Glycolic acid, vitamin c and niacinamide

There are so many skincare products out there, and to complicate things, they are not all compatible. Make sure you know how to use glycolic acid and niacinamide properly!

Glycolic acid is a fruit acid (alpha hydroxy acid) derived from sugar cane. It’s water-soluble, meaning it can be used in face washes and lotions to help exfoliate dead skin cells. It can also be used in chemical peels, which use a larger amount of glycolic acid to exfoliate deeper layers of skin.

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinic amide, is a form of vitamin B3 that can be found in skincare products. It helps with hyperpigmentation, acne, fine lines, and wrinkles. Using niacinamide will prevent and treat dark spots and discoloration, as well as even out the skin tone.

Can You Use Niacinamide With Vitamin C?

My best niacinamide serums:

Naturium Niacinamide Face Serum

Paula’s Choice BOOST 10% Niacinamide Booster

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Face

My best glycolic acid products:

Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant with Glycolic Acid, Chamomile, & Green Tea

Naturium Glycolic Acid Liquid Resurfacing Solution 8%

CeraVe Anti Aging Face Serum with Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Ceramides

What is glycolic acid good for?

You’ve likely heard of glycolic acid, but what does it do? Glycolic acid is part of a chemical exfoliator. Exfoliators can help to remove dead skin cells, resulting in healthier, younger-looking skin.

Because it is oil-soluble, it’s able to pierce deep into the layers of the skin. This is why it’s able to help with many conditions.

The reason why it’s becoming more common is because of all of the important benefits that it has, including the following:

Exfoliates dead skin cells:

Glycolic acid exfoliates dead skin cells and cleans pores by allowing tiny pores to remove oil, dirt, and blackheads. Glycolic acid is used to treat acne and to maintain skin. This acid is derived from sugarcane and is a chemical exfoliant. A chemical exfoliant is a more efficient way of removing dead skin cells. However, it is important to stay within the recommended range of pH to keep the skin healthy.

Prevents water loss:

Glycolic acid, or AHA, has been known to prevent water loss in the skin, and it has been shown to increase skin elasticity by as much as 30%. Glycolic acid works by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells that compose skin.

When these bonds are loosened, skin cells can shed faster, allowing for newer cells to appear. Not only does glycolic acid remove the older, dead cells, but it also triggers the production of collagen. This process keeps skin supple and looking young.

Smooth and even texture:

Have you ever felt your skin looking rough but not sure how to fix it? Glycolic acid for skin smoothing can be applied directly to the skin to improve the texture of the skin and give it a younger look. This acid is the main component of many beauty products, but it is also commonly used by dermatologists for many different procedures to treat skin conditions and uneven skin texture. Glycolic acid helps to even out rough skin and can also be used in conjunction with chemical peels to further improve skin texture.

Brightens skin and fades hyperpigmentation:

Glycolic Acid has a peeling effect on the skin, which leads to the lightening of pigmentation that causes a brighter complexion, giving you a glowing look. Not only that, but glycolic acid also exfoliates dead skin cells. This allows your skin’s pores to appear smaller than they actually are. This allows your skin to appear more even and glossy.                           

What does niacinamide do?

Niacinamide can have many benefits on the skin. If you’re looking to take good care of your skin, you might want to consider adding this ingredient to your routine. Here are some benefits of niacinamide for your skin

Helpful in reducing signs of aging:

Niacinamide is an ingredient used to treat and reduce the signs of aging. This ingredient may help fight skin cancer, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin tone and texture, and reduce the appearance of acne and the signs of aging. When combined with other ingredients, niacinamide may also help to lighten hyperpigmentation and reduce redness in the skin.

Calms your skin:

Niacinamide is an ingredient that calms inflammation and helps soothe your skin beautifully. It works like a charm if you are suffering from redness or irritation. Niacinamide is actually a B vitamin that’s used to treat skin conditions like rosacea, dryness and flaking, sun damage, aging, and acne.

Balances oil production:

An effective method of reducing the appearance of oily skin is to use niacinamide, an active ingredient in skincare products. It helps to control the oily secretion from the skin, preventing the abnormal formation of new sebum that can lead to flare-ups of acne. This is a great benefit for those who suffer from oily skin as it reduces the chance of breakouts and keeps their skin looking fresh.

Antioxidant properties:

Niacinamide has been shown to have antioxidant properties, which is great news for anyone who suffers from acne and rosacea. The addition of antioxidants to topical skin-care formulations has become a very common practice in recent years. The rationale for using antioxidants in skincare is to neutralize the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species generated from exposure to sunlight, pollution, and other sources.

Reduce dullness

Niacinamide has the ability to make the skin brighten and reduce dullness. The skin is dull due to the lack of moisture and the inability of it to hold up against pollution, and sometimes even the sun. Niacinamide can be used to give skin a clearer and more vibrant appearance. In order to ensure that niacinamide is effective for this skin condition, the person should use it for a long period of time.

Can I use glycolic acid and niacinamide together?

Many people have a hard time deciding which skincare products to use. After all, you can never have too many. There are several pairs of ingredients that are commonly used in skincare products that work great together and give you the best results. One of those ingredients is niacinamide and glycolic acid.

Niacinamide and glycolic acid are both common ingredients in exfoliating products. Glycolic acid helps to break down the top layer of dead skin cells to encourage a smoother complexion. Niacinamide increases the skin’s elasticity to help improve the appearance of fine wrinkles and lines.

Many people use these ingredients together in their skincare routine in order to get the best results for their skin. Here are a few tips and tricks:

 Apply them in a single product:

Together, niacinamide and glycolic acid have powerful exfoliating properties. The two ingredients work together to make skin appear smoother, clearer, and healthier over time. As a result, when you use products that include both of these ingredients, you’ll notice your skin is smoother and more radiant.

Apply them at different times of day:

 Both of these ingredients can be very effective in helping your skin look younger, but they can be used in different ways and at different times of day to get the best results.

You can use niacinamide at night because it’s a good ingredient for your skin to use as you sleep. It can help to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, so your skin can look younger for longer.

Glycolic can be a better ingredient to use during the day because it will exfoliate your skin, which is much needed to remove dull skin cells that won’t make your skin look as youthful as it can be.

Apply them 30 minutes apart:

One way to apply niacinamide and glycolic acid is to first use niacinamide and wait 30 minutes, then use glycolic acid.

This regimen gives you the benefits of both and gives you great skin. It’s very important to apply sunscreen after applying your products, because they make your skin more sensitive to the sun.  

Risks of mixing niacinamide with glycolic acid:

Niacinamide is a skin supplement that can do wonders for your face, but mixing it with glycolic acid can be risky. It can cause irritation, rashes, and dry skin or can even irritate your eyes. You mustn’t use them together.

When using Niacinamide, your skin will feel smoother, softer, and will help with acne scars. It’s a good idea to wait at least half an hour so that the acid is not on top of the niacinamide. If you’re using them both at the same time, they will fight against each other and it may leave your skin irritated and dry.

Summary on glycolic acid and niacinamide

Niacinamide with Glycolic Acid is a popular skincare product that has a variety of uses, including reducing the appearance of fine lines. But what is it exactly? What is niacinamide and what is glycolic acid? Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that is sometimes used in skincare products.

It is an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant and it can help to lighten the skin and reduce some of the signs of aging, such as wrinkles and sunspots.

Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that is often used in skincare products because it helps to exfoliate the skin. It can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve the texture of the skin. With daily use, niacinamide with glycolic acid can improve the appearance of the skin and can make it firmer, softer, and smoother.

More about vegan skincare:

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  • Best Herbs For Skin
  • Foods With Hyaluronic Acid
  • Benefits of Dry Brushing
  • Chlorella Benefits For Skin

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Can I use vitamin C with niacinamide and glycolic acid?

But overall, stick to using water-based products and serums together. AHAs and BHAs, such as glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids should never be used with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an acid, too, and is unstable, so the pH balance will be thrown off by layering these ingredients together and might as well be useless.

Can I combine niacinamide and glycolic acid?

Risks of mixing niacinamide with glycolic acid: Niacinamide is a skin supplement that can do wonders for your face, but mixing it with glycolic acid can be risky. It can cause irritation, rashes, and dry skin or can even irritate your eyes. You mustn't use them together.

Can I mix vitamin C with glycolic acid?

Luckily, you can use glycolic acid and vitamin C together. That way, you can combine the fantastic, skin-transforming benefits of both in your skin care routine. If you're looking for a skin care duo to help you achieve the dewy, radiant, even skin of your dreams, look no further.

Why can't you use vitamin C and niacinamide together?

Here's where things get hairy: Older research has shown that mixing vitamin C—specifically the unstable ascorbic acid—with niacinamide can convert it to the compound niacin, which can cause flushing (think blotchy, inflamed skin).