Can Niacinamide and Vitamin C Be Used Together?

Myth-busting!

What the internet says: Combining Niacinamide and Vitamin C neutralize the effectiveness of both ingredients and might create a substance (nicotinic acid) that leads to skin redness.

What science says: Research has shown that combining niacinamide and vitamin C does not lead to skin problems; in fact, the combination can lead to a wealth of skin benefits.

What Are the Facts?

What’s propelling the idea that niacinamide and vitamin C can’t be combined is old research that was interpreted incorrectly. 

The studies showing incompatibility between niacinamide and vitamin C date back to the early 1960s (yes, that far). These studies were off from the start because they used non-stabilized forms of both ingredients, whereas both ingredients are typically stabilized when used in modern formulas.

It is important that niacinamide be formulated at a pH that’s close to neutral. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), on the other hand, does best in a low-pH (acidic) environment. However, nicotinic acid—the undesirable by-product of niacinamide and vitamin C—becomes an issue only when the niacinamide and vitamin C are combined in a high-temperature environment for a long time. That temperature is higher than you’d find in at-home scenarios, including leaving a box of skin care products sitting outside in the sun for a couple of days.

It is also important to point out that this concern applies only to ascorbic acid, not to its oil-soluble form tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate included in DermExcel Collagen serum formulation. 

In short, any ancient studies that show a issue from combining niacinamide and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) were conducted in an environment that does not reflect what average skin care products experience during development, manufacturing, or in real-world storage and usage.

A Winning Combination

This means that you’re safe to use both niacinamide and vitamin C, either together in the same product, or combined from different products that you layer one over the other.

The benefits from such a mix are numerous: On its own, niacinamide is a skin-restoring ingredient that can visibly improve the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines, and dull skin. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that defends skin against environmental assault, as well as a brightening agent that can improve the visible signs of aging.

Together, these ingredients form a powerhouse combo that addresses uneven skin tone, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and dullness. All skin types will see a complexion that progressively becomes more radiant, smoother, more even, and noticeably younger-looking.

Today’s studies are showing only benefits for Niacinamide and vitamin C combination.

We invite you to try this combination for yourself. You might find you’ll become a true believer - no myths, just facts and results.

Click here to view the DermExcel Collagen serum that contains this powerful combination.

References for this information:
Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, September 2015, pages 463–470
Indian Dermatology Online Journal, April-June 2013, pages 143–146
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, December 2012, issue 4, pages 310–317; and 2004, issue 2, pages 88–93
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, March 2009, page AB78
Journal of Drugs and Dermatology, July 2008, pages S2–S6