Skin guide
Can you use hyaluronic acid and niacinamide together?
Updated October 9, 2026 · 5-minute read
The short answer: yes. Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are one of the easiest pairings in skincare. They do different jobs, don’t interfere with each other and are both gentle. Hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin; niacinamide (vitamin B3) supports the skin’s barrier, which helps it hold on to that water. You can use two products, or one that already contains both.
What each one does
Put simply: one adds water, the other helps the skin keep it. That’s why they show up together so often in dermatologist-recommended routines, and why Cleveland Clinic lists hyaluronic acid among niacinamide’s good companions (source).
How to layer them
- Cleanse and pat skin almost dry.
- Thinnest product first. Water-based serums go on before creams and oils. If you use two separate serums, either order works; let the first absorb for a minute.
- Then the rest of your routine: treatment products, moisturizer if you use one, and sunscreen in the morning.
If both are in one bottle, it’s one step. Draíocht contains 1% sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) and 4% niacinamide, plus panthenol, propanediol, trehalose and allantoin.
How much niacinamide do you need?
Most products contain 5% niacinamide or less (source). Higher isn’t automatically better: sensitive skin often does best starting lower. Draíocht uses 4%, printed on the label, so you know exactly what you’re putting on.
What about niacinamide and vitamin C?
You may have read that niacinamide and vitamin C “cancel each other out.” Dermatologists say that worry comes from old research using pure forms of the two heated to very high temperatures, which isn’t how skincare is stored or used (source). You can use them in the same routine; apply both before moisturizer and sunscreen.
With retinol, acids and sunscreen
Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are both easy to layer with other products. Many people use them to keep skin comfortable while using retinol or exfoliating acids, which can be drying. Draíocht contains no retinoids, exfoliating acids or vitamin C, so it stays simple to combine: apply it first, let it absorb, then the rest. Patch-test any new combination.
One bottle instead of two
When we checked the ingredient lists of eight best-selling hyaluronic acid face serums in October 2026, none of them contained niacinamide; brands usually sell it as a separate product. See how body serums compare for the details. Here is everything in Draíocht:
- Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) 1%: draws water into the outer layer of skin.
- Niacinamide 4%: vitamin B3; helps support a healthy-looking skin barrier and calms the look of redness.
- Panthenol 3%: provitamin B5; softens and soothes the look of dry, rough patches.
- Propanediol 3%: a plant-derived humectant that adds water and helps the formula spread and absorb.
- Trehalose 2%: a sugar that helps skin hold on to water in dry conditions.
- Allantoin 0.4%: softens rough skin and soothes the look of irritation.
Questions
Can I use hyaluronic acid and niacinamide together?
Yes. They do different jobs and don’t interfere with each other: hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin and niacinamide supports the skin barrier that helps hold it there. Use two products, or one that contains both.
Which goes first, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide?
If they are separate water-based serums, either order works; apply the thinnest first and let it absorb for a minute. Then moisturizer if you use one, and sunscreen in the morning. If both are in one product, it’s a single step.
Can niacinamide and vitamin C be used together?
Yes. The old concern came from research that heated pure forms of the two to very high temperatures, which isn’t how skincare is stored or used. Apply both before moisturizer and sunscreen.
What percentage of niacinamide is best?
Most products contain 5% or less. Higher isn’t automatically better, and sensitive skin often does best starting lower. Draíocht contains 4%, printed on the label.
Can I use hyaluronic acid and niacinamide every day?
Yes, both are gentle enough for daily use, morning and night. As with any new product, try a small area first and stop if irritation occurs.
Does Draíocht contain both hyaluronic acid and niacinamide?
Yes: 1% sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) and 4% niacinamide, with 3% panthenol, 3% propanediol, 2% trehalose and 0.4% allantoin, in a 9 fl oz fragrance-free bottle for face and body.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic, “Hyaluronic acid.” my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22915-hyaluronic-acid
- Cleveland Clinic, “Niacinamide: what it is and its benefits.” health.clevelandclinic.org/niacinamide/
- Healthline (medically reviewed by Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD), “Can you use niacinamide and vitamin C together?” healthline.com/health/beauty-skincare/niacinamide-and-vitamin-c
This guide is general skincare information, not medical advice. Draíocht is a cosmetic. For external use only; avoid contact with eyes; stop using it if irritation occurs.
More skin guides: HA for your body · Serum vs. lotion · How to use HA serum · Read a serum label · Body serums compared · Dry, crepey skin