Can You Use Vitamin C With Retinol?
Vitamin C and retinol are probably two of the most potent and tricky skincare ingredients to use in your everyday skincare routine. With vitamin C often becoming oxidised, especially when it isn’t stored correctly once opened, and retinol causing its usual side effects of dryness and flaky patches. I wouldn’t blame you for having doubts about teaming these ingredients together, but that is exactly the aim of today’s blog post as I hope to answer whether you can use vitamin C with retinol.
Can you use retinol and vitamin C together?
Yes, it is considered OK to use retinol and vitamin C in your routine, there are three ways to combine retinol and vitamin C.
Take a look below and decide for yourself which would be the most effective way of using them. I would also suggest if you had any further concerns to seek the help from a medical professional or dermatologist.
Use vitamin C in the morning and retinol in the evening
You can really gain optimal results when you apply each ingredient during different parts of the day. Vitamin C for example is best used in the morning, leaving retinol or any form of retinoids for the evening.
By using vitamin C in the morning, you are setting your skin up for the day with a protective coat. This enables the skin to shield itself from any exposure from the sun’s harmful UV rays which leads to the surface of the face developing hyperpigmentation and dark spots. There is also the risk of skin ageing caused by other free radicals, such as pollution, harsh weather, and central heating. All of which are combatted by the antioxidant’s properties packed into vitamin C product formulations.
Following this with retinol in your evening routine will ensure you are targeting any concerns with skin ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles. You will also find that thanks to the fact that retinol increases the speed of the skin cell cycle results in your complexion looking healthy and glowing.
Wait 30 minutes between applying vitamin C and retinol
This is a technique that you should follow once you are fully confident with how your skin would react to using each ingredient together. Allowing 30 minutes to ensure the vitamin C serum is fully absorbed into the skin will result in pH levels of the face becoming balanced again. Once the 30 minutes has passed you will be able to apply your chosen form of retinol, by using each ingredient in this staggered method you will reap the rewards without overloading the skin. Just ensure you keep a close eye on how your skin looks and feels, if there is any signs of severe irritation or dryness switch to a different method of applying each ingredient.
Alternate between retinol and vitamin C
If you’re finding using retinol and vitamin C together is becoming too much for the skin, you can try alternating applying each ingredient on different nights throughout the week. This will ensure you’ll benefit without the worry of pH levels becoming imbalanced or increased skin irritation.
Whichever method you decide to use make sure you have introduced both vitamin C and retinol into your skincare routine the correct way. If you are a little unsure of how to use vitamin C or even add retinol into your routine check out our blog post about the skincare benefits of retinol- why is retinol good for skin?
Do you put vitamin C on before or after retinol?
It is thought that the best way of applying vitamin C is before retinol. This is because each ingredient has different pH levels and need enough time in between applications to allow the skin to regulate its natural pH back to return to normal.
As I have already mentioned you can also apply vitamin C in your morning routine and retinol in the evening. Whichever way you decide always remember to keep a watchful eye on how your skin is reacting. Should you see any signs of changes or irritation stop using all products containing each ingredient and seek the advice of your doctor.
When should you not use retinol?
Retinol is one of the most effective and potent skincare ingredients. This not only makes it a great addition to anyone’s skincare routine who are wanting to combat signs of ageing, acne flare-ups and a lack lustre complexion. What you will also find is that it can be quite tricky to use retinol if you have a dry skin type or a skin that is prone to sensitivity and other skin conditions such as rosacea and eczema.
Ensure you build your skin’s tolerance to topical retinol products and always apply a daily SPF of 30 and above to keep the UV damage at bay.
How often should I use retinol?
Introducing retinol into your evening routine requires some time and dedication, especially if your formula contains a high or medical grade percentage of retinoid.
To start with, apply retinol once a week for the first couple of weeks. You can expect to find there are some signs of flaky patches, flushing and itchiness to the skin, this is a common side effect of using retinol and will subside after a few weeks. You can then increase the number of times you apply retinol to twice a week, until you can apply it every other day.
As tempting as it may feel to ignore all the retinoid rules and apply your product whenever you want, the side effects will be so severe you’ll suffer from a lot of discomfort, irritation, and redness. If you wanted to know more about how to use retinol and finding the best strength for you and your skin, check out our dedicated blog post about which strength retinol you need. Can you use vitamin C at night? Yes, you can, but it isn’t the best way of reaping the benefits from using vitamin C. Our skin is our largest and one of the most intelligent organs, as mentioned already, it can change and requires a helping hand during different parts of the day. During your morning routine your skin will need help protecting itself from exposure to free radicals. This is when the antioxidants in vitamin C can step in and combat any damage from pollution, UV rays, central heating, and other environmental aggressors. Once the evening arrives the skin switches and needs assistance with repairing any existing damage or new damage caused from the day. If you find you have further questions about using vitamin C and retinol together, come and follow us over on our Instagram, we look forward to seeing you there!
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
