With the evolution of the skincare industry, we notice a new product every other day claiming a range of skin benefits. And, a new trend time and again can confuse you about what to employ and what not for your skin. Honestly, you don’t need to be obsessed with all those products on social media if you add a few essential ingredients to your skincare routine. Two of those ingredients are niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
When you think of using hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, a question that often comes to mind is whether you can use them together. Absolutely! You can layer both hyaluronic acid serum and niacinamide. This layering can bring you some additional benefits and save you time as well.
This article will take a closer look at the idea of employing niacinamide and hyaluronic acid together and their benefits.
What About Using Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid Together
Both of these ingredients are water-soluble and have a high safety profile. Therefore, it is completely safe and effective to use niacinamide and hyaluronic acid together. When you apply one after the other, they provide your skin with extra moisturization and help diminish acne and wrinkles. As a result, your face looks plump, dewy, and supple.
However, mixing niacinamide and hyaluronic acid directly and then applying it is something experts don’t suggest. While doing that is safe, it will reduce the expected outcomes of both serums.
How Do They Work For Your Skin
Before discussing how should you employ hyaluronic acid and niacinamide together for maximum benefits, let’s briefly go through what makes these two ingredients important for your skin.
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid! Yes, again. It is not the first time you are reading (or hearing) this name; people talk about it everywhere. If a skincare expert has to choose one ingredient that moisturizes your skin the best, it will be hyaluronic acid.
Your body produces it daily. A person with a 70 kg body weight has almost 15 g of hyaluronic acid (HA), and half of it resides in the skin. According to a study, along with retaining moisture in your skin, HA has multiple other functions.
Hyaluronic acid is important for increasing the number of your new skin cells. So, in this way, it keeps your skin fresh and young. Also, it speeds up the production of main proteins in your skin, collagen and elastin. As a result, your skin becomes more elastic, dewy, and plump.
Hyaluronic acid protects your skin barrier by reducing dryness because dry skin can result in acne, allergies, and irritation. Hydrated skin appears more vibrant and supple.
Unfortunately, as we age above 20, HA concentration starts declining by every year. So, your skin becomes a bit saggy and dry with time. And this is why you need to employ hyaluronic acid products to keep your skin hydrated, young, plump, and healthy.
Do you know what the best thing about hyaluronic acid is? It works well with almost all skin ingredients like niacinamide, retinol, and lactic acid.
Benefits Niacinamide For Skin
Niacinamide is a water-soluble nutrient also called vitamin B3. When we look at its skin benefits, they are much more like what retinol does for your skin. However, it is not severe as retinol sometimes becomes for certain skin types.
Usually, experts recommend it, or people employ it by themselves for treating acne and eczema. Because it is highly soluble in water, niacinamide penetrates your skin and has a deep action. It reduces sebum production, thereby preventing clogged pores.
Moreover, it helps your skin retain moisture in two ways. First, it promotes the building of the skin’s lipid bilayer, which keeps your skin hydrated. Secondly, just like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide holds water to protect your face from dryness.
According to a study, niacinamide accelerates the production of keratin protein in the skin. This protein aids in improving your skin texture and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen resulting in loose and saggy skin. Niacinamide stimulates the production of collagen just like vitamin A does, even at an older age. So, consistent use of it can give you a younger look than your actual age.
Do you know niacinamide can lighten your skin? Studies conducted on Japanese females showed that it reduced skin pigmentation significantly after two weeks of application.
How to Use Hyaluronic acid and Niacinamide Together
Since both are water-based serums, there is no right or wrong which one you should apply first. It’s totally up to what you favor. If you have dry skin, you should prefer using hyaluronic acid first for deep moisturization. In case you suffer from acne and blemishes, applying niacinamide first can target sebaceous glands in your skin effectively.
Before you apply hyaluronic acid and niacinamide together, please make sure to wash your face with a good cleanser or your favorite bar soap.
Another notion that can commonly pop up in your mind is should you apply niacinamide and hyaluronic acid on damp or dry skin. Again, what you prefer because after washing your face and then drying it, your skin remains damp for some time.
Use three drops of each niacinamide and HA on your face and neck. It will be better if you first put drops on your hands and blend a bit. After that, gently massage them on your skin. This technique prevents the stickiness of these serums.
If you still feel stickiness after using hyaluronic acid and niacinamide together, maybe you have used a bit more of them. Try with 2 drops each because your skin can soak only a certain amount.
Morning or evening both are good times for applying niacinamide and hyaluronic acid together. However, if you prefer the morning, make sure you apply good sunscreen when you go out.
What You Should Expect
For certain skin types, using niacinamide and hyaluronic acid combination may cause a bit of redness for the first week. It is because both of these ingredients stimulate cell turnover in your skin. After a week, the redness subsides by itself.
Other than redness, you should not experience any kind of irritation and inflammation from them unless your skin is allergic to hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. In most cases, skin tolerates both ingredients well. Therefore, make sure you buy them from credible brands.
After 3 to 4 weeks of using hyaluronic acid and niacinamide together, acne diminishes, and skin appears even, soft, and vibrant.
Bottom Line
While layering hyaluronic acid and niacinamide works well for all skin types, it is particularly useful for acne-prone skin. The double hydration and prevention of extra sebum production take down the acne problems. Moreover, the anti-aging effects of both ingredients sustain a youthful and supple look on your face.
