Which brings us to today’s question: Can niacinamide be used with mandelic acid? Let’s quickly summarize how these ingredients work and what benefits they have for your skin.
What is mandelic acid?
Extracted from bitter almonds, it belongs to a group of chemical peels called alpha hydroxy acids (also known as AHAs).
Due to its large molecule size, it is gentle enough for all skin types, including those prone to redness and sensitivity.
Removes the layer of dead skin cells from the surface of the skin to reveal new, fresher cells underneath.
Fights signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles visibly reduced in just a few weeks.
Helps fight clogged pores and skin blemishes. Mandelic acid removes excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities from pores.
Mandelic acid can prevent hyperpigmentation such as melasma, dark spots, post-acne scars, and other areas of uneven skin tone.
There are some side effects such as itching, swelling, redness, itching, etc. Therefore, you must seek the advice of your doctor or dermatologist before adding any new ingredient to your daily routine.
If you'd like to learn more about mandelic acid, check out our dedicated blog post.
What is niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 extracted from brewer’s yeast and grains.
Known for its moisturizing properties, ensuring moisture is locked in the skin. This helps the skin barrier function properly and protect itself from free radicals.
Can be used effectively in combination with other ingredients, even chemical acids such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid.
May help regulate sebum production, making niacinamide a useful ingredient for people with acne-prone and dry skin types.
Visibly reduces enlarged pores and overall improves skin tone.
Fights signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and signs of dehydration on the surface of the skin.
Tightens the skin around the chin and neck to help improve skin tone.
Restores skin's radiance and reduces common skin dullness and dullness.
Learn more about niacinamide at Beauty Insider.
How to use niacinamide and mandelic acid?
There are several ways to use mandelic acid and niacinamide together. Unlike other active ingredients, you can actually stack these on top of each other. However, they each contain different pH levels, and if they are mixed too quickly, your skin's pH may change. This can lead to redness, itching, flaking, and sometimes severe irritation. Here are some examples of how to use niacinamide and mandelic acid together.
Use these two ingredients in your daily life
As I suggested before, you can use mandelic acid and niacinamide together. Remember, you must wait approximately 10 minutes between applications to allow the active ingredients to be absorbed and the pH to return to balance.
Apply mandelic acid, then niacinamide
Start by using a cleanser or exfoliating toner containing mandelic acid to remove dead skin cells and dirt from your skin. Niacinamide is then used to keep the skin hydrated, helping the skin barrier to function properly and protecting it from free radicals such as pollution, central heating, cigarette smoke and other environmental influences.
Change the time of day it applies to
You can also use one ingredient in your morning routine and then use another ingredient in your morning routine. Adopt an evening routine. If you already have an established skincare line, this is an effective way to benefit from all your skincare products.
When it comes to skin care, one basic rule is to apply your skin care products in order of consistency. Start with the thinnest and end with the thickest. This allows you to determine which ingredient to apply to your skin first.
What not to mix with mandelic acid?
It is considered best not to mix mandelic acid with other acids such as glycolic, lactic, salicylic and retinol. This is because using too many exfoliating ingredients can cause the skin to be over-irritated, leading to facial redness, itching, peeling, severe dryness and general discomfort.
If you want to use AHA and mandelic acid, you can do this by alternating the dates of each active ingredient. For example, you can avoid using mandelic acid the same night you use retinol. When introducing new ingredients into your routine, you may want to perform a 24-hour patch test before applying the new formula to your face. To do a patch test, you first need to apply a small amount (10p size) to the inside of your arm. Leave the product on overnight and if there are no signs of irritation in the morning, you can use the product on your face.
What Not to Mix with Niacinamide?
It is believed that vitamin C should be avoided when using niacinamide because both are antioxidants and affect the skin in similar ways. This information is now considered somewhat outdated, and many product formulations contain stabilized forms of vitamin C, limiting concerns about combining these powerful substances.