Can I use Niacinamide with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, and Retinol?
If you’re feeling a little exhausted just reading the title of today’s blog post, I can’t blame you. But believe it or not, this question popped up in our inboxes, so today we plan to dive into the feet first and dive into this question: Can I use Niacinamide with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, and… Retinol?
If you’re wondering what exactly these ingredients do for your skin, we have a dedicated blog post in our Skin School, so check out the post below for more information.
What is Niacinamide?
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
What is Vitamin C?
What is Retinol?
How do I use Niacinamide with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, and Retinol?
Effectively layering skincare ingredients can create your healthiest, happiest skin, but if you’re not careful, you can overload your skin’s surface with too much of the good stuff. The following example shows how to use all four ingredients in your daily routine without the risk of a reaction or irritation.
Morning Routine
Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid
Evening Routine
Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide + Retinol
Due to the effectiveness of Vitamin C and Retinol, it is best not to use them at the same time, but rather use Vitamin C in the morning and then Retinol in the evening. Both Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid are extremely moisturizing and can be used twice a day. However, always make sure to wait about 15 minutes between using Niacinamide and Vitamin C to avoid unnecessary irritation.
Can Niacinamide be used with Retinol and Vitamin C?
You can actually use all three ingredients together, but the order in which you use them plays an important role in preventing skin irritation. For best results, I recommend using a Vitamin C-rich serum as part of your morning routine.
The powerful antioxidants in Vitamin C ensure that the skin is fully protected from free radicals from daily exposure to pollution and UV rays. Use Retinol only in your evening routine so that it can boost collagen production, reduce signs of aging, and improve overall skin tone. Retinol is very sensitive and loses its effectiveness when exposed to UV rays. Therefore, it’s best to use it in your evening skincare routine.
As for niacinamide, it’s generally considered beneficial to use this moisturizer twice daily in both skincare routines. A word of caution: While modern formulas ensure that vitamin C and niacinamide remain stable enough to work together, there is still a small chance of skin flushing and redness. If you have any concerns, it’s best to consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new ingredients or formulas.
Can I use hyaluronic acid with niacinamide and retinol?
Yes! Both hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are water-soluble ingredients that provide intense hydration to the surface of the skin. Although they offer similar benefits, they’re more effective when combined. Start with hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture into the skin to create a plump, hydrated barrier. Then use niacinamide to regulate sebum production and restore balance. You can use this twice daily to keep your skin at its healthiest. This means that any retinol formula you use at night will be quickly absorbed and show fast results. If you want to learn more about layering hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and retinol, check out our blog post.
Can retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid be used together?
You can actually use retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid at the same time. We have a detailed blog post on this topic, so be sure to read it.
If you want a quick guide on how to use these ingredients, read below to learn how to best use this skin-rejuvenating trio.
Morning skin care routine
Face cleanser/cleanser
Exfoliating toner
Vitamin C serum
Hyaluronic acid serum
Moisturizer
SPF 30 and above
Evening skin care routine
Makeup remover
Face cleanser/cleanser
Exfoliating toner
Hyaluronic acid serum
Retinol
Nighttime moisturizer
By alternating between vitamin C and retinol, you can avoid potential side effects such as dryness, irritation, and discomfort. The combination of these two effective skincare products with hyaluronic acid also preserves the skin barrier health, keeping the skin hydrated and full of youthful elasticity.
Should I use niacinamide or vitamin C first?
It may be difficult, but if it is possible, beware of the numerous articles that claim that combining niacinamide and vitamin C is a recipe for disaster and creates a chemical reaction called niacin. These articles often contain outdated research that no longer applies to the various forms of ascorbic acid (also known as vitamin C) used in modern formulas and products.
Since niacinamide is a highly stable ingredient in skincare, you can be confident that it will perform its famous moisturizing benefits. While the newer forms of vitamin C may be stable, there is still a small chance that your skin may experience redness and flushing, especially if you have a sensitive skin type.
So, applying niacinamide first will balance and hydrate the skin and allow the other ingredients to penetrate deeper into the subdermal layer. Wait about 15 minutes between each application to ensure that your skin is hydrated enough to absorb the vitamin C effectively. Vitamin C has skin-brightening properties and is the best ingredient for treating hyperpigmentation. The deeper it penetrates the skin, the more effective it is at reducing dark spots and areas of uneven skin tone.
Which came first, retinol or hyaluronic acid?
Retinol is considered one of the most effective ingredients for the skin. Scaly, itchy, and dry skin are common side effects when you first introduce retinol into your routine. While these are unavoidable, they can be significantly reduced with the help of hyaluronic acid.
Deciding which ingredient to apply first depends on the product each ingredient is formulated with. A basic skin rule is to remember the order in which you apply the products, starting with the thinnest consistency and ending with the thickest. This comes down to personal preference for the products you use. Your skin will love the benefits of the combination of retinol and hyaluronic acid.
That’s more about using niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and retinol together. If you have any questions, follow me on Instagram!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.