Published: September 19,2024
In a series of studies where 50 women who showed signs of aging were treated with a niacinamide cream, the results indicated that the women treated with niacinamide showed significantly more improvement in skin elasticity and appearance than women treated with a placebo. Studies also suggest that niacinamide skincare products can reduce the signs and symptoms of severe acne or rosacea by reducing the inflammation of the skin. Particularly if you have oily skin, niacinamide is equipped to regulate (and slow down) how much oil your skin produces. And when you have less oily skin, your pores appear smaller.
Vitamin C, or pure ascorbic acid, is a naturally occurring antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from UV damage as well as reduce hyperpigmentation and increase collagen production. Pair these two ingredients together and you have a dynamic duo for glowing skin. If you're wondering how to get glowing skin, adding vitamin C and niacinamide to your skincare routine is a must.
Most people experience skin benefits from using niacinamide and vitamin C, but it's still a good idea to be careful when adding these ingredients to your skincare regimen. In some cases, niacinamide or vitamin C (individually or separately) can cause redness, inflammation, or skin irritation, particularly in people who already have sensitive skin or skin conditions.
Keep these tips in mind when adding these ingredients to your skincare routine:
Niacinamide and vitamin C are some of the most important ingredients in your skincare routine, but they're not the only ones. Here are some other powerful skincare ingredient combinations to pair for beautiful, healthy skin.
Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, protects your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Since sun damage can occur even in short periods of sun exposure, it's a great idea to apply sunscreen every morning—it will become second nature before you know it.
Some skincare ingredients make your skin more sensitive to the sun, making SPF protection even more important. For example, if you happen to be using a natural retinol serum, using a daily SPF is imperative. Retinol enhances cell turnover, which makes your skin more prone to UV radiation. The retinoid effect lasts for days after application, so it's best to protect your skin daily and not just the day you've used retinol.
Additionally, if you're planning on spending some quality time outdoors, work in moisturizer and sun-specific makeup with SPF for added protection.
Ferulic Acid can be found in several foods and beverages, including coffee, oranges and apples. This acid is a plant-based antioxidant that enhances properties of other vitamins for sun damage protection and overall healthy skin. When you combine ferulic acid with a retinol, you create a unique delivery system that makes retinol even more effective. And while the retinol is working on firming the skin and adding radiance & luminosity, ferulic acid allows the retinol to absorb deeper into the skin, while promoting collagen production.
Vitamin A helps to smooth lines and wrinkles, while increasing moisture and elasticity. Vitamin C minimizes imperfections in the skin, including uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and the appearance of acne scars. Vitamin E defends against and disables free radicals made by the body. Adding these three vitamins into your skincare routine will prevent collagen breakdown.
Vitamin C and vitamin E are both important to apply topically every day in your skincare cocktail. Not only are they synergistic, but vitamin C is water soluble, while vitamin E is lipid soluble. Together, they penetrate into the different layers of the skin while neutralizing free radicals in their path.
Hyaluronic Acid can significantly boost your hydration, leaving your skin hydrated, plump and glowing. Hyaluronic Acid allows the skin to retain water for a dewy, glowing look.
If you're using a retinol/retinoid in your daily skincare routine, moisturizing is a must. Retinoids can be inherently irritating to the skin, and moisturizers help to calm and hydrate the skin to combat that effect. Similarly, if you're working with salicylic or glycolic acid, they need to be coupled with some sort of moisturizer to combat the drying effects that they can have on the skin.
A moisturizer like peptide cream is essential to any skincare routine, even if you're not mixing ingredients. If your skin is oily and acne-prone, use an oil-free moisturizer to add back hydration that could be stripped away.
Incorporating Vitamin C and Niacinamide can significantly improve your overall skin health and appearance. These ingredients are beneficial not only for increasing moisture, elasticity, and when preventing breakouts, but also when fighting dull skin. Creating a full, customized routine is essential for maintaining a glowing, radiant complexion - all year long.
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