What is azelaic acid?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and can be naturally derived from such things as, brewer’s yeast, and cereals.
Packed with antioxidants allowing the skin to be protected from oxidised stress on the face.
The lipid barrier of the skin needs hydration to remain strengthened and able to protect the skin from exposure to free radicals, such as pollution, UV rays, central heating, and other environmental aggressors.
What should you not mix with niacinamide? There are several outdated studies stating how you must avoid using niacinamide with vitamin C. This is a result, as I have mentioned already, about outdated research explaining how vitamin C as a skin ingredient is too unstable.
It was also thought that with niacinamide and vitamin C both containing high amounts of antioxidants will counteract each other making each of these potent powerhouses useless. Having said that, there have been incredible improvements within the beauty industry with more recent formulations containing stable versions of vitamin C.
You will also find that with some brands and their formulas will include an effective blend of both niacinamide and vitamin C. When should azelaic acid be used in routine? You can use azelaic acid twice a day in your routine once you have built a tolerance to the acid.
Depending on the formula containing azelaic acid will determine when you use it in your routine. As I have previously mentioned, the thicker the consistency the later in your routine it should be applied.
The reason for this is to ensure you avoid creating a physical barrier on the skin preventing the other actives from penetrating the skin. Luckily for many of us azelaic acid is suitable for all skin types and should be an easy ingredient to include into your routine.
If you have some concerns however, you can always perform a patch test on the skin for 24 hours before applying it all over the face. This will avoid any unwanted side effects and help you find the best products to use in your daily routine.
There you have it; I hope I have answered any questions you had with using niacinamide and azelaic acid at the same time. Don’t hesitate to come and find me on Instagram if you had any further questions.
