Hexyl Nicotinate
A nicotinic acid ester. It widens vessels and boosts blood flow to skin, and may cause redness and warmth.
Supporting ingredient
It gives a product its texture, stability or shelf life. It has no claimed effect on the skin, so an efficacy tier does not apply. What is known about its safety is below
Tolerability and safety
- Irritation potential
- Low
- Allergen risk
- Moderate
- Pregnancy
- Safe
- Suitable for
- Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily, Sensitive
About this ingredient
Hexyl Nicotinate is the hexyl ester of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3). It is added to cosmetics for its vasodilator effect: it penetrates the skin and widens the surface capillaries, raising local blood flow. You see it in massage creams, warming products and formulas that aim for a sense of activation. As a care active it offers little. It does not repair or hydrate; it works mainly as a sensory agent and microcirculation booster. Its main effect, the brief redness and warmth, is exactly what many skin types want to avoid in a daily facial product. For topical use the amount reaching circulation is minimal, so it can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding without a specific concern. Irritation potential is low, but allergy risk is medium. The most common response is not an allergy but the expected one: flush, tingling or short-lived stinging from the vasodilation. People with sensitive skin, rosacea or a tendency to flush are better off skipping it, since it amplifies the very reaction those skin types try to keep in check.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hexyl Nicotinate safe during pregnancy?
Hexyl Nicotinate is considered safe during pregnancy at typical cosmetic concentrations. Systemic absorption through the skin is minimal.
What skin types is Hexyl Nicotinate for?
Hexyl Nicotinate suits: normal, dry, combination, oily, sensitive.
What is Hexyl Nicotinate and what does it do in cosmetics?
A nicotinic acid ester.
What's the INCI name for Hexyl Nicotinate?
The INCI name is Hexyl Nicotinate.
See Hexyl Nicotinate in a product composition right on the store page
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Similar role in the formula
Other functional ingredients
Hexyl Salicylate, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrated Silica, PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate, Rose Ketones, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ceteareth-33
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