How to Use Niacinamide and Retinol
Whether your daily skincare routine is a 10-step masterpiece or a simpler one, you’ll be amazed at the effects these two ingredients can have. Admittedly, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to formulating effective products, but this also adds to our confusion when it comes to figuring out which ingredients work together and which ones we should avoid.
With that in mind, let’s get started learning more about using Niacinamide and Retinol. Let’s quickly refresh your knowledge on these two ingredients and their benefits for your skin.
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, is a powerful moisturizing ingredient that provides impressive hydration to the skin. It can draw moisture from the skin’s environment and trap it in the outer layer of the skin barrier. Niacinamide also has excellent anti-inflammatory properties that can improve skin tone, fight signs of aging, and soothe the skin when it’s red or irritated. You’ll find that all skin types benefit from taking Niacinamide because it can regulate natural sebum production, which minimizes breakouts.
What is Retinol?
Retinol, also known as a retinoid, is a potent form of Vitamin A that helps stimulate the skin’s natural cell turnover. This allows it to push new skin cells to the surface and stimulate collagen production. Your skin looks youthful, radiant, and plump, with signs of aging and hyperpigmentation significantly reduced. An important factor to consider about retinol is its high potency. You need to introduce it into your routine slowly and correctly to avoid increased irritation and sensitivity.
Can Niacinamide and Retinol be used together?
Actually, yes, provided you have built up a proper tolerance to retinol of course. When you combine these ingredients, you will find that Niacinamide has the ability to soothe irritated skin. This makes it perfect for use with retinol, which can often cause flaking and dryness in the introductory stages of your skincare routine. If you want to learn more about using retinol and niacinamide together, you can read our dedicated blog post.
What Not to Mix with Niacinamide?
Since Niacinamide is suitable for all skin types, it is a simple task to find skincare ingredients that work well with this clever moisturizer. However, you may find that using Niacinamide and Vitamin C together does not produce the exact skin effects you want. This is because both ingredients offer similar skin benefits and often compete with each other, rendering them both useless.
How Often Should You Use Niacinamide?
You can use niacinamide every day, in fact you can even use it twice a day! This moisturizer is common in many products, from effective serums to moisturizers to nourishing masks. You can rest assured that introducing niacinamide into your daily routine is an easy and effective step that will not cause signs of irritation or allergic reactions. By using niacinamide twice a day, you will not only keep your protective skin barrier hydrated and functional. Any other skin care products you use afterward will quickly be fully absorbed by the skin and start working in the underlying layers of the skin.
Can I Use Niacinamide with Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol?
Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and retinol can definitely be used together. By layering these ingredients on top of each other, you can let the powerful retinol work its magic to rejuvenate the skin. This allows the niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized all day long. Although both moisturizers offer similar benefits to the skin, there are some differences. For example, niacinamide can help regulate sebum production (the natural oil in your skin) and reduce breakouts and excess oil by keeping it in balance. Hyaluronic acid, unlike niacinamide, binds more water to your skin, locking in moisture and keeping your complexion plump and healthy.
If you want to use all three ingredients at once, I would start with a serum infused with hyaluronic acid. After 10 minutes, you can apply a second serum with niacinamide and finish with a retinol treatment cream. This keeps your skin comfortable and you can benefit from the benefits of an effective retinol. Just a warning: always make sure you’ve patch tested any ingredient or formula you apply to your skin to avoid skin allergies or reactions. Don’t forget, you can learn more about using hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and retinol together on the Beauty Insiders blog.
Can niacinamide be used with AHAs and BHAs?
Using niacinamide with AHAs and BHAs is an easy way to combat the potentially drying side effects of chemical peels like glycolic acid or salicylic acid. Sometimes, these ingredients can be too harsh on the skin, especially if overused or used incorrectly. This can cause the skin to strip away all of its natural oils and moisture. In this case, Niacinamide can step in and rebalance the skin by drawing moisture from the air around your face and trapping it in the outer layers. This replenishes the protective barrier and prevents the skin from overproducing the missing oils that can lead to breakouts.
How can I add Niacinamide to my skincare routine?
As mentioned earlier, Niacinamide is found in a variety of skincare products. It can be overwhelming at times, but if I were to give one piece of advice on how to get the most out of this product, it would be to opt for a serum. Serums have a thinner consistency and work with active ingredients in the lower layers of the skin, typically the dermis and the areas where collagen and elastin are produced. Using a Niacinamide serum also ensures that it stays on the skin for the rest of the day, compared to other products, such as face washes and cleansers that are rinsed off your face.
Now that you have a better understanding of how to use niacinamide and retinol together, nothing will stand in your way of achieving your skin goals. Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us on Instagram, and if you love skin, you’ll love the latest episode of Green Couch.
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.
