In the morning, after applying your vitamin C serum, follow it with a layer of hydrating hyaluronic acid. In your nightly routine, apply hyaluronic acid serum before retinol, as it can increase its effectiveness while also helping to lock moisture in for maximum hydration.
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.
To layer vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums, always apply vitamin C first to cleansed, dry skin. Be sure to leave time for your vitamin C to sink in, then follow up with your hyaluronic acid.
USE EACH INGREDIENT AT SEPARATE TIMES OF THE DAY
The first option you have to combine vitamin C and retinol is to use them at separate times of the day. Specifically, it's best to use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night. The reason for that has a lot to do with how each ingredient works.
They are safe to layer or blend together, and the great thing about using retinol and hyaluronic acid together is that hyaluronic acid helps calm the skin down after retinol use. As mentioned above, retinol can often take some time to get used to — you might even see some peeling at first.
You can combine hyaluronic acid with Vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs, and retinol. AHAs, BHAs, and retinol have micro-exfoliating properties – a combination of either of these with hyaluronic acid works well since it's a hydrating agent and repairs 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. For those with dry or sensitive skin, Hirsch suggests using a hyaluronic acid serum prior to retinol.
Experts usually advise against using retinol and vitamin C together. This is because the different PH requirements of the two ingredients usually end up rendering each other ineffective. However, this only happens if you use retinol and vitamin C at the same time — not in the same routine.
The Final Takeaway
You can definitely use retinol and vitamin C in your skincare routine, but it's probably best not to use them at the same time if you want to avoid irritating your skin. Consider applying retinol in the evenings and vitamin C in the mornings.
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.
A. After applying vitamin C serum to your face, wait for it to be fully absorbed by your skin. It should take somewhere between one and two minutes to completely dry off. Then, go ahead and apply the hyaluronic acid serum.
“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.
Exfoliating AHAs such as glycolic and lactic acid are effective at treating uneven skin texture and tone, but they shouldn't be mixed with retinol. Both types of ingredients exfoliate the skin and, when used in tandem, can disrupt the skin barrier and trigger dryness, irritation, or even a rash.
Retinol should be applied at night, as it can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. So, as well as using an SPF of 30+ every day (in all weathers), it's a great idea to use a hyaluronic acid night cream that complements your evening retinol use.
After applying your retinol product, it's best to wait roughly 10 minutes before moving on to the next step in your routine.
A formula with retinol, like the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment, should be applied after your serums and before moisturizer because it has a lightweight texture. Apply it in small dots around your eyes.
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.
Retinol shouldn't be used with Vitamin C either, because they're both active ingredients. Retinol helps build collagen but it also creates skin cell turnover, so using it with an acid like Vitamin C can cause more irritation. Instead, use retinol at night and Vitamin C during the day.
Apply Vitamin C first because it is water-soluble and has a lower pH than retinol, allowing it to absorb fully into the skin for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, your skin will return to its natural pH level-this is vital so that the Vitamin C doesn't lower the pH of the retinol and lessen its effect.
For sensitive skin types, some experts even recommend the “sandwich method” when using retinol. First, apply a light layer of a humectant-filled moisturizer like Dew Point. Next, smooth on your retinol. Finally, apply a second, thicker layer of the same moisturizer to seal everything in.
“In the evening, cleanse, apply retinol, and then your hyaluronic acid moisturizer to lock in moisture.” If you opt for a hyaluronic acid serum rather than a moisturizer, you can apply it right before you moisturize.