Niacinamide and alpha arbutin: can you use them together?

Yes, niacinamide and alpha arbutin can be used together. They are two of the most common ingredients in products made for more even-looking skin, and they are often combined in a single cream.

What niacinamide does

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It helps skin look smoother and more even and supports the skin's own moisture barrier. It suits most skin types, which is why it turns up in so many products.

What alpha arbutin does

Alpha arbutin is used to help reduce the look of dark spots and patches. It works gradually, so it needs weeks of regular use.

Why they are paired

They work in different ways, so one does not cancel the other out. Used together they cover both overall evenness and individual dark spots. Fair N Pink Advance Radiance Cream contains both, along with glutathione, so there is no layering to work out. See the ingredients page.

How to use them

• Apply to clean skin, morning and night.
• Use sunscreen every morning. Sun exposure brings dark spots back faster than any cream can fade them.
• Patch test first. A little warmth or tingling in the first days is common with niacinamide and usually settles.

When to see a dermatologist

If dark patches appeared suddenly, are spreading, or have not changed after two to three months of careful use with sunscreen, see a dermatologist. Conditions such as melasma need a doctor's advice, not a stronger cosmetic.