Can You Use Vitamin C and Niacinamide Together?

We’ve been working on a few skincare ingredients in our most recent blog posts, and we hope you have found them useful. As I have mentioned before, it can be an overwhelming and complicated industry out there, especially with the vast amount of ingredients available. 

There are two skincare powerhouse ingredients that are shrouded in mystery and confusion, and that is niacinamide and vitamin C. With that in mind we’ll investigate further and with any luck answer some burning questions about how you use vitamin C and niacinamide together.

Can you mix niacinamide and vitamin C together?

The short answer is, yes. This can feel a little confusing as no doubt you have seen many articles about vitamin C and niacinamide as a skincare duo becoming too harsh for the skin. This is an outdated result of research into the effects of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) causing mild irritation and redness when mixed with niacinamide. Admittedly during the 1960s ascorbic acid was considered a highly unstable ingredient. Fast forward to modern day formulations you will find this is no longer the case as not only has ascorbic acid become more stable, but there are alternative forms of vitamin C used in various skincare products such as ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium acorbyl phosphate, both of which are able to remain balanced and effective.

Having said that, this does not mean that you should apply any skincare product containing ingredients you haven’t introduce into your routine before. You must first perform a patch test for 24 hours before applying it all over the skin to avoid any unwanted irritation.

Why can’t you use vitamin C and niacinamide together?

There is a common understanding that using vitamin C and niacinamide together results in them each chemically cancelling each other out. This leads to both ingredients becoming completely useless for the skin. Having said that, there is nothing stopping you from using them every day, it would just be a case of alternating when you use them. For optimal results, try applying vitamin C in the morning, the potent antioxidant formula will help combat free radical damage from exposure to UV rays and pollution. You can then follow this in the evening with niacinamide which will lock moisture in and keep the skin plumped and hydrated whilst ensuring other ingredients absorb quickly.

Do I use niacinamide before or after vitamin C?

As I have already suggested, you can separate the time of day you apply each ingredient. However, if you are wanting to use both vitamin C and niacinamide at the same the time, it is considered best to apply vitamin C first leaving roughly 15 minutes before applying niacinamide. This will not only give your skin a glowing finish thanks to the reviving benefits of vitamin C but any possible signs of irritation caused by the potent powerhouse will be reduced thanks to the hydrating, humectant properties of niacinamide.

Which is more effective niacinamide or vitamin C?

Both vitamin C and niacinamide contain similar skin benefits but vary slightly depending on their pH levels. For example, vitamin C is used in formulas at a low pH compared to niacinamide that works at a neutral or higher pH.

As for considering which is more effective both are highly beneficial to include into any skincare routine. Now that the outdated opinion of niacinamide and vitamin C having a negative impact resulting in all manner of skin irritation, redness, and other allergic reactions to the face. Using both is down to personal preference and what works in your routine, but if you are wanting my advice, using both will have an impactful result giving you an all-over improved complexion. If you are wanting to know more about each ingredients and the benefits they provide for the skin, you can check out our dedicated blog posts about vitamin C and niacinamide.

Can vitamin C and hyaluronic acid mix?

Yes absolutely, if you are after using two ingredients that can provide optimal healthy skin, look no further than hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.

With the nourishing and hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid ensuring the skin’s natural barrier is fully functioning. It can do this by locking moisture into the outer surface which enables the barrier to remain healthy and strong enough to protect itself from exposure to free radicals and other environmental aggressors. You will also find that when the protective barrier contains the correct levels of water any skincare products that are applied will absorb quickly and effectively reach the correct areas of the lower layers of skin.

If you are wanting to find out more about how to layer vitamin C and hyaluronic acid you can check out our blog post.

What happens if you mix niacinamide and vitamin C?

I have already mentioned how it was once considered a bad idea to mix niacinamide and vitamin C due to the fact it can cause Niacin, a solution that can cause flushing and redness to the skin as well as sometimes giving the skin a yellow appearance. In modern day formulations, although ascorbic acid and niacinamide can still result in forming niacin, the main difference is how it takes a lot of amounts of heat over an extended period to result in this reaction. This is not something that happens regularly and combining these two powerhouse ingredients can become your secret weapon for reviving your skin.

Can I use vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide at night?

Absolutely, using a skincare product containing vitamin C in the morning and one containing niacinamide at night is the best way of reaping the rewards of both potent powerhouses especially if you find you have a skin type that is prone to sensitivity and other skin concerns such as redness and irritation. 

So, there you have some examples of how you can use vitamin C and niacinamide together. As I have already mentioned it is important to remember that if you are new to introducing these ingredients into your everyday skincare routine, it is vital you ensure you perform a patch test for 24 hours before applying it all over the skin.

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