Can Vitamin C and Niacinamide be used together?
We looked at a few skincare ingredients in our recent blog post and we hope you find them useful. As I mentioned before, this can be an overwhelming and complex industry, especially given the sheer number of ingredients available.
Two powerful skincare ingredients shrouded in mystery and confusion are Niacinamide and Vitamin C. With that in mind, we’re going to go ahead and look at, and hopefully answer, some of the burning questions about how to use Vitamin C and Niacinamide together.
Can Niacinamide and Vitamin C be mixed together?
The short answer is: yes. This can be a little confusing because you’ve no doubt read a lot about how Vitamin C and Niacinamide are too harsh on the skin as a skincare combo. This is the result of outdated research into the effects of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), which caused mild irritation and redness when combined with Niacinamide. Granted, ascorbic acid was considered an extremely unstable ingredient back in the 1960s. If you look at modern formulations, you’ll see that this is no longer the case, as not only has ascorbic acid become more stable, but alternative forms of vitamin C such as ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate are also used in various skincare products, both of which remain balanced and effective.
However, this doesn’t mean you should use skincare products that contain ingredients that you haven’t added to your daily routine. You must always do a 24-hour patch test before applying the product all over your skin to avoid unnecessary irritation.
Why can’t vitamin C and niacinamide be used together?
It’s well known that using vitamin C and niacinamide together causes the two ingredients to chemically cancel each other out. This renders both ingredients completely useless for the skin. Still, there’s nothing stopping you from using them every day, you just have to alternate between them. For best results, try using vitamin C in the morning. The potent antioxidant formula helps fight free radical damage caused by UV rays and pollution. Then, you can apply niacinamide in the evening, which locks in moisture and keeps your skin plump and hydrated while the other ingredients absorb quickly.
Do I use niacinamide before or after taking vitamin C?
As I suggested, you can use each ingredient at different times of the day. But if you want to use both vitamin C and niacinamide at the same time, it’s best to apply the vitamin C first and wait about 15 minutes before applying the niacinamide. Not only will the revitalizing benefits of vitamin C give your skin a radiant glow, but it will also reduce potential signs of irritation thanks to the hydrating, moisturizing properties of niacinamide.
Which is more effective, niacinamide or vitamin C?
Both vitamin C and niacinamide offer similar skin benefits, but they differ slightly depending on the pH level. For example, vitamin C is used in formulas with low pH levels, while niacinamide works at neutral or higher pH levels.
As for which is more effective, both are great to incorporate into any skin care routine. It’s no longer an outdated view that niacinamide and vitamin C have negative side effects, causing a variety of skin irritations, facial redness, and other allergic reactions. Using either product comes down to personal preference and daily habits, but if you want my advice, using both will yield effective results and an overall improved complexion. If you want to learn more about each ingredient and its skin benefits, you can read our dedicated blog posts on vitamin C and niacinamide.
Can vitamin C and hyaluronic acid be used together?
Yes, of course, if you want two ingredients that provide optimal, healthy skin, then hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are the way to go.
The nourishing and hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid ensure that the skin’s natural barrier remains fully functional. This is achieved by trapping moisture on the outer surface, keeping the barrier healthy and strong enough to protect against free radicals and other environmental aggressors. You’ll also find that when the protective barrier has the correct hydration content, any skincare applied will be absorbed quickly and effectively reach the correct areas of the underlying layers of the skin.
If you want to learn more about how to layer vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, you can read our blog post.
What happens when niacinamide and vitamin C are mixed?
I mentioned earlier that mixing niacinamide and vitamin C was once considered a bad idea because it would create niacin, a solution that causes flushing and redness in the skin, sometimes giving the skin a yellow appearance. In modern formulations, ascorbic acid and niacinamide can still form niacin, but the main difference is that a lot of heat over a longer period of time is required to trigger this reaction. It doesn’t happen often, and the combination of these two powerful ingredients can be your secret weapon to rejuvenated skin.
Can I use Vitamin C in the morning and Niacinamide at night?
Of course, using skincare with Vitamin C in the morning and Niacinamide at night is the best way to get the best of both worlds, especially if you have a skin type that’s prone to sensitivity and other skin issues like redness and irritation.
These are some examples of how to use Vitamin C and Niacinamide together. As I mentioned before, it’s important to remember that if you’re incorporating these ingredients into your skincare routine for the first time, always do a 24-hour patch test before applying these ingredients all over your skin.
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