Its what we like to consider the do-it-all ingredient: niacinamide. In skin-care products, it can help amp up hydration, lessen the look of fine lines, and brighten your skin. Such benefits are rather close to what you get from exfoliating acids, which easily begs the question: Can you use BHAs or AHAs and niacinamide together? The answer is yes, but with a very important nuance to ensure you don’t irritate your skin.
For advice on how to safely combine AHAs or BHAs, and niacinamide, we tapped Schweiger Dermatology Group dermatologist Dr. Deborah Spey and NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. Keep reading for expert recommendations on how to incorporate AHA, BHA, and niacinamide into your routine, and find out about some of our favorite products that contain these powerhouses.
What Are the Benefits of Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, an active ingredient with a long list of potential skincare benefits. According to many experts, including Dr. Spey, niacinamide supports the natural skin barrier, and as such, when that is appropriately balanced, promises hydrated and healthy-looking skin.
But wait, there’s more skin goodness. Products containing niacinamide can also decrease sallowness or redness, shrink the look of big ol’ pores, even out your complexion, and decrease the appearance of skin hyperpigmentation-including dark spots and post-blemish marks-according to the Cleveland Clinic.
undefined
What Do AHAs and BHAs Do For The Skin?
The United States Food & Drug Administration refers to AHAs, short form for alpha-hydroxy acids, and BHAs, which stands for beta-hydroxy acids, as skin exfoliants. However, they operate slightly differently.
What are AHAs?
AHAs are water-soluble compounds that can help in evening out fine lines and wrinkles, firming the skin, and hydrating it when applied as part of a skincare formula. They may also smoothen the skin texture and even out skin tone while encouraging a more youthful skin appearance. There are many types of AHAs used in skincare products, but surely among the most popular ones are glycolic acid and lactic acid.
You can incorporate AHAs into your routine one of several ways. Reach for something as simple as a cleanser in glycolic acid, like this SkinCeuticals Glycolic Acid Renewal Cleanser; it’s formulated for use on all skin types and is gentle enough to be used every day. Or for an AHA cream or serum-we love this Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum for evening out skin texture and giving a healthy-looking glow.