In the world of skincare, two powerhouse ingredients have been making waves: niacinamide and retinol. As clean beauty enthusiasts, we are often asked whether these two ingredients can be used together safely. The short answer is yes, but there’s so much more to explore on the topic.
Let’s learn more about these two skin-loving ingredients and discover how they can work in harmony to give you the radiant, healthy complexion you’ve always dreamed of.
What Is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin that offers a wide array of benefits for your skin. This versatile ingredient has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to address multiple skin concerns simultaneously.
Some of the key benefits of niacinamide include:
- Support for skin barrier function
- Soothing properties
- Minimizing the appearance of pores
- Evening out the look of skin tone
What Is Retinol?
Retinol, a form of vitamin A, has long been hailed as a gold standard in anti-aging skincare. The powerful ingredient works by stimulating collagen production and increasing cell turnover, resulting in smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
The benefits of retinol include:
- Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Improving the look of skin tone and texture
- Unclogging pores and working against breakouts
- Fading the look of dark spots
- Supporting natural collagen production
Do Retinol and Niacinamide Work Well Together?
Now that you know the individual benefits of niacinamide and retinol, you might be wondering how they work together. The good news is that these two ingredients can complement each other beautifully, creating a synergistic effect that enhances their individual benefits.
Niacinamide can help counteract some of the potential irritation that retinol may cause, making it an excellent companion for those with sensitive skin. While retinol works to support proper skin cell turnover, niacinamide helps support the skin barrier, ensuring your skin remains protected and hydrated.
Together, these ingredients address a wide range of skin concerns, from fine lines and wrinkles to uneven skin tone and texture.
How To Incorporate Niacinamide and Retinol Into Your Routine
Luckily for us, niacinamide and retinol are totally safe to use in conjunction with one another. Let’s explore the best ways to incorporate them into your skincare routine.
Step 1: Cleanse
Start with a gentle, mild cleanser to remove any impurities and prepare your skin for treatment.
Our Green Apple Brightening Gel Cleanser is the perfect choice if you’re looking to effectively cleanse and gently exfoliate their skin. At Juice Beauty, every product is crafted with our exclusive Bio70+ technology that ensures each formula has a foundation of at least 70% organic ingredients. This creates the perfect antioxidant-rich base for our potent active ingredients to do their job.
With our Brightening Gel Cleanser, malic acid and green apple juice provide powerful antioxidants to help beautify your skin.
Step 2: Apply Serum
Applied directly after cleansing your skin, the right serum will deliver vitamins, antioxidants, and other active ingredients straight to your skin. It’s worth investing in a serum that will provide visible results.
Our Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Overnight Serum is a must try, and one of our best sellers. It was also voted Best in Class by the Chicago Tribune. In an eight-week study, participants noticed a 67% reduction in dark spots and a 28% reduction in wrinkles after using the product.
Step 3: Wait and Absorb
Try to be patient if you can. Waiting between each layer of product will allow each individual product to fully absorb into your skin, and will also reduce the incidence of piling. This doesn’t take very long — usually three to five minutes.
A great way to ensure that your serum is absorbed before applying your moisturizer is to brush your teeth in between each of the products.
Step 4: Apply Moisturizer
After using a serum, apply your moisturizer. This is a very personal decision that is dependent upon your skin type. Those with dry skin should look for rich, creamy formulas, while those with oily or combination skin may want to consider a gel formulation.
Product Spotlight: Check out our Prebiotix C-Boost72 Hydrating Whipped Cream 20% Vitamin C Niacinamide Glow Complex. Pairing this with a serum that has niacinamide is a great way to use both ingredients in your skincare routine. This particular moisturizer is clinically proven to increase the luminosity of your skin in just four weeks.
In an independent lab study, 93% of participants reported visible improvements in skin dryness and hydration, while 86% reported a visibly brighter complexion.
Step 5 (For Daytime): Apply Your Sunscreen
If you are doing this routine prior to starting your day, sunscreen is the most important step. UVA and UVB rays from the sun can undo all of the good you’re doing for your skin, accelerate the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, and cause dark spots.
Want to perfect your skin tone instantly while also delivering a healthy dose of antioxidants, moisture, and sun protection? We love our Stem Cellular CC Cream Zinc SPF 30 for daily wear.With hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and mineral zinc SPF 30, you really can have it all in this one product.
Step 6 (For Nighttime): Use a Facial Oil
This step is totally optional, but some people, especially those with dryer skin, love to finish their skin routine with a facial oil.
Our Stem Cellular Vinifera Replenishing Oil combines sunflower oil, grapeseed oil and jojoba oil for rich, emollient moisture. It’s also chock full of antioxidants, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
What Are Some Tips for Success When Using Retinol and Niacinamide?
To make sure that you get the most out of your new clean beauty routine, keep these tips in mind:
- Start Slow: This is especially important when it comes to using retinol. Start with lower concentrations, and use it only two to three times a week until your skin is acclimated. After a few weeks, if all is well, you can start using it every other day, and then every day if desired.
- Use Retinol at Night: When you’re first getting started, it’s best to use retinol only at night, since it can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
- Don’t Forget SPF: Whether you are using your retinol/niacinamide combo at night or during the day, it’s important to remember to use sunscreen, always (yes, even on a cloudy day).
- Listen to Your Skin: Every body is different, and that includes the largest organ in the body: your skin. Pay attention to how your skin reacts to incorporating new ingredients, and adjust accordingly.
- Be Patient: It can generally take four to eight weeks to see any significant changes from a new skincare routine, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not seeing results right away.
How To Choose the Right Skincare Products
When selecting retinol and niacinamide products, you need to make sure that you are taking care with what you use. At Juice Beauty, we believe that if you are putting junk on your skin, that’s exactly what you’ll get for results — and what you put on your skin is just as important as what you put in your body.
Take care to choose high-quality, clean beauty products that align with your skin’s needs and your personal values. We are committed to providing you with effective, organic skincare options that are good for you and for the planet.
What To Look For
When you’re choosing new skincare, look out for the following:
- Clean Formulations: Opt for products that are free from harmful chemicals and synthetic ingredients.
- Natural, Organic Ingredients: Our products are 70% juice, and 30% active ingredients. You can trust that you are putting the very best on your skin.
- Appropriate Concentrations: Depending on where you are in your retinol journey, you may want to look for products with a lower concentration at first (0.5% to 1%) before leveling up. For niacinamide, a 2% to 5% concentration is typically a great place to start. Remember, you can always increase.
The Bottom Line
Incorporating niacinamide and retinol into your skincare routine can be a game changer for those looking to brighten skin tone or reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
By understanding how these ingredients work together, and exercising best practices, you can maximize their benefits and get the skin of your dreams.
Sources:
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation and Sun Exposure | US EPA
Skin Aging and Topical Rejuvenation Strategies | British Journal of Dermatology