Niacinamide and tretinoin are well known skincare heroes, with multiple benefits for your skin. If you ever tried to fight and treat acne, pimples, blemishes – and, generally, breakouts – you’ve must have tried at least one of these two magical ingredients.
These two are also great companions on your anti-aging journey, and many other skin concerns, as tretinoin and niacinamide actually complement each other quite well. This skincare couple will help you achieve that glowing skin texture you want so badly, too.
If you are thinking about incorporating both these ingredients together in your skincare routine, this article will help you achieve the best results for your skin – of course, in a safe way.
Can You Use Niacinamide And Tretinoin Together?
Of course! You can absolutely use niacinamide and tretinoin together in your skincare routine. You may now wonder – how come?
Well, these two ingredients can actually work harmoniously to address a wide range of skin concerns, from signs of aging to uneven skin tone and texture.
The best way of using niacinamide and tretinoin together is either apply them in the same beauty routine with some time in between, or use them at different times of the day.
Make sure to read my article to learn about the recommended ways of combining niacinamide and tretinoin.
Does Niacinamide Cancel Tretinoin?
You know, you will find many skincare myths while exploring the science of beauty. This is one of them – luckily debunked by expert dermatologists.
So – no, niacinamide does not cancel out tretinoin. In fact, these two can be used together effectively in your skincare, helping each other.
How Does Niacinamide Help Tretinoin?
Niacinamide can help tretinoin in many, many ways. You will read more about it in the following paragraphs, but we will briefly mention them here, too.
As tretinoin cream can sometimes stir up skin irritation and redness, especially in the beginning – niacinamide, with its anti-inflammatory properties, will exert its soothing superpower on your beautiful skin. It’s just like giving your irritated skin a comforting hug!
Plus, tretinoin creams may also weaken your natural protective skin barrier, resulting in skin dryness and sensitivity. This is terrible for sensitive skin.
However, niacinamide is your friendly barrier booster. It helps your skin stay resilient and hydrated, preventing excessive dryness and irritation while using tretinoin.
If you suffer from acne, you know these two ingredients are great acne fighters, even if you use tretinoin and niacinamide separately.
But, if you use them together, they can form a dynamic duo that’s even better at keeping those pesky breakouts and flare ups in check and treat acne more effectively.
But – the story does not end there. Niacinamide is an absolute pro at brightening and evening out your skin tone, which pairs beautifully with tretinoin’s skin renewal skills.
Together, they can help fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation and give you that lovely glow.
And there are many more ways how they help each other – so, stay tuned!
How To Use Tretinoin And Niacinamide Together?
First of all, it is of crucial importance to introduce these two ingredients gradually. Then, we can dive into the different ways on how to use tretinoin and niacinamide in your skincare.
1. Different Steps In The Same Skincare Routine
This option involves using both tretinoin and niacinamide in your routine, but as different steps, and in different products. You can use tretinoin cream and niacinamide serum, for example. There are so many ways you can combine these two.
2. Morning, Evening
Use niacinamide in your morning routine and tretinoin in your evening routine. This way, you get the benefits of both without worrying about them interfering with each other.
Your morning routine may look like this: cleanser, niacinamide serum, moisturizer, sunscreen; while your evening routine may include: cleanser, tretinoin (wait before applying to damp skin), moisturizer.
You can use two serums – one serum in the morning, other in the evening. You can try any combination that suits you.
3. Different Days
You can apply these two on alternate days, making a clear separation between the two active ingredients.
On niacinamide days, use niacinamide-based products, including niacinamide serum, creams, cleansers, or whichever product you like. Then, on tretinoin days, use tretinoin cream, serums, – or whatever you use.
4. One Product
Some skincare products actually contain the combination of niacinamide and retinoids, which can be a convenient solution if you prefer a simple routine. In this case, you use a single product containing both ingredients.
If you use combined product, make sure you use it according to instructions (like with any other skincare ingredients and products, actually).
How To Layer Niacinamide And Tretinoin?
To avoid potential irritation when using tretinoin and niacinamide together, it is highly important to layer these two skincare ingredients properly.
You can apply niacinamide in the morning and tretinoin in the evening – that’s probably the easiest and safest way.
Otherwise, you can layer them in the same skincare routine. Start with a cleanser, followed by niacinamide serum. Let it sink in, then apply tretinoin cream. Next is your regular moisturizer and sunscreen.
Generally, it’s recommended that thickest products come last.
Should I Use Niacinamide Before Or After Tretinoin?
Well, whether to use niacinamide before or after tretinoin primarily depends on your skin’s needs and how you want to structure your skin treatment.
If you apply niacinamide before tretinoin, it can help reduce redness and inflammation, which can make your tretinoin experience more comfortable.
On the other side, you can apply niacinamide after tretinoin. In this case, tretinoin goes on first to promote skin renewal, increasing skin cell turnover and promote collagen production, and – niacinamide follows to calm the skin, reducing inflammation and redness.
How Long To Wait Between Niacinamide And Tretinoin?
The waiting time between applying tretinoin and niacinamide in your skincare routine depends on several factors – mostly related to your skin type.
If you have sensitive skin, you will probably need to wait longer – from 15 to 30 minutes, to reduce the risk of irritation caused by these two active ingredients. If you are lucky to have a tolerant skin type, you can even layer these two without some waiting.
Benefits Of Pairing Tretinoin And Niacinamide
Well, pairing tretinoin and niacinamide in your skincare routine is like having a dynamic duo that brings out the best in your skin. This skin treatment will make you shine bright like a diamond. Some of the benefits are explained briefly below.
Firstly, this duo is your best friend on your anti-aging journey. Tretinoin encourages new skin cells growth, promoting the collagen production – in turn reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
And, niacinamide joins the act by making this process even smoother and more comfortable1.
Secondly, as tretinoin may cause a bit skin drama, presenting as irritation, redness, peeling, and other unwanted side effects.
Well, niacinamide is there to calm the situation down, and reduce redness and irritation caused by tretinoin. Tretinoin may also sometimes weaken your skin’s protective barrier, making it more sensitive.
However, niacinamide is your skin barrier bodyguard, ensuring your skin stays strong and hydrated.
Furthermore, it is widely known that niacinamide is the expert at fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation, which helps you even out your skin tone.
Tretinoin, on the other hand, tackles acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Together, they make sure your skin looks radiant and leaves you with even skin tone.
Finally, last, but definitely not the least – both niacinamide and tretinoin are superheroes in the fight against acne. Together, they work tirelessly to keep those pesky acne breakouts in check.
Another beneficial ingredient that you can mix with tretinoin is snail mucin – it can soothe your skin and minimize the side effects of the Retin-A cream. Moreover, it also has anti-aging properties so this combo can be really powerful for fighting signs of aging.
Precautions
There are a few things to consider before incorporating these two into your routine. But the most important is – take it easy, to avoid irritation. Begin with lower concentration and and gradually increase the concentration – and frequency over time.
Of course, pay attention to how your skin cells react to such treatment. If you experience excessive dryness, redness, or irritation, it’s a sign to slow down.
Another highly important consideration is – sunscreen. It’s simply non-negotiable, as both tretinoin and niacinamide can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Final Verdict: Is It Safe To Pair Niacinamide And Tretinoin In Your Skincare Routine?
In most cases, it’s perfectly safe and even recommended and beneficial to pair niacinamide and tretinoin in your routine.
Whether you have normal, combination, or oily skin, or dealing with acne, uneven skin tone, or fine lines and wrinkles, combining these two can be especially helpful in achieving your skincare goals.
However, if you have sensitive or dry skin, you might want to use them with a bit more caution. Consider introducing them gradually and monitor your skin’s response – and give your skin time to adapt.
Everything You Need To Know About Tretinoin
Tretinoin is a derivative of vitamin A and belongs to a class of compounds called retinoids. In fact, it is a form of retinoic acid – and functions similarly to natural retinoic acid.
It’s often used topically in skincare to promote skin renewal, treat acne, and address various skin concerns, such as fine lines and wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
Benefits Of Tretinoin
Here’s a list of the key benefits of this retinoid:
- Anti-aging and skin renewal
Tretinoin is like a reset button for your skin. It encourages the shedding of the dead skin cells and stimulates skin cell turnover, and the growth of new, healthy ones, leaving your skin feeling smoother and more youthful.
Furthermore, by boosting collagen production, it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving you with plump skin, too2.
- Acne control
If you’re battling breakouts, tretinoin can be your hero. It works by unclogging pores, reducing inflammation, and preventing new pimples from forming, by controlling sebum production, too.
- Even skin tone
It’s the go-to solution for those pesky dark spots, helping you fade those spots, revealing a more uniform complexion3.
- Reversing sun damage
Did you know that tretinoin can help you reverse some of the damage caused by UV rays, like fine lines, sunspots, and rough skin?
It’s one of the best treatments for photo-aging.
Who Should Use Tretinoin?
Whether you suffer from acne, skin discoloration or melasma, have wrinkles or signs of aging – tretinoin will be your skincare best friend. Unless you have a very sensitive or dry skin – go for it, absolutely! I promise you will love it.
In case you have sensitive skin, prone to dryness, you can still benefit from tretinoin. Just be more careful.
Side Effects Of Tretinoin Cream
While tretinoin does have various benefits, there are also some side effects you have to keep in mind.
One of the most common side effects is dryness and peeling, especially when you’re starting out.
Furthermore, your skin might turn a bit rosy, and you could experience some mild irritation when you first begin using tretinoin, with or without tingling sensation and itching.
Keep in mind that, although it may seem counterintuitive, but tretinoin can sometimes cause temporary breakouts when you start using it. Also, remember that tretinoin can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
One more thing to remember – when you stop using tretinoin, you skin problems may return. Unfortunately effects of treatment with tretinoin are not permanent and you may notice new acne breakouts or melasma patches.
What Should You Not Mix With Tretinoin?
When using tretinoin, there are a few ingredients and products you should be cautious about combining.
Those include harsh scrubs and chemical peels, as well as benzoyl peroxide – tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide can be too harsh together.
When it comes to AHAs and BHAs some dermatologist say it’s ok to use them together, just at different times of the day or alternate evenings4. Just make sure you perform a patch test before – and give your skin time to adapt.
Everything You Need To Know About Niacinamide
Niacinamide is like a vitamin superhero for your skin.
It’s a form of vitamin B3, and you might find it listed on different types of skincare products which are aimed to hydrate, protect, and calm your skin, while also evening out your skin tone. Bonus benefit is – it is a great acne warrior.
Benefits Of Niacinamide
Now let’s talk about key benefits of niacinamide.
- Hydration, hydration, hydration
Niacinamide is a great hydrating ingredient, alongside with hyaluronic acid. It locks in moisture, keeping your skin soft and supple.
- Skin barrier bodyguard
It wards off environmental foes like pollution and UV rays, ensuring your skin stays strong.
- Soothing
If your skin gets a little rosy or irritated, niacinamide is the calm in the skincare storm. It can soothe redness and keep your skin serene.
- Evens out skin tone
Niacinamide, like tretinoin, can help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, evening out your skin tone5.
- Acne fighter
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, niacinamide will help you deal with acne by reducing inflammation and controlling sebum production.
- Wrinkles, bye, bye
Besides all other benefits, niacinamide can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as reduce yellowing, keeping your skin looking youthful6.
Who Should Use Niacinamide
Anyone can benefit from niacinamide. However, it can be especially beneficial for those of you suffering from sensitive and irritated skin, damaged skin, acne, presenting with (first) signs of aging, or having some skin discoloration.
Does Niacinamide Have Side Effects?
Rarely, and I mean VERY rarely niacinamide can cause some mild skin irritation. But, if this happens, it’s typically temporary, so – no worries.
Make sure you perform a patch test, to be on the safe side. Note, however, that niacinamide can increase your sensitivity to sun and UV damage.
What Should You Not Mix With Niacinamide?
You can mix niacinamide with many other ingredients, just make sure to always start gradually.
If you use niacinamide, you should be careful if you combine it in the same routine with active ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or highly alkaline products.
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Safety should be your priority.
All pictures in this article with YouAreBeautie logo belong to YouAreBeautie.com and were taken by the owner of this website. All these images are copyright-protected. Sources of pictures of Retin-A: https://vietmecgroup.com/. Other pictures: unsplash.com.
Resources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
- https://www.researchgate.net/
