Can You use Retinol with Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid?
With the overwhelming amount of skincare products available enriched in retinol, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide, you’ll be hard pressed to have not used a product containing one of these ingredients, whether you realised it or not. The only problem is the amount of confusion that surrounds these ingredients and when exactly they need to be applied to the skin.
Today we’ll be focusing on how you can use retinol, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid together and hopefully by the end of today’s blog post you’ll have a better understanding of how they work together and the results you can expect to see on your skin.
Can I mix hyaluronic acid with retinol and niacinamide?
When it comes to mixing skincare ingredients quite often there is the hazard of signs of irritation or allergic reaction. Luckily for us both niacinamide and hyaluronic acid work well with other ingredients, especially with retinol that has a reputation for causing some areas of dryness and flaking of the skin. This is perfectly normal and part of the process of introducing retinol into your routine and teaming it with humectant ingredients, such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid will reduce the severity of dryness.
Retinol: A form of vitamin A and one of the most potent skincare ingredients, it needs to be added to your routine in the correct way to avoid any excessive dryness and skin irritation. It is a multitalented ingredient providing a selection of benefits to help combat breakouts, signs of ageing and uneven skin tone. It is able to do that by speeding up the skin cell renewal process making the complexion look youthful and full of bounce with fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots visibly reduced.
Niacinamide: Also known as B3 and is a highly effective skin-restoring ingredient. It can act as a humectant which results in water being drawn into the skin and locked into the surface keeping your face hydrated and moisturised throughout the day. It combats fine lines and wrinkles by ensuring the protective skin barrier is fully functioning with the correct levels of water. This will ensure the skin is able to protect itself from damage caused by exposure to pollution, the sun’s UV rays and other environmental aggressors.
Hyaluronic Acid: Naturally occurring in the body, hyaluronic acid is one of the most hydrating skincare ingredients with 1 gram having the ability to hold equivalent of 6 litre of water. With humectant traits the skin’s protective barrier remains fully functioning and able to repair any damage caused by free radicals and prevent any further damage occurring.
When it comes to mixing all three together, the best order to apply them is by starting with retinol, followed by hyaluronic acid, and finally niacinamide. By applying retinol first onto a fully cleansed skin the ingredient can penetrate into the lower layers. By following this with hyaluronic acid you’ll combat any dryness and irritation that is a common side effect when using retinol. Hyaluronic acid will keep the skin hydrated allowing niacinamide to then regulate the sebum production to help minimise the appearance of pores all whilst keeping moisture locked into the skin.
Can I use retinol after niacinamide?
As I have already mentioned to gain the optimal results it is best to first apply retinol and then niacinamide. This will help the ingredients target signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles and reduce any dark spots and hyperpigmentation whilst ensuring the skin remains healthy and moisturised. There is a bonus benefit of using these ingredients and that is there are some formulas available that combine both retinol and niacinamide in one product, this is an easier and more convenient way of reaping the rewards of both of these ingredients.
How long after using niacinamide can I apply retinol?
This may feel like a simple question, but one point to remember about using skincare products is the fact they vary with the levels of pH in the formulations. Quite often an imbalance in pH is usually the cause of skin irritation so ensuring the products you apply to the skin work well together and won’t disrupt the skin’s natural pH levels. When considering retinol these vary between 5.5 and 6 while niacinamide is most effective at 5.0 and 7.0 this means both are able to be applied together or with about 5 to 15 minutes delay between applications with the peace of mind there will be no disruption to the skin.
Can I use niacinamide with hyaluronic acid?
Yes, indeed you can, in fact, you’ll find the skin loves this hydrating duo! Due to the fact the skin is largest organ, but not a vital organ you will find that any amount of water you consume throughout the day makes it way to hydrate all your other organs before helping the skin. This often leads to it becoming dehydrated which is often mistaken as skin showing signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles appearing a lot more prominent on the surface of the skin with further damage occurring due to the barrier being compromised with the lack of correct water allowing it to function properly. This is when both hyaluronic acid and niacinamide step in to aid hydration keeping the skin at its healthiest state enabling it to protect itself and act similar to a damp sponge by fully absorbing any skincare formulations applied to the skin.
Should I use hyaluronic acid before or after retinol?
With hyaluronic acid delivering hydrating properties many find they receive optimal results once the ingredient is applied during the final steps of their routine. You will find that serums containing hyaluronic acid are best applied to the skin after retinol, this will help counteract any dryness caused from the potent form of vitamin A. After applying hyaluronic acid all form of moisture will be locked into the skin, keeping the barrier strong, healthy, and able to ward off long-term damage caused from exposure to free radicals.
What goes first niacinamide or hyaluronic acid?
You know now that both of these ingredients are water based and have amazing humectant properties enabling the skin to remain constantly hydrated. When it comes to using them in your daily routine, I suggest first applying hyaluronic acid as this will replenish the water levels in the protective barrier aiding a hydrating boost. By following this with niacinamide you will find that the production of sebum in the skin is regulated helping keep it balanced with the microbiome remaining supple and healthy. If you are wanting to know more about how these humectants work together, check out our blog post about how to use hyaluronic acid and niacinamide together.
I hope that today has shed some light on mixing three of the most popular skincare ingredients together and what results you can expect to see, don’t forget to come and find us on Instagram for new product launches, exclusive giveaways and discount codes!
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.
