Can you use vitamin C with niacinamide?
Yes. The idea that vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and niacinamide cancel each other out is a myth, so you can use them in the same routine.
Why
The warning traces back to older lab work on the pure ingredients mixed in water: they form a yellowish complex, and with heat, acid and long storage a little niacinamide can turn into niacin, which can cause brief flushing. The complex comes apart easily, and the niacin conversion takes weeks to months, far longer than products sit on your skin. Some brands still suggest keeping them apart as a conservative precaution, and any tingling is more likely from the low pH of many vitamin C serums than from the pairing.
How to use them
Layer them in either order, or use vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide at night if that is simpler. If your skin stings, try a gentler vitamin C product rather than dropping niacinamide.
Sources
- 1Can you use Niacinamide and Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) together? · KindofStephen, 2016
- 2Ultimate Vitamin C Skincare Guide Part 1: Ascorbic Acid · Lab Muffin Beauty Science (Michelle Wong, PhD), 2021
- 3Interview with Deciem (The Ordinary) Chief Scientific Officer and Dr Davin Lim · Lab Muffin Beauty Science (Michelle Wong, PhD), 2020
General cosmetic information, not medical advice. Written with AI assistance from the sources above; updated October 2026.