Can You Use Niacinamide with Benzoyl Peroxide?

There has been a shift in skincare in recent years, what I mean by this is we have all become a lot more glued up with active skincare ingredients, the benefits they deliver to the skin, and the different ways you can include them into your routine. For some, their morning routine could suddenly feel like a chemistry lesson. As knowledgeable as we have all become, there is always the risk of going a little overboard. Which is exactly why we will be turning our attention at whether you can use niacinamide with benzoyl peroxide.

For those of you still finding it tricky to understand what niacinamide and benzoyl peroxide can do for the skin, here is a refresher on these ingredients and the benefits they deliver.

What does niacinamide do for the skin?

• Contains humectant traits ensuring the skin can hold onto moisture in the skin barrier.
• Helps to regulate oil by working with the sebaceous glands to prevent sebum, the natural oil in the skin from being overproduced.
• Minimizes the appearance of pores helping to keep the skin smooth with pores becoming less noticeable.
• Protects the skin against oxidised stress by helping the skin build more cells, this ensures environmental stress, such as UV light, pollution, and impurities have little impact on the skin.
• Combats inflammations and treats acne by reducing the size of inflamed pustules.

There you have some examples of what niacinamide can do for the skin and the different benefits it can deliver. If you wanted to know more about niacinamide, check out our dedicated blog post about the clever ingredient on The Beauty Insiders.

What does benzoyl peroxide do for the skin?

• Effectively gets rid of bacteria and dead skin cells that are known for clogging the pores causing blemishes and breakouts.
• Rids the skin of excess sebum, the natural oil found in the skin surface.
• Combats the appearance of acne scars helping to reduce their pigmentation.
• Works further down in the pores helping to unclog it of any excess sebum, impurities, bacteria, and other levels of debris.

There is more to learn about benzoyl peroxide in the dedicated blog post we have over on our website.

Can I use benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide at the same time?

Yes, you can use benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide at the same time. In fact, many experts suggest teaming highly potent and drying ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide with hydrating ones, such as niacinamide. With benzoyl peroxide penetrating further into the skin, it can sometimes cause some irritation and dryness. The humectant traits of niacinamide ensure it is able to lock moisture into the outer layers of the skin keeping it hydrated and healthy. You will also find that you will see results of benzoyl peroxide will appear a lot quicker.

Should I use niacinamide before or after benzoyl peroxide?

This is very much dependant on the skincare products containing each of these powerhouse ingredients. It is considered the best way of applying your products is starting with the thinnest consistency making your way up to the thickest. This prevents the thicker formulas creating physical barriers on the skin which can stop the thinner products from reaching the areas of the skin they are required.

You will often find that niacinamide is formulated into products, such as serums and moisturisers and usually have a thick, gel-like consistency these are usually applied to the skin at the later stages of your skincare routine. This is because you can achieve optimal results from niacinamide when the formula contains high levels of water, helping the skin to become more absorbent. As I have already mentioned, the formula plays an important role to which stage of your routine you’d apply the product. 

What can you not mix with benzoyl peroxide?

It is considered best to not mix benzoyl peroxide with other potent ingredients, such as retinol. This is because each ingredient will deactivate each other rendering them both useless. This is also the case for other prescription treatments which are also thought best to avoid using with benzoyl peroxide. To avoid any unwanted side effects, it’s best to leave enough time between applications as this will allow enough time for the skin to rebalance itself making it ready for the next product application.

Which is better benzoyl peroxide or niacinamide?

Both ingredients perform differently on the skin and so comparing them is a tricky task. They are both highly effective ingredients to use if you have an oily skin type that is prone to breakouts and blemishes. Benzoyl peroxide works further down in the lower layers of the skin, whilst niacinamide works at locking moisture into the outer skin surface and protective barrier. You are already aware of how benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide work effectively together so you can reap the rewards of both powerhouse ingredients. Don’t forget, if you have any concerns with using niacinamide and benzoyl peroxide together you must consult with a doctor or dermatologist for peace of mind you are using the best skincare duo.

Is niacinamide good for acne?

Yes, it is, what often happens to those attempting to combat acne is to reach for highly potent ingredients and formulas. This can lead to the skin becoming dry, irritated, with signs of redness. With the hydrating benefits of niacinamide, you will find you keep the skin moisturised and protective barrier able to function fully, whilst regulating oil production. This ability to regulate the oil ensures a flare-up in acne is less frequent and manageable with the skin remaining comfortable.

Why is niacinamide breaking me out?

Apart from vitamin C, niacinamide can work effectively with several skincare ingredients. This often results in it being formulated into a few skincare products containing an array of ingredients. The reason your niacinamide product is causing you to breakout may have nothing to do with niacinamide at all. What often happens is some ingredients increase the skin cell turnover and aid exfoliation which causes skin purging, this is often mistaken for acne and breakouts. Other ingredients that are teamed with niacinamide are also comedogenic, meaning they can clog the pores leading to a flare-up in spots and blemishes. 

There you have a little more information about using niacinamide and benzoyl peroxide together. If you have any further questions, come, and follow us on Instagram for more.