Can you use retinol and glycolic acid at the same time? Yes and no. You can use them at different times on the same day if your skin can tolerate it, but generally speaking it's best to alternate days to avoid sensitivity.
Glycolic acid acts on the surface to help exfoliate skin. Retinol, on the other hand, works on a deeper level to help improve your skin's look and feel. If you've heard you shouldn't combine these two ingredients, we've got some good news for you: You don't, in fact, have to choose between them.
Start first by incorporating a glycolic acid product into your daily routine in your twenties, then consider adding retinol into your skin care regimen by your thirties when collagen and elastin production starts to slow down a bit more.
But overall, stick to using water-based products and serums together. AHAs and BHAs, such as glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids should never be used with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an acid, too, and is unstable, so the pH balance will be thrown off by layering these ingredients together and might as well be useless.
One ingredient that can be layered with glycolic acid with no worry of irritation is hyaluronic acid as this humectant can instantly hydrate the skin and aid replenishment, this is an ideal teammate for glycolic acid as it avoids any chances of the skin feeling tight, dry or irritated.
The best product you can use in conjunction with retinol, according to Dr. Zeichner, is a moisturizer, which can help hydrate skin and reduce the risk of irritation from retinol. “Some people even prefer to mix their retinol with a moisturizing cream to dilute it out,” he says.
Glycolic acid should always be applied in the evening, as it makes your skin sensitive to sunlight. Applying it at night gives ample time for it to do its magic without a higher risk or damaging your skin in the sun.
Retinol is usually an active ingredient in creams or serums. Using a gentle moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid can help to balance the effects of hydroxy acids and retinol.
Is Glycolic Acid okay for everyday use? Depending on the concentration, yes, you can use Glycolic Acid every day. If you're new to chemical exfoliants, you should work up to using it every day slowly rather than overdoing it at the beginning.
You can actually layer your glycolic acid and niacinamide together, at the same time of day—just 30 minutes apart. When layering products, start with the one that has the lowest pH first.
Don't Mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids. AHA and BHA acids are exfoliating, which can dry out skin and cause further irritation if your skincare routine already includes retinol. As for benzoyl peroxide and retinol, they cancel each other out.
After applying retinol to your skin (while it's dry) allow it to sit for 10-20 minutes. Mist your face with water or a facial spray, and then apply your hyaluronic acid. (HA serums are most effective when they're applied to damp skin.) Finally, follow your HA serum with a moisturizer right away.
Layering products correctly is important if you want your products to work. If you place one product on your skin, like a serum, and follow up with another product whose molecules are smaller than the first, like a toner, then the second product cannot penetrate the first layer.
Retinoids work best if you use them daily. Specifically, they should be used at night because some types are deactivated by light and air. It's important to start slowly and allow your skin time to adjust. Using too much too quickly can cause redness, dryness, and irritation.
Retinol is best applied at night since it can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. When you do go outside, be sure to use sunscreen to protect your face. It's worth noting that you don't need to use retinol on a daily basis for it to effectively treat your acne. Even two to three times per week might be enough.
Pairing the two ingredients is safe and can make retinol easier to use. Niacinamide helps hydrate the skin, which reduces the risk of irritation caused by retinol. Niacinamide and retinol can be combined in one product or used as separate products.
What Are the Benefits of Combining the Two? Good news: Retinol and hyaluronic acid actually have a synergistic effect. “They can be combined so that the benefits of retinol can be achieved more easily with concomitant use of hyaluronic acid, which helps to prevent retinol irritation,” says Hartman.
Rouleau says the best time to use a scrub is in the morning. Overnight you've loosened up dead skin cells with your glycolic acid or retinol products, making the morning a perfect time to brush them off.
A formula with retinol, like the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment, should be applied after your serums and before moisturizer due to its consistency.
The variance of pH between glycolic acid and niacinamide products can make the products less effective when used together. If you apply niacinamide directly after glycolic acid, it may potentially raise your skin's pH. Unfortunately, it has been shown that AHAs (i.e., glycolic acid) don't absorb as well at higher pHs.
If you want, you can also use a toner, such as Bye Bye Pores Leave-On Solution Pore-Refining Toner, which has a mattifying effect. In the evenings, we recommend using your glycolic acid product followed by a moisturizer.
How it Works. For example, use a toner right before a serum to increase absorption into the skin. Or, apply retinol at night to avoid photosensitivity.
Retinoids tend to dry out your skin—so the last thing you want to do is deprive it of moisture further. "It is best to avoid other drying agents when using retinoids such as toners, astringents, and medicated cleansers. These products cause further irritation," says Dr. Lipner.
Yes. We recommend proceeding with caution if you choose to use it with products containing retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids, as this may cause irritation.
Should you use retinol under your eyes? Yes, definitely. While it is true that retinol – a form of vitamin A – is a powerful ingredient and the skin under your eyes is delicate, there's no reason why you should miss out on the amazing benefits of retinol.