Can you use retinol and niacinamide together?

Why

There is no chemical conflict between them, and many retinol products already contain niacinamide. Niacinamide supports the skin barrier, while retinol often causes dryness and flaking in the first few weeks.

In a small 10-week study of a night cream combining 0.5% retinol with 4.4% niacinamide (plus other actives), early flaking and redness settled, and by the end participants reported no stinging or dryness (Farris 2016). There was no retinol-only comparison, so it doesn't prove niacinamide made the difference.

How to use them

• Layer them in either order, or use a product that contains both.
• Niacinamide can also be used in the morning, so you don't need to put everything on at night.
• Keep up a moisturiser and daily SPF while using retinol.

Read more about each ingredient

Not sure what's in a product? Paste its ingredient list into our ingredient checker to see which actives it contains.

Other combinations

• Can you use retinol and vitamin C together? — use at different times
• Can you use retinol and AHAs together? — use at different times
• Can you use retinol and salicylic acid together? — use at different times
• Can you use retinol and hyaluronic acid together? — works well together
• Can you use retinol and benzoyl peroxide together? — use at different times
• Can you use vitamin C and niacinamide together? — works well together
• Can you use niacinamide and AHAs together? — works well together
• Can you use salicylic acid and niacinamide together? — works well together

See all combinations →

Sources

1. Farris P et al. Efficacy and tolerability of a skin brightening/anti-aging cosmeceutical containing retinol 0.5%, niacinamide, hexylresorcinol, and resveratrol. J Drugs Dermatol, 2016.

Last reviewed 20 Oct 2026.