Apply niacinamide in the morning to soothe and strengthen your skin and use retinol at night to promote cell turnover and reduce signs of ageing. Always follow with sunscreen during the day, as retinol increases sun sensitivity.
First, use niacinamide and then layer retinol to protect your skin from any irritation. The optimal pH level for retinol activation is between 5.5 and 6 and topical niacinamide is most effective at a pH of 5-7. Neither ingredient will alter the pH of the other and instead work to increase the effectiveness of each.
When using niacinamide and retinol together, it's also important to keep in mind that both ingredients can dry the skin. To avoid dryness or flakiness, it's a good idea to use a moisturizer that contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or glycerine.
Can you layer vitamin C and niacinamide together? The answer is yes, you can. Vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, then moisturizer, then sunscreen. And you could use niacinamide before. your retinol as well.
Simply find the best products with retinol and niacinamide included in their formulas and incorporate them into your skin care routine. You should also know, there's no need to wait between applying both ingredients. These ingredients “play well” with others and won't deactivate each other.
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.
This can help you experience the benefits of retinol while minimizing the side effects. Niacinamide can also help support the skin barrier, which is crucial in the early stages of retinol use (often called the “purge” period).
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.
The misconception that you shouldn't use niacinamide and vitamin C together originates from outdated studies conducted in the 1960s. These early studies suggested that combining these ingredients could render them ineffective or cause skin irritation due to the instability of vitamin C in certain formulations.
It depends. In many cases, combining retinol and exfoliants can provide faster and better results, especially if you have very specific goals, like reducing breakouts faster or targeting discoloration. However, for simple skin maintenance and age prevention, using a retinoid alone can be more than enough.
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.
After applying your retinol product, it's best to wait roughly 10 minutes before moving on to the next step in your routine.
Niacinamide and retinol are popular skin care ingredients that can treat acne, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging. While they have similar effects, retinol is more potent. However, it may also cause more significant side effects. It is possible to use the ingredients alone or in combination.
Apply Niacinamide to your entire face (be it serum or cream/moisturiser), wait for 25 to 30 minutes and then apply Retinol. The next day, make sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
In this case, you'd apply first Snail Mucin, followed by Niacinamide & finally Azelaic Acid 💦 like that, you will be able to hydrate your skin, boost your collagen production, as well as brightening your pigmentation or even calming redness 🫶🏼 This recommendation can go for either morning or night routines 💕
Should You Use Niacinamide In the AM Or PM? Niacinamide is recommended to be applied up to two times per day. Given this advice, it is typically applied once in the AM and again in the PM before bed. Unlike retinol, niacinamide doesn't increase skin sensitivity and higher chance of reactions from the sun.
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.
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.
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.
“It's definitely a good idea to use both of these ingredients in your regular skincare routine,” says Dr. Engelman. Just remember to choose formulas that are right for your skin type and skin concerns and to use your vitamin C in the morning (with SPF, of course) and your retinol in the evening before bed.
It's an ingredient found in a number of moisturizing skin-care products as well as in certain foods and supplements like multivitamins. Can you use niacinamide every day? Yes. In fact, you can use niacinamide-containing topical products in the morning and night because it's generally a gentle ingredient.
Wait: Allow the retinol to absorb into your skin. Waiting 20-30 minutes can reduce the risk of irritation. Moisturize: Apply your moisturizer to lock in hydration and soothe the skin.
Niacinamide and AHAs / BHAs
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.