“Hyaluronic acid plays well with most ingredients, while caution must be taken when using retinol in combination with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, and some types of vitamin C.” Linkner echoes the tip about avoiding vitamin C.
Yes, you can use Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide every day, adding them up to your day and night routine.
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.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Together? Not all powerful skincare ingredients can be mixed, but hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are two that become even stronger when paired with one another. These ingredients can provide both immediate and lasting results when used together in anti-aging formulations.
The beauty of glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid is the fact you can use both together! Quite often you'll find when there is a build-up of dead skin cells the complexion can begin to look dull, dry, and lacklustre with fine lines and wrinkles appearing to look worse than they are.
Can I Combine AHA/BHA With Hyaluronic Acid? Yes! In fact, this is an ideal combination. Hyaluronic acid doesn't function like an AHA or BHA in that it does not strip your skin — it's actually highly nourishing and hydrating, so having “acid” in the name is a bit misleading.
Absolutely, hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid are perfectly safe to use together. This is because, although they are both carry the name acid, they do in fact work very differently on the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a highly effective skin ingredient because of the humectant properties it contains.
Can I use salicylic acid, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid together? You can indeed! The main benefit of using niacinamide and hyaluronic acid together is their ability to provide hydration and protection for the skin.
With the fact hyaluronic acid isn't oil soluble it is unable to penetrate any oil meaning it can't reach the area of the skin that it needs to treat. To prevent the hyaluronic acid from simply sitting on top of the oil its best to apply hyaluronic acid serum first followed by layering facial oils and moisturisers.
Can I use niacinamide with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C? The short answer is yes, it is known that you can use all three of these ingredients together safely and effectively. How you use them is up to you, you can team niacinamide with hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.
Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid
“AHA, BHA, retinol, and benzoyl peroxide can be mixed with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and rosehip oil to get effective results — just ensure you are not using retinol as well as AHA or BHA's during the day," says Graf.
These “can cause an increase in skin cell turnover which can lead to purging—a breakout of spots in areas where you would normally get acne. However, hyaluronic acid does not increase skin cell turnover; it's purely a hydrating skincare ingredient.” In short, hyaluronic acid isn't to blame for any breakouts.
Working in that order is essential. Exfoliate with glycolic acid first, rinse off your face with water, then apply hyaluronic acid to your still-damp complexion. As Dr Michel explains, “It's super important to moisturize after applying glycolic acid to help retain moisture and not over-strip your skin.”
When using them together it is best to apply hyaluronic acid first as it will attract the most water to the skin, following that with niacinamide will help regulate the sebum production and keeping the skin hydrated with your pores becoming significantly less noticeable to the naked eye.
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.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid & Retinol Together? It's perfectly safe and okay to use hyaluronic acid and retinol together. Using skin care products that contain these ingredients together shouldn't cause any interactions or side effects. Hyaluronic acid and retinol are one of the most popular skin care combinations.
Controlling excess sebum production, then, can help prevent pore blockage and zits. Research from 2017 suggests hyaluronic acid doesn't just help lock in moisture. It can also help control sebum production, which makes it a potentially useful ingredient for acne prevention.
Will Hyaluronic Acid help get rid of dark spots? "Unfortunately, Hyaluronic Acid does not prevent or brighten hyperpigmentation spots on the skin," says Hannah. "HA focuses more on hydrating and adding water/moisture to your skin. This helps plump, firm and smooth your skin.
Hyaluronic acid serum tightens skin and minimizes pores so they shrink and become invisible over time. Smaller pores mean fewer clogs and breakouts.
Salicylic acid is ideally applied to dry skin while hyaluronic acid is ideally applied to damp skin and followed with a heavier moisturizer/occlusive to lock in moisture. Damp skin is more permeable which means that skincare ingredients find it easier to penetrate your skin's barrier.
Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide
These water-based treatments are a great pair and are made for all skin types — especially babes with dry, acne-prone skin. You'll find niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, in my Rewind Retinol Serum. Use hyaluronic acid first, followed by my retinol for the best results.
Many experts suggest you apply hyaluronic acid after using these potent powerhouse ingredients to help counteract their drying effects and reduce any chances of irritation on the skin.
If you're layering products, start with hyaluronic acid to a freshly cleansed and slightly damp face. Let your skin deeply absorb that serum or gel to ensure it locks in the moisture and works its hydrating and plumping powers on your epidermis. Follow up with niacinamide toward the end of your routine.
If you decide to layer, it's recommended to start with hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin cells, and then top it up with niacinamide to protect the skin's surface and prevent moisture loss.