Don't Mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids. AHA and BHA acids are exfoliating, which can dry out the skin and cause further irritation if your skincare routine already includes retinol.
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.
Board certified dermatologist Zenovia Gabriel, MD, notes that “people with sensitive skin conditions like rosacea cannot tolerate really strong topicals like retinols.” Also avoid retinol if you're going to be spending a lot of time in direct sunlight without proper sun protection.
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.
Can hyaluronic acid and retinol be used together? Unlike many other skin care ingredients out there, hyaluronic acid and retinol can be used in the same skincare routine. Not only that, but using them together can help to lessen the severity of the side effects that often come with retinol usage.
Hyaluronic acid should be layered before retinol in case of dry or sensitive skin, as it helps create a barrier between retinol and your skin, offsetting irritation. Must-mention: let your hyaluronic acid serum dry before following with retinol as, if applied to damp skin, there's a higher risk of redness and dryness.
There's no problem with using both retinol and vitamin C as part of your skincare routine, dermatologists say. In fact, Shirazi calls this combo a "power couple" when it comes to aging well.
Owing to its potency, retinol products can make the skin more sensitive to the sun. Hence, always apply it at night. “In the morning, make sure you follow up your skincare routine with a face wash, vitamin C serum, under eye cream, moisturiser and then a sunscreen,” advises Dr.
First-time retinol users have reported irritation, including redness, dryness, and peeling. 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.
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.
Regardless of your skin type or which product you use first, a layer of moisturizer should always be applied after retinoids.
Retinol (leave to absorb for 10-20 minutes)
Retinol is also an ingredient that should be left to absorb sufficiently into the skin before following up with another product. “It is important to leave a 10-20 minute wait time before applying the next product.
So if you start using retinol every day out of the gate, you can end up with some painful inflammation and a damaged skin barrier, negating any potential positives. One way to avoid that irritation is to start slow, explains Ranella Hirsch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boston.
Start Slow
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.
If you used products with potent actives such as retinols or strong acids on your skin overnight, we recommend that you cleanse your face in the morning as a precaution.
If you're determined to use vitamin C and retinol together in the same routine, you'll need to make sure to put enough time between them. It's also essential to apply your vitamin C first because it has the lower pH of the two ingredients.
To reap the benefits of retinol and vitamin C without irritating or inflaming your skin, try using retinol one night and vitamin C the next. Over time, you'll start to notice radiant, firm skin from this nightly routine.
In general, vitamin C is best used in the morning and retinol is best used at night. In the morning, apply your vitamin C serum to clean, dry skin and follow with a face moisturizer for your skin type and sunscreen with SPF 30 or more. If you're using a face moisturizer with vitamin C, then just SPF on top is fine.
Should I use Hyaluronic Acid before or after Retinol? You should use hyaluronic acid after retinol. And to maximise the benefits, you should use retinol first and then wait at least 30 minutes before applying hyaluronic acid.
"If you have dry, irritated skin that is lacking in moisture, choosing a product with hyaluronic acid would be my recommendation," Hartman says. "Anyone with acne-prone skin, or someone who is looking to even out tone and fine lines and wrinkles would benefit from using retinol."
Retinoid + Hydrators like (Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin)
A combination of retinoids and humectants such as niacinamide, panthenol, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid can help slow down TEWLs during application of retinoid. Hyaluronic Acid is an excellent ingredient to alleviate some of these concerns.
A Dermatologist-Recommended Moisturizer To Use With Retinol Cream. According to Dr. King, the best moisturizer to pair with a retinol is CeraVe's Moisturizing Cream.