Salicylic acid and niacinamide

Hana Hong is the beauty & fashion editor at RealSimple.com. She has been a writer and editor in the beauty and fashion industry for more than six years, sharing her expansive knowledge on skincare, hair care, makeup, fashion, and more. In addition to her broad network of beauty experts, she uses her family's background and training in skin science and cosmetic chemistry to differentiate between effective skincare formulations and marketing jargon. Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Ever wanted to pick the brain of a beauty editor? Or get beauty product recommendations from someone who has tried them all? You've come to the right place. In our weekly series, Ask a Beauty Editor, beauty editor Hana Hong answers your biggest skincare, haircare, and makeup questions, all submitted by Real Simple readers. Tune in every Tuesday and submit your own burning beauty questions here for a chance to be featured. Unless your routine consists of just cleanser and moisturizer (in which...

By now you may have heard every trick in the skin care book: retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid… these ingredients are powerful A-listers that bring out the best in your skin — but how well do they play with others? Well, it depends on which ingredients you’re talking about. Not every ingredient is pals with each other, and some may even negate the other’s benefits. So to maximize the most out of your bottles and droppers, here are five powerful ingredient combinations to remember. Plus, ones to absolutely avoid. Vitamin C + ferulic acid According to The most potent forms of However, when we combine it with ferulic acid, it helps to stabilize vitamin C so its antioxidant potency isn’t vanishing into the air. Vitamin C + vitamin E Both work by negating free radical damage, but each combats By adding vitamin C and E serums into your routine, or using products that contain both, you’re giving your skin double the antioxidant ammunition to fight damage from free radicals and more UV damage than vitamin C by itself. Vitamin C + vitamin E + ferulic acid By now you’re probably wondering: if vitamin C and E is good, and vitamin C and ferulic acid is too, what about a combination of all three? The answer is rhetorical: Do you love stability and antioxidants? It’s the best of all worlds, offering triple the protective powers. With antioxidants like vitamin C and E working in tandem to undo the damage caused by UV rays, you’re probably thinking how it makes sense to apply this combi...

Salicylic acid is one of the most common ingredients used to address acne. However, acids like this have a tendency to dry out skin as they penetrate and therefore might not play nicely with other potent active ingredients like retinol. Before incorporating salicylic acid into your skincare routine , keep reading to learn more on the dos and don’ts of pairing it with other common ingredients, according to Dr. Dendy Engelman , Skincare.com consultant and board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. Actives That Can be Used With Salicylic Acid According to Dr. Engelman, niacinamide is a great ingredient to use in conjunction with salicylic acid. “ Niacinamide is a natural humectant and also great for targeting the appearance of enlarged pores,” she says. She also suggests combining salicylic acid with hyaluronic acid to enhance skin hydration and counteract any dryness resulting from the exfoliation that salicylic acid provides. Another ingredient to use with salicylic acid is vitamin C. “I love the new SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF , which combines a small amount of salicylic acid with vitamin C and silymarin to deliver antioxidants to oil-prone skin,” says Dr. Engelman. "This serum is formulated specifically to prevent the cycle of oil oxidation that can cause blemishes to pop up on the skin, and deliver protection from environmental aggressors like pollution and UV rays.” Actives Not to Pair With Salicylic Acid Dr. Engelman advises against using salicylic acid in conjunction ...

Skincare maximalism was once the norm (10 steps, anyone?), but for the sake of your shelf space–and your wallet–it's time to consider quality over quantity. The key is understanding how to layer ingredients. Some complement and strengthen each other, while others don't play nice. How can you tell the difference? Take it from the derms we spoke to, ahead. Dream Teams Prioritize these pairings for glowier, healthier skin. Salicylic Acid + Niacinamide Anyone who's ever had a breakout (*raises hand*) is familiar with salicylic acid. It treats acne by targeting and removing oil and dead-skin-cell debris from pores, but this type of 3) comes in. With Salicylic Acid. Then slather on a serum like The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. Vitamin C + Vitamin E Among ingredient MVPs, vitamin C tops the list. The powerful antioxidant helps protect against free radical damage—the culprit behind visible aging—and is a salve for most skin woes. “It’s essential for collagen production, which gives our skin support and structure to combat fine lines and wrinkles,” Dr. Libby says. She suggests pairing it with another antioxidant powerhouse, vitamin E. “When formulated together, they work to make each other’s benefits more potent,” she says. “Vitamin E makes vitamin C four times stronger.” Wow! Do yourself a favor and go for a bottle that already combines the two ingredients, like the cult favorite Skinceuticals C E Ferulic With 15% L-Ascorbic Acid. Vitamins C and E will tag-team to increase ...

Can You Use Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid Together? Yes, a combination of niacinamide and salicylic acid can provide a myriad of benefits when properly incorporated into a consistent skin care regimen. Using niacinamide and salicylic acid together can help reduce the appearance of redness, inflammation, and clogged pores. What Does Niacinamide Do for the Skin? Niacinamide is often considered as an ideal option for visibly fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation, but it is also extremely useful in reducing the appearance of pore size. Niacinamide also supports balanced oil production and helps clear congestion. Additionally, niacinamide helps support the natural skin barrier and the production of ceramides, contributing to improved moisture retention and protection from environmental irritants. Benefits of Niacinamide • Decreases congestion • Visibly diminishes hyperpigmentation and dark spots, including acne scars and sun damage • Helps support the functions of the skin’s protective barrier • Brightens the look of skin • Helps improve the overall appearance of skin’s tone and texture Who Should Use Niacinamide? Niacinamide can be used by those with all skin types, including individuals dealing with sensitive, acne-prone, or regularly inflamed skin. What Does Salicylic Acid Do for the Skin? Among the most widely-known benefits of salicylic acid are its highly effective capabilities to clarify the skin, decrease sebum production, and reduce inflammation. It is a beta-hydrox...

Niacinamide and salicylic acid are two of the most popular ingredients in skincare. But what’s the difference between them? And which one is better for you? While they do share some similar properties, they do very different things, so depending on your skin concerns, one may be the better option. Let’s take a look at Niacinamide vs Salicylic Acid and determine which one is best for you. What Is Salicylic Acid? Salicylic Acid BHA’s are oil soluble, meaning they can cut through the oil on the skin and penetrate deep into the pores to deeply exfoliate Benefits: a chemical exfoliate that smooths texture, kills acne causing bacteria, regulates oil production and unclogs pores Best for: combination, oily and acne-prone skin How Often To Use: can be used 2-3x a week or as often as everyday, depending on your skin What To Look For: Salicylic acid, Betaine salicylate, Willow bark extract BHA works by ‘ungluing’ dead skin cells from each other so they can be easily exfoliated away. Dead skin cells tend to stick to each other and getting them loosened can be tricky if you don’t use the right products. Salicylic acid can help to remove dead skin cells as well as unclog pores, reduce blackheads, balance oil production and minimize pores. Since it can travel deep into the pore and clean it out, BHA’s can target acne in ways that glycolic acid or other AHA’s can’t. Some key properties of salicylic acid include: • Anti-bacterial – BHA’s can kill the bacteria responsible for causing acne ...

When it comes to skincare actives, it can be confusing when you are trying to decide which ones to use for your skincare issues and concerns. It gets even more confusing when you are trying to determine what actives can be used together in the same skincare routine, such as using salicylic acid with niacinamide, for instance. Both niacinamide and salicylic acid are excellent skincare ingredients with multiple skincare benefits. So can you use salicylic acid with niacinamide in the same skincare routine? First, let’s take a look at why you’d want to use each skincare ingredient in the first place. This post on using salicylic acid with niacinamide contains affiliate links, and any purchases made through these links will result in a commission for me at no extra cost to you. Please read my Jump Ahead To: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Benefits of Niacinamide Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin, is a multi-benefit skincare active. Niacinamide is known for its brightening properties and its ability to strengthen the skin barrier. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to speed up cellular turnover. Niacinamide has potent anti-aging properties. Niacinamide also helps to Niacinamide also Niacinamide is excellent for those with sensitive skin as it has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce skin irritation and redness. If that weren’t enough, niacinamide could also be helpful for those who have oily skin and acne-prone skin. Niac...

Table of Contents • • • • • • Niacinamide Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 that acts as an antioxidant and has a wide-range of benefits for your skin. • It helps keep your skin firm by increasing the production of keratin (the main structural protein in your skin). • It increases your skin’s natural production of lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids) that keep your skin barrier strong and your skin hydrated. • It can reduce the appearance of enlarged pores by reducing the amount of sebum (oil) on the surface of your skin. • It reduces hyperpigmentation by preventing the spread of melanin from your melanocytes (melanin producing cells) to your surrounding skin cells. • It reduces inflammation which means less redness. • It’s antibacterial. • It boosts collagen production and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. • It helps protect your skin from sun damage and skin cancer. It pretty much does everything! One thing that it doesn’t do is increase skin cell turnover/exfoliate your skin (which may surprise you as some people often experience breakouts when using niacinamide) – that’s where salicylic acid comes in. Salicylic Acid Salicylic acid is the most well-known beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that’s derived from willow bark. It acts as a chemical exfoliant by breaking down the bonds that hold your dead skin cells together so that they can be shed from the surface of your skin. The main benefit of using salicylic acid for acne over other che...

• • • • Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid are two skincare incredible skincare ingredients that can offer a wide range of benefits for almost everyone. But with so many different products and ingredients, it can be hard to figure out how to layer and mix everything. Can you use niacinamide and salicylic acid together? In this blog post, we’ll cover the benefits of using niacinamide and salicylic acid together, and how to do it correctly! What Is Niacinamide? Niacinamide is a multi-purpose ingredient that has quickly become one of the most popular skincare ingredients in the last few years. And for very good reason. Niacinamide is a multi-tasking ingredient that’s suitable for all skin types and can help to target a number of skin issues. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that works by inhibiting melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes. In layman’s terms, this vitamin prevents hyperpigmentation by stopping the transfer of pigment-producing enzymes to skin cells where hyperpigmentation begins. Side note: this is why products with niacinamide can also lighten dark spots and treat It’s also But that’s not all! Niacinamide can also help to And for all you oily skin and acne-prone skin folks, niacinamide is the ingredient for you! It can help to reduce sebum (oil) production, minimize pores and kill acne causing bacteria. What Are The Benefits Of Salicylic Acid? Increases hydration – niacinamide can help to increase the skin’s moisture levels which prevents transepi...