It's suitable for all skin types and fits easily into your existing skincare routine. As for when to use niacinamide serum, we typically recommend applying products in order of consistency. That means your serum should come after toner, but before richer lotions or creams.
Yes, you can use niacinamide serum without a toner at night. To use it, cleanse your face, apply the niacinamide serum evenly, and follow with any other serums or moisturizers. It's generally applied before heavier creams and after lighter serums, allowing it to absorb before sealing in with moisturizer.
Niacinamide goes after both glycolic acid and vitamin c since those are pH-dependent actives.
Niacinamide can be applied after cleansing and toning but before moisturizing. If you're using it in serum form, dispense a small amount and gently pat it into the skin. You can follow with a moisturizer to lock in hydration. It can be used both in the morning and at night.
Yes, you can use niacinamide serum without a toner at night. To use it, cleanse your face, apply the niacinamide serum evenly, and follow with any other serums or moisturizers. It's generally applied before heavier creams and after lighter serums, allowing it to absorb before sealing in with moisturizer.
DON'T MIX: AHA/BHA and niacinamide
Niacinamide is used to treat hyperpigmentation and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are chemical exfoliants. To understand why niacinamide shouldn't be mixed with AHAs and BHAs, you need to consider pH.
Niacinamide should be applied to your skin after cleansing and toning but before moisturizing. It's best to use it on slightly damp skin to ensure better absorption.
For general skin tone correction, a niacinamide concentration between 4-5% is often effective and well-tolerated by most individuals. For those looking to tackle more pronounced hyperpigmentation, a higher concentration of 10% may be beneficial, though it's important to monitor the skin for any signs of irritation.
Bear in mind that you can have more than one Niacinamide product in your skincare routine. After cleaning and drying your skin, you can apply a Niacinamide toner, then a Niacinamide serum, or a face cream. What we emphasise most is the order of layering of the product.
Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid can make a powerful pair. If you're using a facial serum like our CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, layer the serum directly onto clean skin before applying your niacinamide product in the next layer.
If you are using the Pixi Glow Tonic toner, don't layer it with Niacinamide products as this can cause massive irritation on your skin.
Use these ingredients 30 minutes apart
If you are planning to use niacinamide and glycolic acid on the same day, here's what you can do - you can layer these active ingredients maintaining a gap of at least 30 minutes between the application time.
Niacinamide + salicylic acid is what you need in your skincare routine. Salicylic acid is best known for its deep-cleansing properties and deep-penetrating action to unclog pores and slough off dead and dry skin. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of salicylic acid help clear away pustules and papules.
Similar to retinol, niacinamide should not be used with acidic skincare ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids. Ordinary niacinamide combined with an acid can cause a bad chemical reaction of redness and flushing.
As the percentages suggest, 10% niacinamide contains a higher concentration and strength than 5%. With twice the concentration of their 5% counterparts, 10% niacinamide products offer enhanced delivery of nutrients to skin cells.
Does Niacinamide cause purging? No, Niacinamide alone doesn't cause any purging of the skin. A product containing Niacinamide also contains other active ingredients like retinol, retinaldehyde, or AHAs, which can increase cellular turnover and shows signs of purging.
It's suitable for all skin types and fits easily into your existing skincare routine. As for when to use niacinamide serum, we typically recommend applying products in order of consistency. That means your serum should come after toner, but before richer lotions or creams.
Some may also have skin discoloration due to using niacinamide combined with other active ingredients that are too harsh for your skin type. Niacinamide can also cause problems when it's mixed with the following substances: Acids, including lactic acid, glycolic acid, and azelaic acid.
Niacinamide is generally considered more effective for hyperpigmentation as it inhibits melanin production. Glycolic acid works by increasing cell turnover to reveal newer skin. Using both can provide a powerful approach.
The main thing to look for with Niacinamide in a serum is the pH of the formulation. The pH range should be between 4 to 6. And the reason is that outside this pH range, niacinamide can much more easily become niacin, which is irritating to the skin.
Hyaluronic acid serums are usually lightweight and absorb quickly, so you don't need to wait longer than a minute or two to apply a niacinamide cream. If both products are thick or sticky, wait until the skin absorbs the first layer to avoid mixing and diluting the products.