But overall, stick to using water-based products and serums together. 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.
Using multiple serums is a great way to customize your skincare routine to your specific needs. For example, if you find your skin is looking dull and dry, you can use a hyaluronic acid serum to hydrate the skin, and a vitamin C serum to brighten the skin (or a serum that contains both ingredients).
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.
However, since not all skincare products get along with one another, you might be wondering — can you mix niacinamide and vitamin C? The short answer is yes, you can use these two ingredients together and see some serious skin benefits!
The answer is a resounding YES! The combination of Vitamin C and Retinol in a skincare regimen can help you achieve glowing, healthy-looking skin, while improving the look of dark spots and uneven skin tone, as well as visibly improving signs of skin aging including fine lines, wrinkles and loss of firmness.
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.
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.
We recommend using two or a maximum of three serums at a time to help ensure you're getting the most out of all the ingredients. Anything more and you start to lower the chance that each serum & oil will properly penetrate.
“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.
Vitamin C (especially L-ascorbic acid) is notoriously unstable—it loses potency when it's exposed to air, light, and water—which is why you want to apply it on clean, dry skin right after washing. You'll also want to let it dry completely, as piling on products right after could potentially deactivate the vitamin C.
Hyaluronic acid
If you're willing to give the duo a go, follow up your Vitamin C serum with hyaluronic acid-infused moisturiser, like the Pond's Super Light Gel Oil Free Moisturiser With Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin E. It's got the goodness of Vitamin E AND hyaluronic acid and will give you total skin hydration.
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.
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.
Well, when it comes right down to it, the choice is really in what you're looking to do for your skin. While vitamin C is incredible for the skin because of its ability to help brighten and improve hyperpigmentation, the best active ingredient for wrinkles is retinol.
When it comes to deciding which serum goes first, Dr. Austin says the rule of thumb is to always start light. “Always layer by consistency. Lighter serums will be easily and quickly absorbed while the heavier hydration serums/oils seal in the ingredients and leave your skin soft,” explains Dr.
Similar to retinol, niacinamide should not be used with acidic skincare ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and even vitamin C. Ordinary niacinamide combined with an acid can cause a bad chemical reaction of redness and flushing.
If you're applying them together, you should apply Vitamin C first, followed by hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. Don't use it with AHAs, BHAs, and retinol at once. You can use it in low concentrations of AHA and BHA in your routine on alternate nights – Vitamin C one night and retinol the other.
Another recipe for major irritation is retinol mixed with alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic, lactic, and citric. "Both of these ingredients disrupt the skin barrier," Chan explains. If you double team your complexion with them, excessive dryness, redness, sensitivity, or a rash are very possible results.
If you are receiving radiation therapy, don't use hyaluronic acid on your skin. Hardening of skin and connective tissue (scleroderma): Applying hyaluronic acid to the skin might make skin ulcers worse in people who have a condition called scleroderma. If you have scleroderma, don't use hyaluronic acid on your skin.