Can Retinol and Niacinamide be used together?
Retinol and Niacinamide are essentially the Batman and Robin of skincare. Not only do this superstar duo work perfectly together, they can give you the complexion results you’ve always dreamed of. There’s plenty of research to support the success of these two ingredients in treating skin. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at how to use them together in your skincare routine.
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin B3 found in the body that’s essential for skin health. It has a strong ability to lock in moisture and hydrate the skin while repairing any damage to the protective barrier. It also fights environmental factors like pollution, UV damage, toxins, and stress on the skin, thanks to Niacinamide’s antioxidant properties.
What is Retinol?
A member of the vitamin A family, retinol is known for its ability to clear pore-clogging dirt, bacteria, and sebum buildup. This makes retinol an effective ingredient for fighting skin blemishes like blackheads and acne. This skin-rejuvenating ingredient has exfoliating properties that can fight signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
Since retinol is one of the most popular skincare ingredients on the market, you have a wide variety of retinol-infused products to choose from. Since retinol can cause some skin reactions, such as dryness and irritation, you should consult a dermatologist if you’re unsure which retinol concentrate is best for you and your skin. For more information on the most effective forms of retinol, visit the Beauty Insiders blog.
Can I mix retinol with niacinamide?
These two popular skincare ingredients can improve skin in a variety of ways, including reducing the appearance of blemishes and acne, even skin tone, and fight signs of aging. Here are some of the benefits you can expect when using one of these products:
Skin Care Benefits of Niacinamide
Increases cellular energy
Helps keep skin hydrated
Reduces signs of aging
Helps treat acne and other skin imperfections
Improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation
Repairs skin from sun damage
Skin Care Benefits of Retinol
Chemically exfoliates for a more radiant-looking complexion
Reduces signs of skin aging
Eliminates active spots and breakouts
Evens skin tone and reduces hyperpigmentation
As you can see, using Niacinamide and Retinol together in a product or as part of your skin care routine can lead to many improvements. You’ll also find that using these ingredients together can have a positive impact on the effects of both on your skin. For example, applying a formula with Niacinamide topically can reduce the irritation caused by Retinol.
Niacinamide protects the skin barrier by attracting moisture and counteracting the drying effects that Retinol initially causes on your skin in your daily routine. You’ll find that you’ll experience the benefits of fewer side effects. However, you need to be careful when adding Retinol to your skin care routine before applying any products to your face.
How to Use Retinol and Niacinamide Together?
You’ll find that you have several options when it comes to using niacinamide and retinol. The easiest and most convenient option is a product that has both powerful skin ingredients in one formula. If you decide to use them in separate products, it’s recommended to use niacinamide first, as it helps protect your skin from irritation caused by retinol.
Here’s a quick overview of how to use retinol and niacinamide in your skin care routine:
After thoroughly cleansing your skin and removing makeup, bacteria, and debris, start by cleansing and drying your face.
If you plan to exfoliate your skin, now is the time. However, if you have dry or sensitive skin, it’s best to skip this step.
Depending on your skin preference, you can use niacinamide and retinol separately or combine them in one product.
If you use separate products, it’s best to use niacinamide first, so make sure the product has the thinnest/lightest formula.
After using niacinamide, apply your retinol product of choice.
Don’t forget to apply SPF 30+ sunscreen.
This skin care routine breakdown shows the most effective and easiest way to use retinol and niacinamide together. Many people find this works well for their skin. If you find your skin is becoming flaky, red, and uncomfortable, you should reduce the frequency of product use and consider the strength of your retinol. There is a dedicated blog post that explains in more detail which retinol strength you should use.
What are the benefits of using retinol and niacinamide together?
Having explained the benefits of each ingredient earlier, combining them into your routine will deliver effective, yet gentle results for your skin. Your overall health and complexion appearance will be significantly improved. Niacinamide’s gentle skin care helps reduce signs of premature aging, discoloration, and breakouts (from blackheads to spots). Retinol offers similar benefits, but as you know, there are some caveats. Combining the two ingredients is a safer way to use retinol, especially if you haven’t already incorporated it into your skincare routine.
Can Niacinamide be used with Retinol and Vitamin C?
You now have a better understanding of how retinol and niacinamide can benefit your skin. Surely it can’t hurt to add another ingredient like vitamin C to the mix, right? Not true! It may feel easy to make your own cocktail of active ingredients, so no matter how confident you are about using these skin ingredients, you should avoid doing so.
One of the most important factors to remember is that not all skincare ingredients work well together. Unfortunately, this is not the case with niacinamide and vitamin C, as using them together can cause skin irritation. To avoid this and get the benefits of using all three active ingredients, you can use vitamin C in the morning and combine retinol and niacinamide in the evening.
This means that some skincare ingredients come with warning labels, such as: B. Retinol, which actually has a skincare partner. The combination of niacinamide and retinol uses a high-performance formula to make your complexion look better and help address a range of skin concerns from fine lines to hyperpigmentation.
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