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Is Niacinamide as good as Retinol?


They both play an important role in mainitaining good skin health. One is not a substitute for the other.

Both together offer greater benefits to the skin than they do if you use only one of them.

But of course, if your skin is reacting badly to either one of these, then you might have to give that ingredient a miss.

Below, I will explain the benefits, similarities and differences of niacinamide and retinol…
Retinol – benefits and its usage
Retinol increases cellular turnover. This results in brighter, more youthful-looking skin and reduced fine lines and wrinkles. Another important side effect of an increase in cellular turnover is reduced acne.
Retinol reduces dark spots and pigmentation on the skin.
Retinol regulates oil production. This means not too much excess oil on the skin, benefiting oily skin types.
Retinol reduces the rough bumps on the skin and smoothes it out.
Retinol can be a bit drying on the skin. It can cause purging in some people, irritation, and redness.
Niacinamide – benefits and its usage
Niacinamide keeps skin hydrated. Hydrated skin is soft and supple.
Niacinamide strengthens the skin’s barrier function by stimulating the production of ceramides, which are needed for the skin’s barrier function. A strong barrier keeps the skin hydrated and reduces breakouts.
Niacinamide reduces dark spots and pigmentation on the skin.
Niacinamide is anti-inflammatory. It reduces irritation, redness and inflammation on the skin.
Niacinamide reduces excess oil production in the skin. This means not too much oil sitting on the face – especially beneficial for oily skin types. A side effect of this is reduced acne.
Niacinamide is an antioxidant that neutralises the harmful effects of free radicals. Free radicals are formed due to exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays and environmental nasties. They destroy good cells and thus age skin.
Most people can tolerate niacinamide well, but some people’s skin can find it quite irritating. This irritation mostly happens if you use too much niacinamide on your skin.
The key difference in benefits between retinol and niacinamide

Most of the benefits the two offer are the same. However, a couple of key differences make them stand on their own.

Retinol reduces fine lines and the appearance of wrinkles by increasing cellular turnover. An increase in cellular turnover means more younger cells formed in the skin. The old, dull cells get replaced by the younger cells more frequently.

Niacinamide reduces irritation, redness and inflammation on the skin. It also helps to keep the skin hydrated.

Niacinamide helps improve overall skin health, while retinol is more for anti-aging and skin texture.

Similarities between retinol and niacinamide

Both reduce pigmentation, dark spots, excess oil and acne.

If you have to pick only one…

If your skin reacts adversely to niacinamide (which can happen to some people), the choice is easy: pick retinol.

If your skin is fine with niacinamide, use both. Both have important roles to play in good skin health.

Niacinamide doesn’t necessarily require a serum. Many moisturisers contain niacinamide, so since moisturiser is a must for everyone, you might as well pick one with niacinamide.

There are some retinol products with niacinamide in them. You can go for that…

Buy a retinol serum and a niacinamide serum (a good option).
Buy a retinol serum and a moisturiser with niacinamide (a good option).

Together…

When you use them together, because they have so many common benefits, you get a double dose of these benefits (pigmentation removal, dark spot removal, bright skin, supple skin, no excess oil and reduction in acne).

The anti-inflammatory properties of niacinamide will neutralise the irritation that retinol can cause in most people.

Layering…

You can use them together in one routine…
OR
Retinol in the nighttime and niacinamide in the morning
OR
Retinol in nighttime and niacinamide moisturiser on top of it
OR
Retinol in nighttime and niacinamide serum on top of it
OR
Niacinamide serum at night time and retinol serum on top of it

It is best to use retinol in night routines.

Niacinamide can be used at any time of the day.

When you are starting off, don’t use them together. Your skin needs to get used to them, so separate them out: retinol at night and niacinamide in the morning.

You don’t need to use retinol every day. It is quite strong. 2 to 3 days a week, or a bit more, as your skin needs an additional boost, should be fine.

There is no harm in using niacinamide every day. But be careful about niacinamide irritation (it can happen in some people).

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