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.
Yes, you can! In fact, you can mix retinol with Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Ceramide Night Treatment, which is good for hydration, and SPF, which is even more important to use since Retinol can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Don't use retinol with other active ingredients
Retinol doesn't mix well with certain ingredients. Like retinol, AHA and BHA are also exfoliating, so using these ingredients together can be very drying and cause further irritation to the skin. Benzoyl peroxide, meanwhile, cancels the effects of retinol.
While you're better off not mixing retinol with AHAs and BHAs (like glycolic and salicylic acid), retinol and hyaluronic acid are a perfect match. Combining these two actives can mean less fine lines and dry skin — which is a win-win, #letsbefrank.
Don't mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide (BPO) or alpha and beta hydroxy acids, otherwise known as AHAs and BHAs (glycolic acid and salicylic acid). Layering these products one after the other could cause irritation.
Retinol and vitamin C
The combination can help even out the texture and tone of your skin. Both products can cause skin irritation, so you'll want to add one at a time over a period of a couple of weeks. It's best to use a product with Vitamin C in the morning and keep the retinol for nighttime.
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.
Retinol and hyaluronic acid are two popular skincare treatments people use for fine lines, wrinkles, and sensitive skin. Both are powerful agents that offer a range of benefits, so you may be wondering, “Can I use hyaluronic acid with retinol?” The short answer is yes, you can.
It's perfectly safe and very effective to incorporate both retinol and vitamin C into your skincare routine, as long as you use them at different times of the day.
You can combine niacinamide with all other serums and creams. You can use it with retinol, Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, BHAs, or AHAs. Niacinamide and retinol work well together.
Regardless of your skin type or which product you use first, a layer of moisturizer should always be applied after retinoids.
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.
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.
First, vitamin C works to help improve the look of dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. Then, retinol steps in to help improve skin's elasticity.
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.
Vitamin C is water-soluble, while retinol is oil-soluble. Because oil and water can't mix, using them together without making certain concessions can lead to clashes where neither ingredient can dissolve into the skin.
Peredo suggests applying a moisturizer or hyaluronic acid in gel form around 30 minutes after applying retinol so that the treatment can dry and soak into the skin before moisturizing.
According to Dr. Ellen Marmur, founder of MMSkincare, “if you are looking for a hydration boost and anti-inflammatory, then hyaluronic acid is the right choice. If you are looking to combat wrinkles and aging, then retinol is the better choice.”
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.
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.
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.
The best product you can use in conjunction with retinol, according to Dr. Zeichner, is a moisturizer, which can help hydrate skin and reduce the risk of irritation from retinol. “Some people even prefer to mix their retinol with a moisturizing cream to dilute it out,” he says.
1. At night we might be using night creams that contain actives such as retinol which are not recommended to be used in the morning so it is essential to wash your face in the morning to remove those residual creams/serum.
Apply moisturizer first, then apply retinol Moisturizer or serum then apply the mixture to the skin at the same time. The above methods will help reduce the permeability/concentration of retinol (reduce the penetration of active ingredients) and make the skin softer.