Niacinamide and salicylic acid: The power duo for your skin!

Caring for oily, acne-prone skin can feel like fighting a lost battle. Just when you think you’re there, a sudden surge of breakouts and shine hits, and it’s back to square one! 

With time, you learn to live with the constant hustle, chasing the elusive prize of clear spotless skin.

But not anymore! The fight ends here today!

Dermatologists often recommend niacinamide and salicylic acid for oily, acne-prone skin. These two actives are known for their remarkable ability to manage acne and control excessive oil production.

But did you know that combined, they can significantly help manage oily acne-prone skin? 

If not, now it’s the time to know it all.

Let’s understand if it is safe to use niacinamide and salicylic acid together and how they can be used to reduce acne and manage oily skin.

What is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide is a water-soluble carbon compound that is crucial to the skin’s cellular functioning. This form of vitamin works with our skin's natural substances, aiding its repair.

Niacinamide works wonders for your skin in the following ways:

1. Improves the skin barrier by boosting the production of ceramides, a naturally forming fat or lipid on your skin. 

2. Fights acne by reducing the inflammatory responses of the skin and regulating sebum.

3. Reduces dark spots by inhibiting the transfer of melanin to the surface of acne-affected skin. 

4. Brightens the skin by pairing with the natural substances of your skin.

5. As an antioxidant, it neutralizes free radicals caused by external aggressors.

6. Reduces oxidation stress or skin aging by boosting collagen production.

What is Salicylic Acid?

A naturally occurring organic compound, salicylic acid is chemically known as beta hydroxide acid (BHA). Its efficient solubility in oil helps it to penetrate the layers of the skin deeper and better.  

Salicylic acid targets the accumulated dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. Moreover, it facilitates deep cleansing of the pores by dissolving the ‘glue’ that holds the dirt together. 

Here are other salicylic acid benefits for skin.

Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness and itchiness on your skin.

1. Removes dead skin cells for an enhanced skin tone. 

2. Balances sebum and oil production 

3. Removes impurities that are deep within the layers of the skin.

Can you use salicylic acid and niacinamide together?

The answer is yes! 

Both these carbon-based active ingredients, niacinamide, and salicylic acid, have complementing synergies. By incorporating these in your everyday skincare, you help the skin stay strong against all external aggressors.

So, let us break down the mechanisms of niacinamide and salicylic acid for a combined treatment:

The regulated combination of salicylic acid and niacinamide works in the following mechanism:

1. The powerful anti-inflammatory properties of niacinamide soothe the skin, reducing redness and irritation. Salicylic acid prevents breakouts by unclogging the pores and hair follicles. 

2. Salicylic acid regulates the secretion of oil and sebum while niacinamide makes sure that your skin remains hydrated. 

3. Salicylic acid reduces skin inflammation in the acne-affected areas. Niacinamide, also a brightening agent, targets post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Its ability to boost collagen production enables faster healing

4.  after breakouts. Thus, they support each other by either working together or taking on issues independently.

Using niacinamide and salicylic acid in one routine can be highly beneficial for your skin. It works in synergy to deep clean your pores, while balancing oil production, leaving clear, glowing skin. 

How to use niacinamide and salicylic acid together?

• Active ingredients are best used in regulation and lower concentration.
• It's important to check the compatibility of each ingredient while using them together.
• While it is safe to use niacinamide and salicylic acid together, it's better to use one in the morning and the second in the night routine. 
• When used in combination, it is best to use each active ingredient in a different formula, e.g. niacinamide in a serum and salicylic acid in a moisturizer or vice versa.
• We recommend starting with niacinamide first, and slowly incorporating salicylic acid into your routine. Targeted skin exfoliation can irritate the skin if it is a new addition to the routine.
• However, a niacinamide prep beforehand can result in smoother adaptation, followed by salicylic acid application. 

Tips to follow while using niacinamide and salicylic acid together

1. Consider the pH level and concentration: The pH and concentration play vital roles when using active ingredients. Ordinarily, a 5% concentration for niacinamide serum and a 2% concentration for salicylic acid is sufficient. Avoid mixing the two or layering one on one in the same routine.  

2. Always start slow: Start with a lower concentration while starting with active ingredients in your routine. Depending on your skin type, tolerance level, and needs, you can work your way up and use a higher concentration. To ensure the safest application, start with 1-2% niacinamide and 1% salicylic acid in your routine.

3. Use in alternate routines: It is advisable to use each ingredient in alternate routines or alternate days if you have sensitive skin.  

4. Try different formulations: If you are using them in the same routine, use them in different formulations. Eg. use a salicylic acid serum and top it off with a niacinamide moisturizer.

Potential Side effects to watch out for

There are a few things we need to look out for when putting such a powerful combination to work. Here's why regulating their concentrations and teaming them up with the right products is essential:

1. Salicylic acid can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50 PA+++ or more. 

2. Stick to mild concentrations and quantities to avoid adverse effects on the skin. 

3. It is best to avoid using additional exfoliators like glycolic/ lactic acid with salicylic acid. Such strong exfoliators together might dry out the skin. 

4. Introducing salicylic acid to your skincare routine can sometimes cause purging, where your skin may break out instead of improving. This happens when salicylic acid brings impurities from deeper layers of the skin to the surface, leading to breakouts in the initial stages of use.

5. Hence, be a little patient in our early days with salicylic acid. If the breakouts continue beyond 2-4 weeks of use, stop its use.  

Niacinamide and salicylic acid can work wonders together as a team. All we need is to do the right research and read our skin, as we add science into our everyday skincare!

FAQs

Can you use salicylic acid and niacinamide together?

Yes most certainly, but make sure that high-concentration forms of the actives are not layered one after another. Pairing them in separate routines gives us the best results.

Do I use salicylic acid or niacinamide first?

Salicylic acid goes before niacinamide for the desired results. Salicylic acid could also be used as spot correctors.

How do salicylic acid and niacinamide be applied together?

If you wish to use them in the same routine, opt for different formulae, like a toner with salicylic acid followed by niacinamide serum, allowing a few minutes for absorption. Ideally, the salicylic acid comes before niacinamide in the routine and the ingredients should be used in separate routines.

Can salicylic acid cause breakout?

Since salicylic acid pushes out impurities embedded deep into the skin, it can cause breakouts initially. Be patient with it when you start using it. If the problem persists beyond 2-4 weeks, stop using it immediately.