What is niacinamide and how can it benefit the skin?
Known for its soothing and healing properties, niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and can be found in many skincare products, from toners to serums, to moisturizers and cleansers.
Studies have shown that niacinamide can significantly improve fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, texture, red blotchiness, and skin yellowing. Additionally, using niacinamide regularly may help strengthen a weakened skin barrier caused by the overuse of chemical or physical exfoliants.
Niacinamide and tretinoin for anti-aging
Combining skincare ingredients is not new, but you should be mindful of how you layer products. Niacinamide tends to be well-tolerated, so you can often use it with ingredients like tretinoin. Prescription retinoids, like tretinoin are powerful anti-aging ingredients as well. They accelerate skin cell turnover to reveal fresh, new skin below. When paired with niacinamide, their combined benefits can:
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Even skin tone
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Boost collagen production
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Improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Niacinamide and tretinoin for acne
In addition to their age-defying prowess, retinoids, like tretinoin, help unclog pores, while niacinamide helps fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots) from acne. Because retinoids increase cell turnover, they help prevent dead skin cells from clumping and clogging pores.
If you’re new to retinoids, you may experience side effects. The most common can include:
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Dryness
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Peeling or flaking skin
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Increased sensitivity (including sun sensitivity)
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Temporary breakouts or worsening of breakouts
Learning how to use niacinamide and tretinoin requires a little know-how to minimize the chances of side effects. That’s why you should follow the expert advice of your dermatologist or dermatology provider. Nonetheless, here are some tips for easing into using retinoids:
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Use retinoids at night, starting with a few nights a week. Use a pea-sized amount, just enough to thinly cover your face and neck, three times a week. Gradually increase the number of days you use retinoids as your skin adjusts.
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Cushion with moisturizer. Use a moisturizing gel or lotion before applying retinoids if you notice dry skin or skin irritation. Eventually, your skin will adjust to using retinoids before the moisturizer.
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Apply sunscreen daily. Retinoids may cause your skin to be more sensitive to the sun, so use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ daily.
Overall, there are many ingredients out there in the market that can technically be combined. However, it’s important to remember the risk and reward associated with combining them. We typically recommend keeping your routine simple, but there are some pairings (like tretinoin + niacinamide) that are a perfect fit.
