Can You Mix Niacinamide and Vitamin C?

Where your morning and evening skincare routines are concerned, there are so many different products to choose from — and a dizzying array of active ingredients. Vitamin C and niacinamide are two popular actives. But can you mix niacinamide and vitamin C?

We’ll explore the answer to that below — plus the benefits you can get from niacinamide and vitamin C products.

What is Niacinamide?

The first place to start is with niacinamide and vitamin C benefits. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 — which you’ve probably also heard referred to as “niacin.”

It has a ton of benefits. In particular, niacinamide helps your skin produce ceramides and collagen. More ceramides improve the way your skin’s natural moisture barrier works — which, in turn, increases hydration — while increased collagen production helps reduce the look of fine lines and pores. All told, niacinamide has a firming, tightening effect that helps make your complexion look smoother and more youthful.

It's also an anti-inflammatory, which is great for people with acne or rosacea, and it may help lighten discolorations to even skin tone. It’s an antioxidant, too — crucial to help prevent damage to your skin from UV rays and environmental contaminants.

What about Vitamin C?

Niacinamide is a powerful ingredient that will benefit almost everyone — and vitamin C is another ingredient with a long list of benefits. Like niacinamide, it’s a powerful antioxidant and also has anti-aging effects. It helps your skin produce collagen, which results in firmer skin — reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

With all of this, vitamin C also works with your skin to decrease pigment production. That will help you lighten dark spots and discoloration with time, so you’ll enjoy a brighter, more even complexion.

So, Can You Mix Niacinamide and Vitamin C?

The short answer is yes — you can!

But it can be confusing because there are a lot of conflicting claims out there. Some blogs and even well-known beauty publications have perpetuated the myth that mixing these two ingredients decreases the efficacy of both — but that’s actually not true. Mixing them together means you’ll get the best of both worlds, which makes for a powerful combo that can address most concerns.

How to Use Niacinamide and Vitamin C Together

The next question people often ask is, what goes first, vitamin C or niacinamide? And the answer to this question is that it doesn’t really matter. You can use them when they’re together in the same product, or one first, then the other in any order.

What’s the Best Niacinamide and Vitamin C Serum?

The best product is the one that works best for you! That’s why it’s always smart to try out samples and patch-test your skin to ensure that the formulation doesn’t cause a reaction. The best way to do a patch test is each day for two weeks by applying a small amount of the new product to an inconspicuous area – like the corner of your jaw. If you don’t have any adverse reactions, you’re good to go.

And if niacinamide and vitamin C proved to be must-haves in your routine, then look for simple formulations featuring high concentrations of active ingredients. Simplicity in a formula means fewer ingredients to potentially cause a skin reaction — and higher concentrations allow you to use less product while maximizing the benefits.

We recommend checking out Sobel Skin serums. We offer a 35% Vitamin C Face Serum and a 15% Niacinamide Gel Serum. These two together will supercharge your AM and PM skincare routines!