Can you use retinol with niacinamide?
Yes, they pair well. Niacinamide is gentle and supports the skin barrier, which can make retinoids easier to get used to.
Why
There's no known conflict between them, and they're often combined in the same product; a cream with 0.5% retinol and niacinamide was effective and tolerable, with only mild flaking and redness early on. In a split-face study, a moisturizer containing niacinamide and other vitamins, started before a retinoid and continued alongside it, made the early adjustment period easier.
How to use them
Layer them in either order at night, or use niacinamide in the morning as well. It's a useful companion when you're starting a retinoid.
Sources
- 1Facilitating facial retinization through barrier improvement · Cutis, 2006
- 2Efficacy and Tolerability of a Skin Brightening/Anti-Aging Cosmeceutical Containing Retinol 0.5%, Niacinamide, Hexylresorcinol, and Resveratrol · Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2016
General cosmetic information, not medical advice. Written with AI assistance from the sources above; updated October 2026.