How do you layer salicylic acid and niacinamide?
So you want to layer salicylic acid and niacinamide? I can’t blame you, as both ingredients have an impressive array of benefits for the skin. On top of that, you can easily combine them in your daily routine. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how to layer salicylic acid and niacinamide.
Before we get started: If you want to learn more about what these ingredients do for your skin, you can check out our dedicated blog post.
What is niacinamide and what does it do for your skin?
What is salicylic acid? What does it do for your skin?
Which came first, salicylic acid or niacinamide?
Using niacinamide before salicylic acid is considered the best idea. This is because niacinamide’s moisturizing properties ensure that the skin’s natural barrier contains the right amount of water. When the skin barrier is well-hydrated and healthy, it can protect itself from free radical damage. You’ll also find that when properly hydrated, the skin is able to absorb other ingredients quickly and effectively, ensuring that active ingredients penetrate deeper into the underlying layers. This makes niacinamide a useful teammate when combined with salicylic acid, as it can counteract the drying effects that often occur when using salicylic acid in your skincare routine.
What Not to Layer with Niacinamide?
It’s best not to mix Vitamin C with Niacinamide. Both ingredients are rich in antioxidants and are very beneficial to the skin when used alone. However, when used together, their effectiveness is compromised, becoming useless and failing to deliver the results they are lauded for.
If you want to use both Niacinamide and Vitamin C, though, you can, just alternate between applying them to your skin. For example, if you use Vitamin C in your morning routine, you can alternate it with Niacinamide in your evening routine. This allows enough time between uses to benefit from the effects without causing your skin to become irritated, dry or uncomfortable.
Can I use Niacinamide daily?
Yes, you can. Using Niacinamide twice a day to cleanse and clear your skin will help to replenish the skin barrier and lock moisture into the underlying layers of the skin.
Moisture and hydration are often the first to be lost from the skin, which not only leads to hydration wrinkles and a dull complexion, but you’ll also find that any exposure to free radicals, such as pollution, harsh climates and UV rays, can damage the skin because the skin barrier is weakened. Signs of aging, blemishes, uneven skin tone and texture are all a result of this skin damage.
Can Salicylic Acid be used with Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin?
Yes, you can. Don’t be fooled by the complicated names of these ingredients, it’s very easy to use them together.
When using this powerful trio together, I recommend using an exfoliating toner with Alpha Arbutin first to remove dead skin cells. Then apply Niacinamide to plump up the surface of the skin, and as a final step use a Salicylic Acid Serum, which, thanks to the Niacinamide, can penetrate deep into the pores without worrying about irritation.
Now, if you’re wondering what Alpha Arbutin is, I’ll briefly explain this powerful benefit, but if you want to learn more, you can read our Skin School blog post.
What is Alpha Arbutin?
One of the lesser-known skin ingredients, but one that definitely shouldn’t be taken for granted! Arbutin is typically derived from plants and fruits like bearberry, blueberry, cranberry, and wheat. It works on the outer layer of the skin to fight signs of hyperpigmentation, reduce the appearance of scars, and prevent the production of melanin, which makes dark spots more pigmented.
You’ll find arbutin in two forms: alpha arbutin and beta arbutin. The latter is often considered too unstable and therefore not used in formulas compared to alpha-arbutin, which is actually completely safe for all skin types.
Should Niacinamide be used in the morning or at night?
Ideally, you should use niacinamide twice a day, morning and night. This is the easiest and most effective way to achieve the best skin results while staying natural and keeping your skin barrier hydrated and in its healthiest state.
Niacinamide is generally considered suitable for all skin types, but if you haven’t used it before and plan to introduce this ingredient into your routine, you should first consult with a doctor or dermatologist to make sure you and your skin are comfortable with this new supplement. You can also do a 24-hour patch test before applying a formula directly to your skin to alleviate any concerns.
Which is better for acne, niacinamide or salicylic acid?
Both ingredients are considered beneficial for anyone who is prone to blemishes and rashes. Salicylic acid is the most effective because it is oil-soluble and can penetrate the pores to fight excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, and buildup that often cause blemishes.
Although niacinamide works on the skin very differently than a stronger BHA, salicylic acid has a unique and extremely effective property in fighting acne-prone skin. This property is its ability to regulate sebum production, keeping the barrier balanced, replenished, and functioning properly. The good thing is that you can use niacinamide and salicylic acid together for a powerful combination in fighting blemishes and acne.
Is niacinamide bad for oily skin?
Not at all, as I already mentioned, niacinamide regulates the skin’s sebum production. This helps control oil production on the surface of the skin and keeps breakouts, pimples, and blemishes more manageable, thus keeping the surface of the skin balanced. Oily skin types are often inclined to use very powerful and sometimes very aggressive active ingredients on the skin to strip away surface water and oil. This is where niacinamide comes into play, replenishing and regenerating the skin.
I hope this clears up some of the confusion around the use of salicylic acid and niacinamide in laying hens. Don’t forget you can find me on the Procoal Instagram account so follow us.
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.
