Does niacinamide go before or after hyaluronic acid?

Texture decides which goes first

A liquid serum goes before a thicker gel, lotion or cream. Thin products are designed to penetrate the skin, while thicker moisturizing products work nearer the surface. A serum's name is not a queue number; apply the thinner formula first.1

• If hyaluronic acid is in a liquid serum and niacinamide is in a cream, apply the hyaluronic acid serum first.
• If niacinamide is in a liquid serum and hyaluronic acid is in a moisturizer, apply the niacinamide serum first.
• If both are similarly thin serums, applying hyaluronic acid to damp skin first is a practical way to use the damp skin guidance, then follow with niacinamide.

How to layer them

1. 1Cleanse with a gentle cleanser. For a hyaluronic acid serum, leave your skin damp rather than drying it completely.
2. 2Apply the thinner serum first. Follow each product's instructions for the amount to use.
3. 3Apply the thicker product next. If that is your niacinamide moisturizer, it also serves as your moisturizing step.
4. 4If both products are serums, follow promptly with a moisturizer containing an ingredient that helps keep water from evaporating, such as petrolatum, mineral oil or shea butter.
5. 5In the morning, finish with sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Apply makeup afterwards if you wear it.

Hyaluronic acid serum can be used morning and evening after cleansing. Follow the niacinamide product's own directions rather than assuming every serum, gel and cream has the same schedule. For a nicotinamide gel that causes excessive dryness with twice daily use, reduce application to once daily or every other day.14

Can I use niacinamide and hyaluronic acid together?

Yes. Hyaluronic acid attracts and binds water, while niacinamide supports the skin barrier and helps reduce water loss. Their roles complement each other. Both are used as ingredients in hydrating skincare, so your routine can include them without choosing one over the other.345

Check what you already use: hyaluronic acid appears in serums, moisturizers and sunscreens, and niacinamide also appears in sunscreens and cosmetics. If one product contains both, apply it as one step, because the bottle has already done the introductions. Place that product in your routine by its texture and directions.14

What should you expect?

Hyaluronic acid mainly addresses hydration and can make skin look smoother and plumper quickly. Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B3 with benefits that develop over weeks. A 2% nicotinamide moisturizer reduced facial oil production over four to six weeks. A 5% topical formula improved pigmentation, texture, fine lines and red blotchiness during a twelve week trial. Those are useful timescales for expectations, not a reason to judge a new routine after one evening.456

What if your skin is sensitive or you use medication?

Niacinamide is generally well tolerated, including by some people who cannot tolerate topical retinoids or fruit acids. For sensitive skin, choose moisturizers with fewer ingredients or a sensitive skin label, especially to limit potentially irritating fragrances. Adding more products can irritate skin, so keep the routine simple. If you use a prescribed skin treatment, keep its application instructions ahead of this general texture rule; medicines are generally applied after cleansing, before moisturizer. Ask a dermatologist about persistent irritation or concerns about combining your treatment with skincare.234