Can you use Niacinamide and Vitamin C together in skincare?

Skincare was easier when it was limited to a cleanser and moisturizer. However, with so many skincare products and ingredients targeting multiple skin issues- it can be confusing to know which products you actually need that can help your skin. Of course, it’s a blessing that there’s an ingredient to target every skin issue, but if you have multiple skin concerns, using them properly does require some professional guidance.

That’s why dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe came up with the viral TikTok beauty trend of skin cycling. Dr. Bowe told Self, “People were adding layer after layer after layer onto their skincare routines and experimenting with ingredient combinations that were irritating and damaging their skin.” She added that people were using too many products, making their skin more sensitive and irritated. In skin cycling, you use chemical exfoliants on night one and retinoids on night two, as they’re both potent ingredients.

On the other hand, certain ingredients work better together, such as sunscreen and Vitamin C. Chicago-based dermatologist Steven Mandrea told Real Simple, “I usually recommend applying vitamin C serum in the morning under moisturizer and sunscreen, as it can then work to combat exposure to free radicals and ultraviolet light throughout the day.”

Niacinamide is another active ingredient, and board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian said it’s “a topical version of vitamin B3,” per Everyday Health. Can you use it with Vitamin C to reap more skin benefits, or are they better used separately, like chemical exfoliants and retinoids?

Here’s what experts say about combining niacinamide and Vitamin C

When it comes to skincare ingredients, more isn’t necessarily better. Some ingredients work beautifully together, while some can make your skin worse, so when it comes to whether or not you should use niacinamide and Vitamin C together, here’s what skincare experts have to say.

The simple answer is yes, but it is possible that the combination might not benefit your skin, depending on the form and concentration of the two ingredients. Cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski told Byrdie, “Generally speaking, Vitamin C needs to be used at a low…