In the ever-growing – and sometimes confusing – world of skincare, niacinamide and glycolic acid have built quite the reputation for their brightening, smoothening, and anti-aging benefits.
Aside from making your skin look and feel better, these popular powerhouse ingredients can also treat a variety of skin concerns, from oiliness and acne to fine lines and dark spots!
Deciding which one to add to your skincare routine is where things get tricky. Is one or the other a better fit for your skin type, sensitivity, and needs? Can you use both? And if so, how?
Not to worry! In this guide, I’ll explore what niacinamide and glycolic acid are, highlighting their benefits and uses and how they can help you achieve fresh, healthy, and radiant skin!
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What Is Niacinamide and Its Benefits?
Niacinamide is a powerful form of vitamin B3 and a gentle skincare ingredient renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
It plays a vital role in repairing and strengthening your natural skin barrier, soothing irritation, and protecting your skin against sun damage and pollution.
Niacinamide diminishes the appearance of hyperpigmentation, contributing to an even, glowing complexion. It also helps regulate oil production, which benefits oily and acne-prone skin.
How to use: You can find this versatile ingredient in many skincare products, such as moisturizers, sunscreens, cleansers, and eye creams, but one of its most effective forms is serum.
Apply it on clean skin once or twice a day, after toning but before moisturizing.
Best for: All skin types, including dry and sensitive skin, treating mild to moderate hyperpigmentation, and calming redness and inflammation due to acne, rosacea, and eczema.
Pros of Niacinamide
- Promotes a healthy skin barrier
- Protects against environmental stressors
- Fades hyperpigmentation for even skin tone
- Controls excess oil and acne
- Soothes red, blotchy, irritated skin
Cons to Consider
While niacinamide is a soothing ingredient for most, some people may experience skin irritation, with side effects like redness, itching, burning, or stinging.
Skincare products usually contain 5% niacinamide or less, but you may want to start with a lower concentration for sensitive skin.
What Is Glycolic Acid and Its Benefits?
Glycolic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) made from sugarcane. It’s an excellent chemical exfoliant that helps shed dead skin cells, revealing fresh, healthy layers underneath.
By shedding the top skin surface and encouraging cell turnover, glycolic acid helps reduce dark spots, rough patches, and heavy discoloration for brighter skin with a smoother texture.
It also boosts collagen production, helping your skin become firmer, fuller, and bouncier and minimizing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.
How to use: As an AHA with a small molecular size, glycolic acid easily penetrates the skin. It’s commonly used in toners, cleansers, and peels, but it’s also present in moisturizers and serums.
Apply it in the evening and wear sunscreen during the day to avoid sun sensitivity, and start slowly to prevent skin irritation. The amount you use depends on the product and your skin type.
Best for: Normal to oily skin, treating stubborn dark spots and discoloration, smoothing uneven skin texture, and reducing visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines
Pros of Glycolic Acid
- Exfoliates old, dead, dull-looking skin cells
- Reveals fresh, new skin underneath
- Brightens and smoothens uneven skin
- Prevents acne by keeping pores clear
- Enhances absorption of skincare products
Cons to Consider
Glycolic acid is most suitable for non-sensitive skin types, as it can trigger redness or mild irritation if you have reactive or sensitive skin.
It’s best to consult your dermatologist for the right product and formulation if you’d like to try this skincare ingredient but have sensitive skin.
Niacinamide vs Glycolic Acid: Which Is Best?
Niacinamide and glycolic acid are both safe and effective skincare ingredients – the best one to use depends on your skin type, special concerns, and skincare goals.
If your priorities include brightening and renewing your skin for a fresher feel, smoother texture, and healthier look, glycolic acid’s exfoliating powers can achieve just that!
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to heal and protect your skin barrier, deal with red, irritated, or acne-prone skin, or treat mild to moderate hyperpigmentation, you may want to try niacinamide.
Niacinamide is gentle enough for all skin types, while glycolic acid is better tolerated by normal to oily skin.
If you have sensitive skin, introduce glycolic acid into your routine gradually.
How to Use Niacinamide and Glycolic Acid Together
Surprisingly, you can use both ingredients together and get the best of both worlds!
While it’s not advisable to mix niacinamide and glycolic acid on your own, some products are specially formulated to contain both while remaining stable and safe for you to use.
You can also use two products at different times of the day, ideally niacinamide in the morning and glycolic acid at night. Alternating them throughout the week is also an option.
If you want to layer the two in your skincare routine, start with the ingredient with the lower pH level, glycolic acid.
Be sure to apply them 30 minutes apart. I recommend doing a patch test on a small area first and monitoring your skin for reactions.
Best Niacinamide and Glycolic Acid Products for Your Skin
As a beauty expert and certified skincare addict, I’ve come across my fair share of skincare products containing niacinamide, glycolic acid – and both, over the years.
There have been a few special items from all-natural, cruelty-free brands that I keep coming back to, such as:
1. True Botanicals Clear Repair Nightly Treatment
When it comes to the jack-of-all-trades ingredient, niacinamide, my top favorite is the treatment from True Botanicals, which also contains black willow bark and hyaluronic acid.
It reduces blemishes, dark spots, and signs of aging as you sleep, so you wake up to smooth, radiant skin.
The best part is that it never messes with your skin’s natural barrier, unlike other blemish-removing products. It’s calming, hydrating, and hypoallergenic, too!
2. Evolve Organic Beauty Liquid Radiance Glycolic Toner
As for glycolic acid, it’s almost always present in my beauty drawer in toner form.
Evolve Organic Beauty’s toner and liquid exfoliator stands out because it’s made of 100% natural ingredients.
These include fruit-based AHAs and BHAs for instantly brighter and smoother skin.
It combines glycolic acid with acne-fighting salicylic acid, and gently exfoliates without scrubbing or irritating your face, revealing renewed and refreshed skin underneath.
3. Bio Balance Natural Niacinamide-G Super Serum
Why choose between the two, when this super serum from Bio Balance combines 15% niacinamide and 5% glycolic acid in the same formula?
It offers clinically proven solutions to everything from breakouts and blackheads to fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.
Experience the oil-regulating benefits of niacinamide and the exfoliating effect of glycolic acid, all in one product. It’s worth considering if you want to simplify your skincare routine!
Do you have a preference between niacinamide and glycolic acid, or do you use both? Let me know in the comments below!