Hyaluronic acid is best if they're looking to moisturize dry skin, while retinol works better by encouraging better skin by boosting collagen production. They have several benefits that can work in tandem for better results, though patients need to be careful with the exact formulations they use.
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.
"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."
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.
Also known as retinoic acid, tretinoin is about 20 times more potent than retinol. It's stronger because retinoic acid is a form of vitamin A that acts directly on the skin to boost cell renewal, turnover, and DNA damage repair.
Not as well-known as Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, commonly abbreviated as “PGA,” is believed to have 4x greater moisture retaining benefits than HA. If you have dull, dry, or dehydrated skin, you should consider incorporating Polyglutamic Acid Serum into your skincare recipe.
The fantastic anti-aging weapon
Glycolic acid is the most popular alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) used in skin care. It comes from sugar cane, and is the smallest AHA, so it's the most effective at getting into the skin. Glycolic acid is a fantastic anti-aging agent that seems to do it all.
There's a reason it's ubiquitous: Not only does hyaluronic acid do a killer job when it comes to moisturizing the skin, but it minimizes signs of aging, since plump, hydrated skin makes fine lines and wrinkles less visible.
Because retinoids help your skin make more collagen, they soften wrinkles and fine lines. They also stimulate new blood vessels, which can give your skin a rosy color. Retinoids also help fade age spots and smooth rough patches. Tretinoin (Retin-A) is a popular prescription choice for aging skin.
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.
Using Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol Together
Use a gentle retinol product! It should be applied at nighttime, before bed. Use the hyaluronic acid product in the morning. If used together, wait at least 30 minutes before applying your retinol product after hyaluronic acid.
Regardless of your skin type or which product you use first, a layer of moisturizer should always be applied after retinoids.
Don't start Retin-A.
Since mature skin is naturally dry anyway, most women over 70 who have never used it before will need to avoid the Retin A.
The good news is that it is never too late to start incorporating retinol into your skin care routine. People in the 60s and beyond have begun using retinol and still experienced results.
Is hyaluronic acid good for older skin? Yes, hyaluronic acid is good for older skin, which naturally becomes drier with age. But most skin types will benefit from hyaluronic acid's moisture-boosting properties, which is why this ingredient is included in a wide range of skincare.
Hyaluronic acid is safe and effective for just about all skin types, and it has special benefits for mature skin.
Treatment Options for Aging Skin
For early signs of aging, treatments that use retinoids, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids may be enough. Chemical peels, dermabrasion, microneedling,ultrasound energy devices, or laser resurfacing may be an option for moderate to severe facial sun damage.
Retinoids. This term is used for vitamin A compounds, such as retinol and retinoic acid. These ingredients have long been used topically to help repair sun-damaged skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Is it possible to reverse aging? You cannot wholly reverse aging—it's a normal part of life. However, you may be able to slow it down and help prevent age-related diseases by adopting a healthy lifestyle. That includes habits like eating a healthy diet, wearing sunscreen every day, and exercising (Shanbhag, 2019).
Anti-aging
Hyaluronic acid can significantly decrease the depth of wrinkles and enhance skin firmness and elasticity.
The most common adverse effects associated with hyaluronic acid filler are pain, bruising, redness, itching, and swelling. These side effects are self-limited and typically last no more than seven days.
HA can actually make your skin DRIER. Why? Because compared to the environment around you, your skin contains more moisture. So, instead of sucking moisture from the air into your skin, HA pulls moisture from your skin into the air.
"Hyaluronic acid is safe and beneficial to use everyday for maintaining skin hydration," says Dr. Russak. You just need to make sure you're applying it correctly. As a rule, you want to apply your hyaluronic acid product to clean, damp skin, and the lock it in with a moisturizer and face oil.
Skinbetter's AlphaRet Overnight Cream is by far the most recommended wrinkle cream, with the stamp of approval from Hartman, Greenfield, Shirazi, and Marino. In short, experts love it because it works well while being gentle on skin.