How do Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid work together?
We all know how effective Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid are in treating a variety of skin concerns, but when they are used together, it can often be a little daunting. They struggle to find an effective combination of skin ingredients that work synergistically without causing irritation or reactions. With this knowledge, let’s jump right into understanding how to use Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid together.
But before we get started, let’s quickly review what these ingredients are and how they work on the skin.
What is Salicylic Acid?
One of the most commonly used BHAs in various skincare formulations, Salicylic Acid is naturally derived from willow bark, but can also be produced synthetically. It is able to penetrate the lipid layer of the skin while clearing away dirt, bacteria, and impurities from the outer surface. Salicylic acid is known for being oil-soluble, making it a great ingredient for oily and acne-prone skin.
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has similar moisturizing benefits to the popular Hyaluronic Acid. It attracts moisture around the face and locks it into the skin, making it plumper, more supple, and more youthful. It also has the unique benefit of being able to regulate the skin’s natural sebum production.
Can Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid be used together?
You absolutely can! In fact, the combination of these two ingredients is thought to create an effective combo for those who often break out. Salicylic acid clears impurities and blockages from pores, while Niacinamide balances oil levels on the surface of the skin, regulates sebum production (natural oils in the skin), and strengthens the skin barrier by increasing hydration, ensuring that the skin protects itself from damage that can prevent free radicals.
It’s not just people with skin imperfections who benefit from this combination of ingredients. Since salicylic acid is a BHA, its oil-soluble nature allows it to penetrate deeper into the pores. If your dermatologist has given you the green light, this is a great way to deep cleanse your skin, as it’s one of the few ingredients that can easily penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin. When combined with Niacinamide, Niacinamide not only acts as a humectant, providing the skin with much-needed moisture, but it also helps keep the barrier soft and smooth, and improves its elasticity.
Should I use Niacinamide or Salicylic Acid first?
When it comes to whether you should use niacinamide or salicylic acid first, it’s thought that using a niacinamide serum allows the skin barrier to fully function and repair signs of damage, allowing the skin to quickly absorb salicylic acid and fight possible signs of skin impurities. Due to its moisturizing properties, the skin remains fully hydrated, helping to avoid skin irritation.
How to Use Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide?
When you use these ingredients together, you’ll often find them in skincare products you use on a daily basis, such as serums and moisturizers. This is much more beneficial for your skin because both ingredients stay on the skin longer, allowing this multi-tasking powerhouse to work its magic.
This also means that you need to consider the consistency of the products containing these ingredients, as this will determine when you should use them in your daily routine. The general rule is to apply products from thinnest to thickest, which is cleanser, toner, serum, face oil, moisturizer, and finally sunscreen.
Which is better, niacinamide or salicylic acid?
It can be a little confusing, considering that each ingredient can provide similar skin benefits, but has its own unique properties overall. The most important difference is their mechanism of action. By this I mean how they affect the different layers of the skin. While salicylic acid doesn’t help with hydration, it can remove the barrier of dead skin cells on the surface that often prevents moisturizers or serums from penetrating and reaching problem areas. In the end, it’s not that one ingredient is better than another, but rather a combination that truly produces the best skin results.
Can Niacinamide be used with AHA BHAs?
Of course, if you introduce AHAs or BHAs into your routine, you must be wary of using any form of chemical peels, as it can dry out the skin. Of course, some AHAs and BHAs can cause more problems than others, with glycolic and salicylic acid being the most effective. It’s always a good idea to do a 24-hour patch test before applying a product all over your skin to avoid unwanted allergic reactions. You must also follow the directions on the packaging, as incorrect use of AHAs and BHAs can lead to flaking, dryness, redness, and skin discomfort.
That’s where Niacinamide can come into play, to ensure that the skin remains hydrated and comfortable. With the hydrating properties I’ve already discussed, the skin barrier not only maintains a plump, healthy appearance, but it’s also able to reach its full potential, repairing any damage to the skin and preventing further exposure to harmful free radical damage, such as UV rays, pollution and other environmental aggressors.
Can I Use Niacinamide Every Day?
Niacinamide can be used not just once a day, but twice a day! Due to its multitasking abilities and the fact that it’s safe for all skin types, using niacinamide twice a day will give you the most hydrated, healthy and happiest complexion you’ve ever seen. You’ll also find that any products you apply afterward will be better absorbed and the results will be seen faster if your skin’s hydration levels are right.
Can I Use Salicylic Acid Every Day?
This depends a lot on your skin type, as salicylic acid tends to cause drying effects on the skin. However, if you’ve incorporated this salicylic acid into your daily routine correctly and built up your skin’s tolerance, using it every day shouldn’t cause any problems.
So now you should have a better understanding of how to use niacinamide and salicylic acid together. If you want to learn more about using these two powerful things in your daily routine, you can read our dedicated blog post.
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