Can I use niacinamide with retinol?

Why use them together?

Niacinamide is vitamin B3 and has properties that reduce inflammation and help with redness and uneven pigmentation. Retinol supports skin renewal and collagen production. The pairing gives the ingredients different jobs rather than asking two bottles to do the same thing.12

A moisturizer combining niacinamide, retinol and a third ingredient, 7 dehydrocholesterol, showed promising acne improvement over 45 days in 16 adults with inflammatory acne on their backs. That is a specific combination and use case, not a reason to expect every pair of separate serums to produce the same acne results.3

How do I start using both?

1. 1Apply niacinamide to clean skin in the evening.
2. 2Let the serum absorb. The INKEY List suggests 30 to 60 seconds for its layering routine.
3. 3Apply retinol, starting with two to three nights a week rather than every night.
4. 4Finish with moisturizer. Increase retinol use slowly as your skin tolerates it.

Niacinamide can be used morning and evening, including on days without retinol. You do not need to alternate the ingredients simply to keep them apart. Retinol is the ingredient to introduce gradually; adding niacinamide does not turn a beginner's routine into permission for nightly retinol immediately.1

Does niacinamide go before or after retinol?

Before retinol is a useful starting point for a separate niacinamide serum, but it is not a universal rule for every formula. A niacinamide containing supporting product has also been used successfully after prescription tretinoin at night. Follow your product's directions rather than treating the ingredient names as a complete instruction manual.12

Will niacinamide prevent retinol irritation?

Niacinamide is a useful supporting ingredient, not a substitute for tolerating the retinoid itself. Topical retinoids can cause redness, dryness, itching and burning, particularly in sensitive skin. With tretinoin, tolerability can be difficult during the first one to two weeks.2

For example, Mineral 89 Probiotic Fractions, a formula containing niacinamide alongside other ingredients, reduced irritation and improved hydration when used with prescription tretinoin in women with sensitive skin. During the first 28 days, the side receiving that formula and sunscreen did better than the side receiving sunscreen alone. These benefits belong to the complete formula; niacinamide alone is not an irritation shield.2