Can they be used together or can they not? Torn between which ingredient to pick, but they both seem irresistible? What if we told you that you don’t have to choose? Read on to find out how to use skincare’s Holy Grail ingredients- Niacinamide and Vitamin C serum together. 

What is Niacinamide? 

Niacinamide or Nicotinamide is one of the common forms of Vitamin B3 that is naturally found in various food sources. It isn’t synthesised by the human body and needs to be consumed through diet for healthy functioning of the body. Niacinamide is a water-soluble variant of Vitamin B3 that’s widely used as a skincare ingredient due to its numerous benefits. 

Niacinamide Serum Benefits

• Niacinamide helps repair a damaged epidermal barrier.
• It can help to diminish the appearance of fine wrinkles, which are frequently produced by harmful UV rays.
• It  helps regulate sebum production.
• It has been associated with protection against sun damage.
• It boosts ceramide production which further improves skin’s elasticity and prevents the appearance of fine lines.
• It inhibits melanin production, which is responsible for hyperpigmentation. 

What is Vitamin C? 

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that may be found in a variety of foods such as citrus fruits, green vegetables, and potatoes. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient because the human body does not produce it. 

Vitamin C serum Benefits

• It acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor and works well in the treatment of hyperpigmentation.
• It is a potent antioxidant.
• It provides photo protection.
• It may have anti-aging properties.

Can Niacinamide and Vitamin C be used together? 

The final verdict to the controversial question is in, Vitamin C and Niacinamide can be used together! While some older research data that suggests otherwise, turns out it doesn’t hold validity anymore as products nowadays have a much more stable variant of Vitamin C. Therefore,  they can be used together.

How to use Niacinamide and Vitamin C in your routine? 

Now that we’ve established that Vitamin C and Niacinamide CAN actually be used together, let’s get down to how you should be using them. You could look for formulations that combine both niacinamide and Vitamin C together, which eliminates the trouble of layering them and makes your job easier. If you choose to use separate products containing Vitamin C and Niacinamide, it’s better to use Vitamin C serum for face first. Vitamin C tends to have a much unstable formula which is best left uninterrupted until absorbed. Besides, Vitamin C serum happens to be acidic, and as a general rule of thumb, acidic products are meant to be used first while layering your skincare. You can follow up with your Niacinamide serum or moisturiser once the Vitamin C is absorbed. 

Conclusion 

While there’s a lot of debate about it, it has been found that Niacinamide and Vitamin C can be used together. Both of these ingredients offer a multitude of benefits that can be combined in the same routine to achieve optimum results. Just follow the precautions while using these two ingredients together and using them will be a piece of cake. 

FAQs

1.Is it safe to use Vitamin C and Niacinamide in the same routine?

Not only is it safe, but it can even be beneficial to use Vitamin C and Niacinamide together. Using these two ingredients together allows you to tap into the wide range of benefits each of these ingredients has to offer.

2.Should Niacinamide and Vitamin C be used in the morning or night?

Long story short, yes. Vitamin C is known for its ability to protect the skin against photo damage and we know that Niacinamide helps in repairing the epidermal barrier. Hence, using these products in the morning can protect the skin against various kinds of damage.

3.What to apply first, Niacinamide or Vitamin C?

While layering these ingredients, apply Vitamin C first and allow it to absorb completely before applying Niacinamide. Doing so allows the Vitamin C to work unhindered and minimises the risk of any irritation.