Can You Use Niacinamide and Matrixyl at The Same Time?
Another day, another buzz ingredient making waves in the skincare industry, matrixyl is one new kid on the block we would all benefit from. Now I can hear the questions rushing around your head as I type this, don’t worry as I’ll make things a lot clearer by the end of today’s blog post. Let’s start off by explaining what matrixyl is and how it works for the skin.
What is matrixyl?
Matrixyl is the brand name of the anti-ageing peptides synthetically produced to be formulated into skincare products. You’ll find that matrixyl is a combination of Palmitoyl Tripeptide 1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide 7, both these peptides act as the building blocks for the skin helping to form the structure and boost the production of collagen. This is vital for maintaining the health and appearance of the complexion. By the time we reach our mid-twenties it is understood that the levels of collagen begin to deplete by 1% each year.
The clever way matrixyl works is by stimulating the growth of elastin, collagen, and natural hyaluronic acid found in the body. Working in the skin it can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles leaving the complexion plumped, firmer, with a youthful bounce.
Another bonus to using matrixyl is the fact that anyone can use it. The only concern you may have been ensuring your skin is happy with the other ingredients it’s blended with. There is one ingredient that shouldn’t cause you too much problem, and that’s niacinamide.
What is niacinamide?
A form of vitamin B3, niacinamide delivers results for almost every skin type, including those prone to sensitivity. With its unique properties drawing moisture into the skin and locking it into place, it is also able to regulate sebum production. This makes niacinamide and highly beneficial ingredient for those prone to acne leaving the skin hydrated and nourished, something that those suffering from frequent breakouts miss out on due to overuse of harsh exfoliants and potent formulas.
If you wanted to know more about niacinamide, you can check out our dedicated blog post over on Beauty Insiders.
Now, we have had a refresher on both actives, we can move on to finding out whether you can use matrixyl and niacinamide at the same time.
What can you not mix with matrixyl?
As effective as matrixyl is for the skin, it does come with some precautions with other ingredients, such as vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, BHA, such as salicylic acid and other acids, like the popular AHA, glycolic acid.
It’s thought best to avoid using these ingredients together due to the over-exfoliation that will occur in you combine them all together. With matrixyl being considered safe enough to be used by all skin types, it is important for you to remember that matrixyl works on the skin in a similar way to retinol. By increasing the skin cell turnover, whilst the ingredient isn’t technically exfoliating the skin, if you apply an exfoliating formulation on the skin after you will overstimulate the skin, cause imbalance to the pH levels, and result in flare-ups and redness.
Can I use matrixyl and hyaluronic acid together?
You certainly can use matrixyl and hyaluronic acid together. Each active ingredient is perfectly effective to use on their own, but even more effective combined. With hyaluronic acid attracting over 1,500 times its weight in water locking it into place whilst penetrating the lower layers of the dermis. Team this with matrixyl boosting production of collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin, your complexion is left boosted in hydration. Teaming the two together are especially effective during the winter months to counteract any excessive dryness. A bonus is the fact that both ingredients help to regulate the skin sebum levels in the skin preventing any further breakouts.
Can I use matrixyl and retinol together?
Not really, and this is only because they both benefit the skin in similar ways. If you layer matrixyl and retinol on top of each other this will lead to negative side effects, such as redness, flaking skin, itchiness, dryness, and irritation. It is important to build your skin’s tolerance by introducing retinol slowly into your daily routine.
For the best results without the side effects, I would suggest applying each ingredient on alternative days, this will help you reap the rewards of the powerhouse actives. With both matrixyl and retinol increasing the skin cell turnover, it is particularly important to ensure you apply a daily SPF to protect the face from exposure to free radicals, such as UV rays, pollution, central heating, and other environmental aggressors.
Can matrixyl be used around the eyes?
Yes, you can! You’ll find that the eye area is considerably thinner than the rest of your skin. This often leads to the eye area showing signs of ageing, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and undereye puffiness. By applying matrixyl to the under-eyes you will help boost the hydration, reducing the appearance of lines as well as improving the look of the under-eye bags that can look worse in the mornings due to fluid retention or dehydration.
Can I mix niacinamide with peptides?
Yep, it is considered perfectly safe to mix niacinamide and peptides together. Using a mixture of these two powerhouses will result in the skin’s lipid barrier maintaining the correct levels of water and oil ensuring it is strengthened and able to protect the skin surface from exposure to harmful free radical damage. There’s more to learn about mixing niacinamide and peptides together on our blog post.
There you have a little insight into how to use niacinamide and matrixyl at the same time. Even if you have already used these ingredients and have a well-established routine, it is always a good idea to consult with a doctor or dermatologist to ensure you are using the best ingredients for you and your skin’s needs. If you have any further questions you can come and find me over on the Procoal Instagram, look forward to seeing you there.
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.
