Can you use tranexamic acid with niacinamide?
Yes. Tranexamic acid and niacinamide are compatible and have been tested together to help even out the look of skin tone.
Why
Neither ingredient needs a low pH, so there's no chemical reason for them to clash. In an 8-week randomized, vehicle-controlled study, a cream with 2% niacinamide and 2% tranexamic acid, used with daily sunscreen, reduced the look of uneven skin tone more than the plain cream. How well tranexamic acid gets into skin from everyday products is still debated, but there's no sign the pairing causes problems.
How to use them
Apply them in either order, or use one product that contains both, morning or night. In the morning, finish with broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Sources
- 1Reduction in facial hyperpigmentation after treatment with a combination of topical niacinamide and tranexamic acid: a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial · Skin Research and Technology, 2014
- 2Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Serum Containing Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Vitamin C, and Hydroxy Acid Compared to 4% Hydroquinone in the Management of Melasma · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
- 3Does tranexamic acid work? Response to The Beauty Brains · Lab Muffin Beauty Science (Michelle Wong, PhD), 2024
General cosmetic information, not medical advice. Written with AI assistance from the sources above; updated October 2026.