Creating an effective skin care routine is an essential part of maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin. Whether you have an established skincare routine or are looking for the right products for your skin, it’s important to know that there are certain skincare ingredients that work together to benefit your skin, while some can irritate your skin. For example, if without knowing combining skin care products with different pH levels, they can actually be counterproductive and irritate the skin barrier. If you’ve found yourself looking at your skincare products lately and wondering “can I use niacinamide with retinol?” We are here to help. Our Kate Somerville skin health experts reveal everything there is to know about these ingredients and how you can create a skincare routine using both that is effective, safe and provides visible results quickly.
Benefits of Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. There are several benefits of niacinamide, such as being a powerful antioxidant, which helps combat the signs of aging. It works to improve the skin’s natural barrier by increasing ceramide production and carefully increasing cell renewal.1 This process helps diminish visible signs of premature aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. Topical niacinamide also soothes the skin, making it the ideal skin care ingredient to use alongside powerful exfoliants like retinol.
Benefits of retinol
Like niacinamide, retinol is a vitamin. In this case, a form of vitamin A. As one of the most powerful over-the-counter exfoliants, it works to reduce dullness, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and smooth the appearance of wrinkles.2 When used regularly, Retinol’s ability to stop and increase cell renewal helps improve skin texture while brightening it.
Although retinol has many anti-aging benefits, it can be harmful if used incorrectly. It is not advisable to use retinol too frequently (every other night or every three nights is optimal). If used too often or at the wrong concentration, retinol can cause dryness, redness, and irritation, which could contribute to uneven skin tone. Because of this, retinol products should be slowly incorporated into your skincare routine and used alongside hydrating products like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. Additionally, it is essential to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher the morning after using retinol before going to bed. Using an exfoliant like retinol can cause sensitivity, especially when exposed to direct sunlight.
Can niacinamide and retinol be combined?
Now that you know the numerous benefits of niacinamide and retinol, it’s time to answer the question “Can niacinamide be used with retinol?” Using these two products together offers several benefits and can take your current skincare routine to the next level. Niacinamide has anti-aging and calming properties that make it the ideal ingredient to combine with retinol. Because retinol risks causing irritation initially, niacinamide can be used to stabilize the skin barrier and reduce the amount of water lost, increasing overall hydration levels.
How to use niacinamide and retinol together
The easiest way to use both ingredients is to choose a product that mixes the two. Treatments like Kateceuticals™ Rejuvenating Night UrineI They are expertly formulated with active ingredients including retinol, niacinamide, and glycolic acid to address comprehensive signs of aging. After just one use, you will notice an improvement in your skin’s luminosity and texture.
If you don’t have a product that contains both ingredients, don’t worry. First, use niacinamide and then a layer of retinol to protect your skin from any irritation. The optimal pH level for retinol activation is between 5.5 and 6 and topical niacinamide is most effective at a pH of 5 to 7. Neither ingredient will alter the pH of the other and will instead work to increase the effectiveness of each.
Application process
Ready to start using these two super ingredients together? Follow the steps below to create a retinol-based skincare routine that will leave your skin glowing and strong.
#1 Prepare your skin
Before using retinol, we recommend preparing your skin by cleansing it. Then apply any product you enjoy with niacinamide. Follow up with your retinol product, which may include a hydrating treatment like our DermalQuench Liquid Lift™ + Retinol. Our clinic-inspired oxygen-boosting treatment instantly hydrates and plumps skin to smooth lines and wrinkles, while retinol and HPR (an ester of retinoic acid) deliver firming, smoothing and brightening benefits with minimal irritation. Or if serums are your guilty pleasure, nothing is as powerful or works as fast as our Retinol Vita C serum expertly formulated with pure retinol and ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C) to firm, smooth and brighten skin overnight.
And finally, if you love the feeling of luxury and lightness of the Kate Somerville +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer, can effectively brighten and nourish your skin while improving texture and tone and minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Remember to apply niacinamide before retinol-based products to help protect your skin and reduce unwanted irritation. The use of ceramides and niacinamide when preparing the skin for retinol has proven to be very effective for retinoid use.
#2 Incorporate Retinol into your Routine Slowly
While we’ve mentioned this before, it’s essential to take a slow and steady approach when adding retinol to your skincare routine. Although niacinamide can act as a natural buffer, retinol-based products should only be used at night. Designed to improve signs of premature aging, it works quickly and over time to improve skin elasticity, vitality, softness and radiance.
#3 Protect your skin
Retinol has some pretty surprising benefits. However, it can make your skin more sensitive to external irritants and environmental factors. When using retinol in your skincare routine, be sure to protect the skin barrier by using a great moisturizer and applying it regularly. sunscreen.
It’s important to remember that your skin care routine should be based on your skin’s individual needs. Have fun experimenting and find out what works best for your skin.
Now that you know you can use niacinamide with retinol, our skin health experts are here to share more helpful information about how to combine products, like niacinamide with vitamin C, and answer any questions you may have about your skin type.
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