Ingredient pairing

Can you mix Retinal and Niacinamide?

Same answer whichever way you searched it: Niacinamide and Retinal.

Fine togetherThey're fine together.

RetinalNiacinamide

These two actually work well together, and are often formulated side by side.

Routine: You can use these together, morning or night.

RetinalSolid and proven
Efficacy9
Anti-aging9
Brightening6

Skip if: pregnancy, breastfeeding, very sensitive, compromised barrier

Not in pregnancy
NiacinamideWorth paying for
Efficacy9
Barrier9
Acne8

Skip if: very sensitive in high

Building the section…

They're fine together.

These two actually work well together, and are often formulated side by side.

You can use these together, morning or night.

Which one goes first?

Either order works

  1. 1Cleanse
  2. 2Retinal + Niacinamide
  3. 3Moisturize

Retinal and Niacinamide sit at about the same step, so the order is not critical. As a rule of thumb, apply the thinner, more watery one first, then the richer one over it.

Retinal and Niacinamide: Fine together. They're fine together. These two actually work well together, and are often formulated side by side. Which goes first: Either order works.
The short version, if you want to keep it.

Adding Retinal and Niacinamide to your routine

  1. Good news first: these two get along, so there is no special order or waiting period to manage.
  2. Still add them one at a time, a week or two apart, so if your skin does react you know which one to look at.

For your skin type Sensitive skin should ease in gently: Retinal and Niacinamide can be mildly irritating on their own, and more so alongside another active.

Choosing between them instead? Retinal vs Niacinamide →

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Retinal and Niacinamide, answered

Can you mix Retinal and Niacinamide?

They're fine together. These two actually work well together, and are often formulated side by side.

Should you use Retinal and Niacinamide in the morning or at night?

Either. Retinal and Niacinamide are fine to use together, morning or night.

How should you introduce Retinal and Niacinamide?

Good news first: these two get along, so there is no special order or waiting period to manage. Still add them one at a time, a week or two apart, so if your skin does react you know which one to look at.

What else should you not mix with Retinal?

Retinal is best kept apart from Salicylic acid (BHA), Lactic acid, Glycolic acid, Mandelic Acid. Introduce any new active one at a time.

Sources

Plus how we reach every verdict: how we score →

General guidance, not medical advice. When in doubt, introduce one product at a time, andhere is when to see a dermatologist instead.