Skincare
Can you use niacinamide and vitamin C together?
By the LÉRA team · · 2 min read
The short answer
Yes. The idea that niacinamide and vitamin C cancel each other out comes from old laboratory work using unstable forms of the ingredients under conditions, including heat, that don't match how skincare is used. Modern products, especially those with stabilized vitamin C, combine them routinely. If your skin is sensitive, introduce one at a time.
Where the warning came from
The worry traces back to research from decades ago, in which pure ascorbic acid and niacinamide were combined in conditions that don't match how skincare is made or worn, including heat. In those conditions they could react with each other. The finding spread as "never mix them" long after formulas moved on.
Why it doesn't apply to modern skincare
Many products now use stabilized vitamin C derivatives, such as 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, which are designed to resist breaking down. And at room temperature, on your face, the two don't react in any way that matters. Plenty of well-made products put them in the same formula on purpose.
What each one does
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is used to support the skin's barrier and help skin look more even.
- Vitamin C is an antioxidant used to help skin look brighter.
How to use them together
- Layer the thinnest product first and the thickest last.
- If you're new to either, introduce one at a time, a week or two apart, so you know which your skin is reacting to if it does.
- Wear sunscreen in the day. It protects the results of everything else.
A product that already combines them
Our Red Tea Mask pairs 2.3% niacinamide with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, a stabilized vitamin C, in a hydrating mask with three forms of hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica and red and green tea extracts. It rinses off, so it's an easy way to use both without changing the rest of your routine. See how to use a hydrating face mask.
