Niacinamide and vitamin C are two of the most popular skincare ingredients — especially as ingredients used in serums. Niacinamide is known for its anti-inflammatory and skin-brightening properties, while vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect your skin from free radical damage.
If you’re looking to upgrade your skincare routine, you may be asking yourself, “can I use niacinamide and vitamin C together.” As luck would have it, yes, you can! Read on to learn more about the benefits of this combination and how to use it.
Understanding Niacinamide and Vitamin C
Niacinamide supports the health of your sebaceous glands, reducing oil production to make your skin clearer and smoother. It has also been shown to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, so it’s ideal for aging skin. You can find it in many skincare products, including moisturizers, serums, and toners.
Vitamin C, on the other hand, is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect your skin from free radical damage. It helps improve fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin by stimulating collagen production, and it can also help treat hyperpigmentation, just like niacinamide. You’ll typically notice the ingredient in many products in low concentration. Higher concentrations are found in vitamin C serums.
Benefits of Using Both Ingredients Together
Niacinamide and vitamin C have many similar benefits, but they affect your skin in slightly different ways. As such, the combination may help enhance both ingredients’ abilities to improve fine lines, skin texture, dark spots and various other concerns.
When used together, niacinamide and vitamin C can:
- Brighten your skin: Niacinamide can help enhance the luminosity of your skin and reduce hyperpigmentation, while vitamin C can also help to eliminate dark spots and other blemishes. Using these two ingredients together can help to provide a dull complexion to look more radiant and healthy.
- Protect your skin: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help to protect your skin from free radical damage. Niacinamide can help reduce inflammation and promote overall skin health. Using these two ingredients together can help protect your skin from environmental stressors and keep it healthy.
- Improve skin texture: Both ingredients can help make your skin feel softer and smoother. Using them together can help you get incredibly silky, touchable skin.
How to Use Niacinamide and Vitamin C
If you want to use niacinamide with vitamin C in your skincare routine, there are a few things to remember. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of these two ingredients:
- Layer the ingredients: High-strength vitamin C products typically come in the form of serums, and you’ll want to apply these first right after cleansing. Niacinamide moisturizers can be used afterward.
- Use the correct concentration: Use the right concentration of each ingredient for the best results. A concentration of 2-10% niacinamide and 10-20% vitamin C is typically recommended. However, there are many forms of vitamin C, some of which work as effectively in a lower concentration, so this rule really depends on the specific product.
- Avoid ingredients that clash: Some ingredients, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, may either clash with vitamin C or increase irritation when used together. While it’s okay to use niacinamide and vitamin C together, this may not be the case for other skincare products, so check the ingredients first and place them at separate times in your skincare routine if necessary.
Should You Use Vitamin C and Niacinamide Together?
When used together, niacinamide and vitamin C can help you get healthier, smoother, and more youthful skin. These two ingredients work incredibly well when paired because of their similar effects and different methods of action. They also don’t have any known physical interaction, so one won’t break down the other if used at the same time in your routine.
If you’re looking for an effective combination to brighten your skin, protect it from environmental stressors, and improve the appearance of blemishes, these two ingredients may be the ideal solution to your needs. Give them a try today and see how your skin looks after a few weeks of consistent use.