It's important to always start with clean, dry skin to make the most out of using retinol. Retinol penetrates the skin better and is more effective when applied after gently cleansing the skin with a mild face wash and toning it but before any moisturizer, since it acts as a treatment.
Daytime Routine
Here at Medik8, our skin aging philosophy is simple: vitamin C plus sunscreen by day, vitamin A by night. These two ingredients work synergistically to promote optimal skin health. In the evening, vitamin A helps to improve the visible signs of aging.
Any serum should be applied before you use a moisturiser. Typically a Vitamin C serum is water based so it gets absorbed quickly into your skin. Applying a moisturiser will create a barrier on your skin and the serum will be hard to absorb into your skin.
STEP 4: WAIT UNTIL YOUR SKIN IS DRY
It's essential to make sure to wait until your skin is dehydrated before moving on to applying your retinol. If you use it on wet or even damp skin, there is a greater likelihood that you'll experience irritation.
You should always apply a high-quality moisturizer after using retinol to reduce the risk of irritation and dryness. To reduce the amount of irritation, start with a small amount of retinol once or twice a week. Gradually increase the frequency to help your skin become accustomed to using retinol serum.
Since oils are generally heavier and denser, they are best applied after lighter, water-based products like moisturizers. This order ensures that each product is absorbed properly and can perform its intended function without being blocked or inhibited by heavier formulations.
It's important to always start with clean, dry skin to make the most out of using retinol. Retinol penetrates the skin better and is more effective when applied after gently cleansing the skin with a mild face wash and toning it but before any moisturizer, since it acts as a treatment.
Retinoids don't combine well with AHAs, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or vitamin C due to potential stability issues and skin sensitivities, and soap-based cleansers can also reduce vitamin C's skin benefits.
Serum and Moisturizer: 1 minute
Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.
You'll want to apply your vitamin C serum to clean, dry skin. “As far as active ingredients go, vitamin C is quite unstable, and it's easily affected by outside elements such as air, light and moisture,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger.
The DV for vitamin A is 900 mcg RAE for adults and children age 4 years and older [11], where 1 mcg RAE = 1 mcg retinol, 2 mcg beta-carotene from supplements, 12 mcg beta-carotene from foods, 24 mcg alpha-carotene, or 24 mcg beta-cryptoxanthin.
Dermatologists recommend you apply vitamin C serum before you apply moisturiser and sunscreen. The steps for application are [2]: Use a gentle cleanser to remove any makeup or free radicals from your skin. Apply a few drops of vitamin C serum to your face and neck, and gently rub it in.
SkinCeuticals' Triple Lipid Restore is our top pick because it absorbs well and promises deep hydration while providing skin a youthful glow. Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream is a close second because it can moisturize and plump skin intensely. Aging is a beautiful thing, but change isn't always easy.
Our top pick for the best night cream is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream, as it's great for all skin types and provides long-lasting hydration. Another fantastic option is La Roche-Posay's Double Repair Moisturizer, which leaves the skin feeling nourished, soft, and supple—all for under $25.
It's best to apply face serum first, as it can penetrate the skin more deeply and deliver active ingredients. Wait a minute or so after applying the serum to let it absorb before applying moisturizer on top.
HA provides hydration, which can counteract the potential drying effects of retinoids. Since Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a water-based serum, it would be applied first and then after, you would apply retinoids, such as Retinol 1% in Squalane, as it's an anhydrous formulation.
Don't combine retinol with alpha or beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, vitamin C, and other retinols or retinoids. Don't skip sunscreen Retinols are usually used as part of nighttime skincare routines, but even when they're applied at night, they can lead to lingering sun sensitivity.
Can Vitamin A Products Be Used During the Day? It's best to use vitamin A products during the night, as vitamin A makes you more prone to sun sensitivities and photodamage.
You should always apply retinol at night, after cleansing, and before your nighttime moisturizer. Five minutes is enough to wait for your retinol to sink in before applying moisturizer; you want to layer them, not mix them.
Layer From Lightest To Heaviest Formulas
As a general rule of thumb, apply your products in this order: cleanser, toner/essence, treatment/mask, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, oil, SPF. Sunscreen always goes last, and the only thing that you should layer over sunscreen is powder, concealer, or foundation.”