How To Use Niacinamide With Other Skincare Ingredients For Maximum Benefits

In the world of skincare, Niacinamide is hailed as the jack of all trades. The Vitamin B3 derivative prevents TEWL (or transepidermal water loss), strengthens the barrier, and blurs pores, making it the perfect fit for most skin types. The best part? Topical application of Niacinamide has little to no side effects.  

This blog explores the many benefits of Niacinamide and ways to optimize them by layering it with other actives. Keep reading to streamline your efforts for great skin.

What Makes Niacinamide Special For Skincare? 

As seen earlier, Niacinamide is one of the few skincare acids that bodes well for all skin types. Let’s see how  

For oily skin & acne-prone skin: This popular active curbs sebum production and unclogs pores, a sure-shot remedy for folks with acne-prone skin. Moreover, Niacinamide serum for oily skin helps soothe irritation and inflammation that occurs during a breakout.  

For dry & sensitive skin: Niacinamide ensures long-lasting hydration, soothes inflammation, and strengthens the barrier – therefore, a sought-after ingredient for people with dry or sensitive skin.  

For combination skin: Niacinamide strikes the ideal balance between intense hydration and oil control catering to the dry/oily parts of combination skin. 

Best Skincare Ingredients To Pair With Niacinamide  

To make the most of Niacinamide in your skincare, here’s how you can pair it with other active ingredients-

1. Vitamin C 

Combining Vitamin C with Niacinamide doubles down on efforts for smooth, even-tone skin. For those unaware, Vitamin C inhibits melanin production altogether, whereas Niacinamide controls this color pigment distribution across skin cells. Results? Fewer dark spots and pigmentation. But that’s not all. Here are some more benefits of using the 2 active in your skincare  

Benefits of Vitamin C And Niacinamide  

1. Use the exceptional pairing of Niacinamide and Vitamin C to fight aging. Topical application of these actives boosts Collagen in the skin to soften fine lines and wrinkles with time.  

2. In extremely rare cases, Vitamin C may cause redness and irritation. Therefore, pairing it with anti-inflammatory Niacinamide helps alleviate the skin.

2. Retinol   

While Retinol has innumerable benefits, its highly reactive molecules can cause skin flare-ups in certain individuals. This is why we recommend layering it with Niacinamide. This skincare workhorse alleviates inflammation and dryness caused by the topical use of Retinol, upholding overall skin health.

Moreover, you can harness the combined power of these actives as follows - 

Benefits Of Retinol And Niacinamide

1. Retinol is dubbed the holy grail of anti-ageing. It ensures healthy cellular renewal and boosts Collagen production for taut, youthful-looking skin. Adding the multitasking Niacinamide in the mix helps support the above functionalities.

2. Both Retinol and Niacinamide work wonders for acne. Albeit, via different pathways, these two actives prevent clogged pores, reducing whiteheads, blackheads, and breakouts.

3. Hyaluronic Acid

If your skin is excessively dry or dehydrated, might we recommend adding Hyaluronic Acid serum and Niacinamide to your skincare? HA, a potent humectant, binds moisture molecules to the skin for long-lasting hydration. On the other hand, Niacinamide protects this moisture reserve by preventing transepidermal water loss.    

Benefits Of Hyaluronic Acid And Niacinamide  

1. Hyaluronic Acid with Niacinamide soothes redness, calms inflammation, and accelerates healing, making it the perfect choice for sensitive skin folks. 

2. Ample hydration by Hyaluronic Acid and enhanced Ceramide production by Niacinamide boost barrier health. Use the couple in your daily rotation to keep harmful pathogens, allergens, and infections from attacking the skin microbiome. 

4. AHA/BHA 

Skincare acids like AHAs and BHAs exfoliate the dermis, revealing a uniform complexion and texture. The use of Niacinamide in the same rotation adds to these efforts for fewer spots and pigmentation. Additionally, Niacinamide offsets any accidental inflammation caused by the topical use of AHAs and BHAs (in rare cases). 

Benefits Of AHAs/BHAs And Niacinamide 

5. Peptides  

Both Niacinamide and Peptides enhance barrier health, preventing TEWL or transepidermal water loss. Use the two actives to ensure long-lasting hydration for the skin, making it appear soft, smooth, and radiant. 

Benefits Of Peptides And Niacinamide

Apart from boosting hydration, you can leverage this exceptional pair of ingredients as follows -

1.  Peptides are smaller chains of amino acids that boost Collagen, making it the right fit for your anti-ageing routine. Niacinamide helps double down on these efforts by preventing oxidative damage to these protein levels in the skin.

2. The combination of Peptides and Niacinamide helps soothe inflammation, calm redness and offset flareups on the skin.   

How To Layer Niacinamide With Other Skincare Products For Maximum Benefit  

Now that you’re well-versed in the combined benefits of Niacinamide and other actives, here’s how you can layer them -

1. Layering Vitamin C and Niacinamide Serum 

 We recommend using Vitamin C serum for face in your AM routine. The active ingredient directs efforts towards a more even-tone complexion while warding off menacing aggressors and UV rays. Simultaneously, add Niacinamide to your nighttime routine for best results.

2. Using Retinol and Niacinamide together  

A word to the wise, before committing to any pair, do conduct a patch test. This step will help offset inexplicable flare-ups and inflammation on the skin. Additionally, start out by using these active ingredients 1 or 2 times a week to be on the safer side.

Since Retinol cues healthy cellular regeneration, apply it during your nighttime rituals after slathering a layer of Niacinamide serum. Most skin types need this anti-ageing serum only 2 to 3 times a week, so on the rest of the days, you just go in with a little dab of Niacinamide and moisturizer.

3. Layering Niacinamide with Hyaluronic Acid Serum  

Dab a HA infused essence and follow up with a Niacinamide serum after a minute or so. This will help replenish your skin’s moisture levels exponentially. 

4. How to use AHA BHA with Niacinamide 

Dab a few drops of the pore minimizing serum (AHA BHA) on your face and follow up with Niacinamide (after 15 to 20 minutes). Carry out this exercise only 2 to 3 times a week to avoid over-exfoliation of the skin

5. Layering Peptides With Niacinamide  

To prevent ageing, hydration loss, and inflammation – we recommend using a Peptide facial cream after applying a thin, even layer of a Niacinamide serum. 

What To Avoid While Using Niacinamide

If you are a Niacinamide beginner, here are some mistakes you should avoid at all costs -

1. Overuse of Niacinamide 

To help your skin get accustomed to the active, start by using a low concentration of Niacinamide serum only 2 to 3 times a week.

2. Skipping SPF protection 

The use of active ingredients can make your skin a little more photosensitive. Therefore, to avoid burns, tanning, and pigmentation, using a broad-spectrum SPF in your routine is non-negotiable.

3. Mixing Niacinamide with incompatible ingredients 

Using Niacinamide with incompatible ingredients can flare-up underlying sensitivities. So, practice caution while layering this skincare workhorse with other actives. 

Conclusion  

Skincare workhorse Niacinamide has a gamut of benefits for skin. It ensures long-lasting hydration, curbs oil production, prevents clogged pores, and soothes inflammation – making it the perfect fit for all skin types. If you want to optimize these very benefits of Niacinamide, we recommend pairing it with other compatible actives. Layer Niacinamide with Hyaluronic Acid for hydration, with Vitamin C for even skin tone, with Retinol for younger-looking skin and so forth. 

FAQs 

 When to apply Niacinamide serum? 

You can apply Niacinamide Serum during your morning or nighttime skincare routine.

What is the best to combine with Niacinamide?  

You can combine Niacinamide with the following active ingredients.   

1. Hyaluronic Acid: for intense and multi-level hydration   

2. Peptides or Retinol: for anti-aging benefits   

3. AHA BHAs: For fewer breakouts or acne

Is it okay to use Niacinamide with multiple products?  

Yes, you can use Niacinamide with multiple products as long as they are compatible.