If you've spent any time researching Vitamin C serums, you've probably stumbled across a surprisingly persistent piece of skincare advice:
"Don't use Vitamin C and niacinamide together—they cancel each other out."
For years, this idea circulated through beauty blogs, skincare forums, and even magazines. Some people went as far as recommending you use Vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide at night to keep them separated.
The funny thing?
Modern cosmetic science says that simply isn't true.
In fact, when they're formulated correctly, Vitamin C and niacinamide can be one of the most effective ingredient pairings in skincare.
That understanding became one of the guiding principles behind RADIANCE.
Because from the very beginning, we weren't interested in creating another Vitamin C serum. We wanted to create one that actually worked with your skin—not against it.
Why Vitamin C Is So Difficult to Formulate
Vitamin C has earned its reputation for a reason.
It's one of the most well-studied skincare ingredients available, with research supporting its ability to brighten dull skin, improve the appearance of uneven tone, support collagen production, and help defend against environmental stressors.
The challenge isn't whether Vitamin C works.
The challenge is keeping it working.
Many traditional Vitamin C serums rely on L-ascorbic acid, a highly effective but notoriously unstable form of Vitamin C. It performs best in a very acidic environment, oxidizes easily when exposed to air and light, and can be irritating for people with sensitive skin.
If you've ever opened a Vitamin C serum only to find it turning orange or brown after a few weeks, you've seen oxidation firsthand.
We wanted to take a different approach.
Why We Chose Two Forms of Vitamin C Instead of One
Rather than relying on a single ingredient to do everything, we built RADIANCE around two stable forms of Vitamin C, each chosen for a different reason.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C that works closer to the skin's surface, where it helps brighten the appearance of uneven tone and supports a clearer-looking complexion.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD Ascorbate) is an oil-soluble form that penetrates more deeply into the skin. It's prized for its stability and is commonly used in formulas designed to support firmer-looking skin and healthy collagen production.
Together, they create what we call a dual-phase Vitamin C system.
Instead of asking one ingredient to do every job, each form contributes where it performs best.
The result is a brighter, more balanced complexion without relying on an aggressive formula.
So... What About Niacinamide?
This is where things get interesting.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) has become one of skincare's true multitaskers. It's widely used to help improve the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, redness, fine lines, and to support the skin barrier.
For years, people believed it shouldn't be paired with Vitamin C.
According to a research review by Paula's Choice, that belief stems from studies conducted in the 1960s using unstable forms of both ingredients under laboratory conditions that don't reflect modern skincare formulations.
Today's stabilized forms of Vitamin C behave very differently. When properly formulated, niacinamide and Vitamin C are not only compatible—they're often complementary, helping address dullness, uneven tone, environmental stress, and signs of aging together. Rather than cancelling each other out, the combination can provide broader support for healthier-looking skin. (Source: Paula's Choice ingredient research review, medically reviewed by Dr. Debra Jaliman.)
That was encouraging news for us because niacinamide was never an ingredient we wanted to leave out.
Why Formulation Matters More Than Individual Ingredients
One thing we've learned over decades of making skincare is that how ingredients are combined matters just as much as which ingredients you choose.
In RADIANCE, we carefully formulated the serum so that the Vitamin C derivatives and niacinamide can coexist in an environment where each ingredient remains stable and effective.
Rather than pushing the formula toward extreme acidity, we focused on overall balance and compatibility.
That's one of the reasons we chose stable Vitamin C derivatives instead of relying solely on traditional L-ascorbic acid.
It's a quieter approach—but one we believe creates a serum that's easier to use consistently.
And consistency, more than intensity, is usually what delivers lasting results.
The Bigger Picture
Vitamin C may be the headline ingredient in RADIANCE, but it's supported by a thoughtful team of ingredients that help create a well-rounded formula.
Kakadu plum contributes additional antioxidant support.
Snow mushroom helps replenish hydration so skin feels comfortable rather than tight.
Bearberry leaf extract works alongside Vitamin C to support a brighter, more even-looking complexion over time.
None of these ingredients are there because they're trendy.
They're there because they help the formula work together as a whole.
Thoughtful Skincare Over Marketing Myths
Skincare trends come and go.
Ingredients become fashionable, myths spread quickly, and every few years we're told there's a new rule everyone should follow.
But good formulation has never really been about chasing trends.
It's about understanding how ingredients interact, respecting the skin barrier, and creating products people can use consistently for years—not just until the next viral ingredient arrives.
That's exactly how we approached RADIANCE.
Not as another Vitamin C serum.
As a carefully balanced system designed to help your skin become brighter, healthier, and more resilient—one application at a time.
