Remember to apply niacinamide before retinol-based products to help shield your skin and reduce unwanted irritation. The use of both ceramides and niacinamide when prepping your skin for retinol has proven to be highly effective for retinoid use.
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.
If you use a retinol serum: Just apply it following the order of your normal skincare routine ``from the thinnest consistency to the thickest''. So, it means that you need to apply retinol serum first and followed by a moisturizer. In case you use 2 serums in your routine.
First off, use the vitamin C only in the morning and the retinol only in the evening. Vitamin C should be applied right after cleansing. Retinol should be applied right after cleansing. Then niacinamide, followed by hyaluronic acid.
Much like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid is another ingredient that can be teamed with retinol for a routine that can really pack a punch. Each skin hero diminishing fine lines and wrinkles, kick starting collagen production and leaving the complexion glowing, healthy and full of bounce.
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.
We recommend following the 1-2-3 rule: apply retinol once a week for one week, twice a week for two weeks, three times for three weeks, then move towards every second night if there are no side effects happening. If you do experience flaking, redness or sensitivity, simply move back to a lower frequency for a week.
If you're applying them together, you should apply Vitamin C first, followed by hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. Don't use it with AHAs, BHAs, and retinol at once. You can use it in low concentrations of AHA and BHA in your routine on alternate nights – Vitamin C one night and retinol the other.
You can (and should) consider layering niacinamide and retinol in the same routine, especially if you have sensitive skin. Retinol is a well-known ingredient that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging.
Don't combine retinol with alpha or beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, vitamin C, and other retinols or retinoids. Don't skip sunscreen Retinols are usually used as part of nighttime skincare routines, but even when they're applied at night, they can lead to lingering sun sensitivity.
Retinol is usually more effective than niacinamide. The adverse side effects of retinol are not present in niacinamide. From a molecular standpoint, retinol mainly penetrates the skin's outer layer. Niacinamide can permeate the skin more deeply than retinol, mainly when made with soy components.
First, you can use niacinamide products daily and add them to your evening and morning skincare ritual. In general, you'll want to apply niacinamide serum to a freshly washed face before using moisturizers or sunscreen. Plus, give each product time to absorb in the skin before applying another.
We recommend either layering niacinamide after retinol or using niacinamide in your morning skincare routine and retinol in the evening.
Apply serums after cleansing and toning and before moisturizers to help active ingredients penetrate deeply and more effectively. Wait at least two to three minutes before layering your second or third serum to give each product enough time to fully seep into your skin and prevent pilling or rubbing off.
It is not unusual to find a combination of niacinamide and retinol in a single skincare product, but you can use niacinamide and retinol as separate steps in a consistent routine. If you're using separate products, it is recommended that you apply retinol first then move forward with niacinamide application.
Although it's usually recommended to apply products in order of thinnest to thickest, this advice applies regardless of product texture. Using niacinamide alongside retinol may help minimise any sensitivity or skin dryness, thanks to its skin moisture barrier supportive function.
Apply the retinol product after cleansing. Let the retinol settle for about 20 minutes. Lightly mist your face with water, then immediately apply the hyaluronic acid. (Hyaluronic acid should always be applied to damp skin.)
It can take time for your skin to get used to a retinoid. Start by applying it once or twice a week, and always at night. As your skin adjusts, you can work your way up to using it nightly. If your skin gets red, dry, or flaky, you may be moving too fast.
You can totally use niacinamide and retinol together in your nighttime routine. Just remember, when it comes to retinol, less is more – try not to use it more than twice a week for the best results.
Niacinamide and vitamin C
This combination sparks a lot of debate among skincare experts. Some say that since both niacinamide and vitamin C contain antioxidants, they cancel each other out and might even lead to irritation.
Since retinol is such a powerful ingredient, it's important to be cautious about what you are pairing this with in your daily routine. To be specific, you cannot mix retinol with AHAs (Glycolic Acid Toner, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid Treatment, BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum, PHA Toner.
Niacinamide works well with other skincare ingredients, including retinol and hyaluronic acid. However, some ingredients, like vitamin C, may interact negatively with niacinamide. Therefore, it's recommended to use products containing these ingredients at different times of the day or on alternate days.