You’ve probably read about using niacinamide with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serum, and now you’re wondering if it’s safe to use all three together.
The answer to this question is yes. Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C serum work well with each other, so there is no reason to avoid them just because they have different names. They all do wonders on the skin.
This article discusses whether or not it’s safe to use niacinamide with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serum and how they can each benefit your skin. Keep reading to find out.
Can You Use Niacinamide With Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Serum?
“Yes, you can use all three ingredients. Niacinamide is a good anti-ager that won’t irritate the skin. Hyaluronic acid plumps up fine lines and Vitamin C serum brightens and evens out your skin tone,” Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist, says.
According to him, the only ingredient that can cause problems if you have sensitive skin is vitamin C because it increases skin sensitivity. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to start with a low dose of vitamin C serum and gradually increase it until your skin adjusts to it.
Niacinamide is an antioxidant that effectively treats acne, hyperpigmentation, and redness. While hyaluronic acid is a humectant that locks in moisture, boosts the appearance of your skin’s firmness, and helps to retain collagen.
Vitamin C serum is another antioxidant that treats sun damage and improves the overall health of your skin. When used together, all three can achieve synergistic results that are greater than when used alone.
What Is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3 that is also known as nicotinamide. You can apply it topically to help treat a variety of skin problems, but you can also find it in some foods like fish, peanuts, and whole grains.
“When applied topically, niacinamide acts as an antioxidant, which means it can help reverse the damage done to the skin by environmental factors such as UV radiation, harsh weather, and pollution,” Zeichner says.
Niacinamide also helps to increase ceramides (skin-identical lipids that keep your skin hydrated) and keep your natural moisturizing factor (NMF) balanced. This makes it an effective treatment for acne, rosacea, and other skin conditions associated with inflammation.
All of these things combined make for a nice little package that can help improve skin texture and overall skin tone.
What Are the Benefits of Using Niacinamide?
Anti-aging
Niacinamide helps to even out skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, and prevent wrinkles. It also stimulates collagen production to improve elasticity and strengthen the skin.
Reduces acne
The anti-inflammatory effects of niacinamide can help to reduce inflammation and redness associated with acne, rosacea, and related skin conditions.
Fades dark spots
As a skin lightening agent, niacinamide also helps to fade dark spots. While it is not a substitute for hydroquinone (which is much stronger), it does help to lighten freckles and sunspots.
Calms inflamed skin
Niacinamide soothes inflamed skin. It is effective in treating rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema. Additionally, it has been proven to be more effective than Vitamin E in reducing the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.
Restores moisture balance
This ingredient helps restore the moisture balance in the skin consequently helping to prevent dryness that leads to eczema and other skin conditions.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid, better known as HA, is a natural component of the skin, which lubricates and cushions the skin. It is also a major component of skin connective tissue and can be found in some of the body’s largest organs.
As we age, our natural levels of hyaluronic acid decline, causing our connective tissues to weaken and become less elastic. This decline leads to wrinkles and roughness on the skin.
Hyaluronic acid works by attracting water molecules from the epidermis (upper layer of skin) into the dermis (lower layer). In Zeichner’s words, it holds up to 1000 times its weight in water, which helps keep skin hydrated by drawing moisture from the air.
By holding water in the skin, HA gives provides cushioning for collagen fibers, thus helping to maintain their elasticity and resilience. This helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles and increases your skin’s ability to resist external irritation like pollution.
What Are the Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid?
Hydration
Hyaluronic acid works to help your skin maintain its moisture level. As you age, your body produces less hyaluronic acid and this can cause your skin to be more prone to dehydration.
Anti-Aging
This acid not only helps to reduce wrinkles and other aging signs but also prevents them from forming in the future. It is therefore an effective anti-aging ingredient that can help many people look younger than they are.
Acne treatment
HA is a useful natural remedy for acne as it can help reduce inflammatory acne lesions that form on the surface of the skin. It does this by exfoliating dead cells on the skin’s surface and by promoting faster healing of wounds and acne scars.
Improves skin elasticity
This acid also helps boost collagen production in the skin thereby increasing elasticity. It also repairs the spaces between the elastin fibers in the skin, which helps to keep the skin looking young.
Treats dry skin
Dry skin results from moisture loss, which makes the surface of the skin appear flaky and wrinkled. By using a product containing hyaluronic acid you can help reverse this process by increasing moisture levels in the skin.
What Is Vitamin C Serum?
Vitamin C serum, also called L-ascorbic acid serum, is a superstar skincare product. This serum contains a high concentration of vitamin C, which penetrates deeply into the skin to provide several skin benefits.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight off free radicals, which contribute to aging and a lot of other issues. For this reason, vitamin C serums are great for brightening skin tone, evening out skin tone, and fighting wrinkles.
Easily absorbed into the skin, this serum helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles while fighting against environmental factors such as smoke, pollution, and sun rays
What Are the Benefits of Using Vitamin C Serum?
Antioxidant properties
Vitamin C fights against harmful environmental factors like cigarette smoke, pollution, and sun rays, which speed up the aging process. By applying vitamin C serum, you can help protect yourself from these harmful elements.
Reduces wrinkles
One of the most noticeable signs of aging is wrinkles and fine lines. Using a vitamin C serum can help reduce these fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a more youthful appearance.
Treats acne
Applying vitamin C serum on your skin can help treat acne by reducing inflammation from the breakouts and making them less likely to scar the skin. This makes your skin look healthy and radiant.
Wound treatment
Experts consider Vitamin C a miracle worker for wound healing. Applying vitamin C serum helps to heal wounds faster by neutralizing free radicals that inhibit wound repair.
Lightens discolorations
In addition to its many benefits, vitamin C serum also contains antioxidants that help diminish discolorations by boosting cell turnover rate. It also reduces melanin production, which can be very helpful in lightening your overall skin tone.
How to Use Niacinamide With Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Serum
- Start by cleansing your face. This is essential in removing all the bacteria and dirt that has accumulated on your skin throughout the day.
- Apply a toner. This is very important because it removes excess sebum and dead skin cells which may hinder the absorption effect of your products.
- With clean hands, apply 2-3 drops of niacinamide serum on your face and then apply a small amount to your neck. Also ensure that you apply it evenly throughout your skin.
- Wait for a few minutes before applying vitamin C serum on your face and neck area, ensuring that you apply it evenly throughout your skin.
- Let it sit for 5 minutes before proceeding with your hyaluronic serum or cream. Then wait for about 10 minutes for the serums to completely dry and work their magic.
- Follow up with your normal routine of products and then apply sunscreen if needed.
Benefits of Using Niacinamide With Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Serum
- Fewer fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduced hyperpigmentation
- Increased moisture levels in the skin
- Brighter skin with a radiant glow
- Increased elasticity
- Reduced redness and irritation on the skin
- Decreased pore size
- Reduced appearance of acne, eczema, and other skin conditions
- Reduced inflammation
Are There Any Side Effects?
If you are planning to use this combination, you need to be aware of the potential side effects. Although rare, some people experience redness or rashes on the skin, itching or burning sensations, and headaches.
If you notice any of these symptoms while using niacinamide with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serum, discontinue use and see a doctor immediately.
FAQs
Which goes first hyaluronic acid or niacinamide?
Niacinamide goes first. The molecular weight of HA is much larger than the molecular weight of niacinamide. This means that it takes longer for HA to absorb into your skin after application.
Since niacinamide has a smaller molecular weight and is absorbed more quickly, it makes sense to apply it first. This gives your skin a chance to absorb the beneficial properties of niacinamide before applying HA on top.
Can you use niacinamide and vitamin C together?
Yes, you can. Niacinamide and vitamin C are both antioxidants that work to fight free radicals in the body. They protect against free radical damage and enhance collagen and elastin production for firmer, smoother skin.
This combination is especially helpful for people with aging skin because it reduces fine lines and wrinkles and also makes the skin more resilient to environmental damage.
Can you use niacinamide and salicylic acid together?
Yes, you can. Niacinamide and salicylic acid are both very effective compounds, and when used together, can enhance each other’s benefits.
Both ingredients are anti-inflammatory, so when combined, they can help with treating skin conditions like acne. For people with acne breakouts or very oily skin, these two ingredients can be very beneficial on their own or in combination with one another.
Conclusion
The application of niacinamide with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serum is an important part of any anti-aging and acne-fighting regimen. If you have yet to incorporate them into your daily skincare routine, this is a good time to start.
Niacinamide with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serum provides all the essential benefits needed for skin rejuvenation. By adding these ingredients to your skincare regimen today, you will enjoy noticeable results in no time.
Thanks for reading.
Visit Serum101 today for more articles on how various ingredients benefit your skin.
