daily morning and evening use. General face washing guidance is to limit cleansing to twice a day, plus after heavy sweating. Sweating under a hat or helmet can irritate skin, so wash as soon as possible afterward.14

More washing is not automatically better oil control. Excessive cleansing removes the surface oil film and increases moisture loss, leading to dryness and irritation. Hot water can also dry the skin barrier. If your face feels tight after cleansing, use moisturizer rather than treating tightness as the goal.25

Can you use it with a niacinamide serum or retinol?

Naturium allows its niacinamide cleanser and a niacinamide serum in the same routine. Niacinamide generally pairs with retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and moisturizers containing ceramides. Avoid adding several niacinamide products at once, especially if your skin is sensitive. Start slowly with lower concentrations so you can assess tolerance.13

How should sensitive skin test it?

Naturium advises testing before use. Fragrance free products can still cause irritation or an allergy to another ingredient, including a preservative. For a new cleanser, a repeated small area test is more useful than assuming the sensitive skin label settles the question.16

1. 1Choose a quarter sized area on the underside of your arm or the bend of your elbow.
2. 2Apply the normal amount twice daily for seven to 10 days.
3. 3For a cleanser, leave it on for five minutes or as long as its directions specify, then rinse.
4. 4If no redness, itching or swelling develops during the test, begin using the cleanser on your face.

When should you stop using it?

If a reaction develops, gently wash the product off and stop using it. A cool compress or petroleum jelly can help soothe the area. See a dermatologist if the reaction is severe or those measures do not relieve it. Persistent or unexplained reactions can require medical patch testing to identify the ingredient responsible.6