You can use each every other day, or even start out using retinol every third day while your skin adjusts to it. Keep in mind, everyone's skin is different--not everyone is going to experience irritation if they use retinol and vitamin C together. It's entirely possible they won't experience any irritation at all.
You can use it in low concentrations of AHA and BHA in your routine on alternate nights – Vitamin C one night and retinol the other. Or Vitamin C in the morning, followed by AHA, BHA, or retinol at night. If you have acne-prone skin, be cautious while using Vitamin C – it can cause breakouts.
Specifically, it's best to use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night. The reason for that has a lot to do with how each ingredient works. Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant and may have sun-protective properties, so using it in the morning can boost your ability to limit potential damage from UV radiation.
“It's definitely a good idea to use both of these ingredients in your regular skincare routine,” says Dr. Engelman. Just remember to choose formulas that are right for your skin type and skin concerns and to use your vitamin C in the morning (with SPF, of course) and your retinol in the evening before bed.
He recommends starting with no more than every other day for the first 2 weeks. If, after the first 2 weeks, you don't see any side effects, he says you may want to move up to “2 nights on, and 1 night off.” After a month or so with no side effects, you can likely use it every day if you want.
Use retinol once or twice a week at first to see how your skin reacts, and gradually work up to every other day or three times a week. Another key tip for using retinol is to incorporate it into your nighttime skincare routine only, as it makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
To acclimate your skin to the retinol, start using it twice a week (every three days) in the evenings. If you aren't experiencing any redness or flakiness the next day, you can bump it up to every other day—and then even every day if your skin can handle it.
While vitamin C is most notable for helping to brighten and improve hyperpigmentation, retinol is typically considered best-in-class for wrinkles and fine lines. And if you really want to give your skin a one-two punch to get noticeably healthier, you can certainly try incorporating both into your routine.
The truth: You can use vitamin C with retinol and retinoids. Get them as separate products so you can tailor the concentration of each and use them at the right time of day. Although vitamin C can be used day or night, it is ideal for daytime use, while retinol and retinoids should be applied at night.
Retinol stabilizes when combined with vitamin C, increasing its effectiveness. Vitamin C and Retinol form a protective barrier over the skin that fights skin damage and aging. This barrier does not mean you can layer the two, one on top of the other, because irritation and sensitivity may occur.
Get your skin used to it by applying vitamin C every alternate day before moving on to applying it every day. As for products like face wash, moisturiser and sunscreens containing vitamin C, it can be applied every day and multiple times throughout the day since it is completely safe with no harsh side effects.
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.
“If the dark circles are due to pigmentation, then you want to look for ingredients with brightening effects. Products containing vitamin C, hydroquinone, and kojic acid work best. Also, look for products with retinol in them because retinol can help a person even out pigmentation over time.
Introduce retinol into your eye care routine
Retinol supports the skin's natural renewal process, helping to improve the appearance of dark circles and puffy under eyes.
We know retinol works well in an acidic environment and that skin's pH is naturally acidic, so from what the research has shown us, there is no problem pairing vitamin C and retinol. In fact, research has shown that combining vitamins gives the best results.
However, since retinol makes you more sensitive to sunlight and vitamin C is best worn during the day, it's best to keep these two separate by applying vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night.
If you stop retinol and do not begin a prescription retinoid, the benefit of preventing acne will go away. The skin cycle of cells being “born” at the base of the skin and moving to the top, dying and desquamating into the surrounding environment takes about 4-6 weeks.
If you use too high a strength or apply retinol more frequently than you should, you may experience further irritation, like itchiness and scaly patches. Some people have noticed acne breakouts after using retinol, though this is a rare side effect.
Use Retinol Only at Night and Wear SPF Every Day
"Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays and sunlight decreases the efficacy of the product," explains Bowe, who instructs patients to only use retinoids at night and be diligent about applying a daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher during the day.
First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it. What is happening is a drying effect, and one can get epidermal sliding from separation from the dermis.
Retinol works for acne by preventing clogged pores. You may still see pimples for the first couple of months of treatment – your skin might even look worse (this is sometimes referred to as the retinol purge). But if you stick with it, you'll see clearer skin.
Answer: Yes, once a week is still going to be beneficial to the skin. Any effort you put towards the skin is going to beneficial. You may also want to consider a non-prescription retinol such as Avene Retrinal Cream 0.05.
Yes, you can safely put retinol creams on your neck. “Retinol can sometimes cause redness or irritation as a side effect, but it is worth the effort. Fortunately, there are beginner formulations that can get skin acclimated gradually,” Dr. Schlessinger says.
Believe it or not, Vitamin C Eye Cream or Retinol Eye Cream can also function as lip moisturizers. Not only can eye creams be used on the delicate skin around your eyes, but they are also ideal for other sensitive places, like your lips.