For smoother-looking skin, pair Retinaldehyde and Hyaluronic Acid. For clearer-looking skin, pair Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. For hydrated skin, pair Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide.
One of our fave combos is combining niacinamide and hyaluronic acid together before applying them to the skin. For those wondering "Can you use lactic acid and niacinamide together?", yes you can!
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.
Make sure you use the oil-based products after the Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% to avoid clogging your pores. Oil-based serums penetrate deep into your skin, keeping it moisturized and hydrated.
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.
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.
Consider pairing your niacinamide face serum with hyaluronic acid for an enhanced skincare regimen. Combining niacinamide with hyaluronic acid can brighten, hydrate, and plump up your skin. Apply niacinamide serum on a cleansed skin and let it absorb. After a few seconds, follow up with hyaluronic acid face serum.
Niacinamide generally works well with most products, but it's best not to combine it with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the same routine as it can cause irritation. Additionally, avoid using it with strong exfoliants or retinoids in high concentrations to prevent skin sensitivity.
Hyaluronic Acid: Niacinamide pairs perfectly with hyaluronic acid for deep hydration. To plump up and hydrate the skin, use a hyaluronic acid serum before applying niacinamide. Vitamin C: Although you can use niacinamide serum and vitamin C together, you should apply them at different times of the day.
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.
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.
It's always advisable to apply leave-on Niacinamide products like toners, serums, moisturisers, etc., twice a day. 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.
Using benzoyl peroxide with niacinamide is beneficial, as niacinamide helps balance out oil production, support the natural skin barrier, whilst benzoyl peroxide will help oxygenate the pores and manage bacteria.
Niacinamide might not reach its full effectiveness when mixed with AHAs or BHAs. Moreover, this combination could be overwhelming for your skin, leading to adverse effects such as skin peeling, redness, and itchiness.
Don't use it with exfoliating ingredients: Niacinamide can increase skin sensitivity, so it's best to avoid using it with exfoliating ingredients such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid. Don't use it if you have an allergy: Niacinamide, like any other skincare ingredient, can cause allergic reactions in some people.
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.
If you're wondering how often you can use niacinamide, the answer is pretty simple: every single day! In fact, we recommend applying twice daily in order to see the benefits, which include visibly improvement of discoloration, a brighter complexion, and clearer-looking skin.
Which The Ordinary products should not be used together? Many people are divided over which ingredients can and can't be layered together, however 'best practice' advice from dermatologists is not to layer acids with each other, or with vitamin C, or retinoids.
The good news is retinol and niacinamide play well together. It doesn't matter which order you apply these two, as long as you apply the lighter textured product first. We recommend applying our Skin Renewing Retinol Serum followed by a niacinamide moisturiser.
Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
While you may not see any significant results during the first few weeks, there should be a notable difference by about 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, you should notice more hydrated, smoother, and toned skin.