Can Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol be used together?
Hyaluronic acid and retinol have become so popular in recent years that I wouldn’t be surprised if you found at least one product in your daily routine that contains one of these powerful ingredients. These must-have ingredients deliver impressive and effective results for the skin, and combining the two will give you the best skin ever, but don’t just take my word for it. Let me go into a little more detail about these two ingredients and how to use hyaluronic acid and retinol together.
Can Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol be used together?
Of course, it’s totally OK to use hyaluronic acid and retinol together. In fact, using them together can form a powerful combination that benefits the skin. This is because the moisturizing benefits of hyaluronic acid can combat any signs of dryness and irritation that often occur when using retinol.
One of the most common side effects of retinol and other retinoids is peeling skin, patchy dryness, and itching. This happens to everyone who first introduces retinol into their daily routine. Fortunately, this is not a long-term side effect and will disappear once the skin develops a certain tolerance. Since retinol is so potent, using it with hyaluronic acid ensures that the skin stays hydrated and that the retinol works its magic on the skin faster.
When to use retinol and hyaluronic acid?
When it comes to using retinol and hyaluronic acid, there is only one time of the day when each ingredient can work to its full potential, and that is during your evening routine. This is because exposure to UV rays can reduce the effectiveness of retinol, rendering it completely useless when applied to the skin during your morning routine.
You can use hyaluronic acid twice a day to keep your skin and its protective barrier functioning properly. Since hyaluronic acid draws moisture into the outer layer of the skin and holds it there, it ensures that any active ingredients that are subsequently applied will absorb quickly and effectively into the underlying layers of the skin.
When first introducing retinol into your routine, it is best to start with a lower percentage in the formula. Over-the-counter products have the lowest levels of retinol in their formulas. If you want something with better results, it is best to try prescription or medical formulas, which should only be used after a dermatological consultation with a trained professional.
These formulas usually start at 0.5% and can contain up to 2% retinol, which means they need to be introduced into your daily routine properly. To do this, you need to use a retinol product once a week for the first week, then increase usage to twice a week and continue doing so until you reach three times a week. Avoid using too much retinol too quickly as this can lead to skin irritation, blistering, flaking and a very uncomfortable skin feeling. If you want to learn more about retinol and its many skin benefits, read our dedicated blog post on what is retinol and its skin care benefits.
What not to mix with retinol?
As I mentioned before, retinol is a highly effective ingredient in skin care. Of course, this means that it delivers impressive results, but can be fickle when combined with other ingredients. Here are some things to avoid when using retinol.
Do not mix with retinol: Vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids.
Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and other skin care properties that form a protective layer on the skin. This ensures that any exposure to free radical damage from pollution and other environmental aggressors will not degrade or damage the skin. This makes Vitamin C a perfect partner for Retinol when you alternate between each ingredient.
Both Benzoyl Peroxide and Retinol are highly effective and potent skin ingredients that fight blemishes and acne. But this also means that using both active ingredients at the same time is completely pointless as they will counteract each other. Alternate between these ingredients at night throughout your skincare regimen.
AHA/BHA acids chemically exfoliate the skin and using them with Retinol can cause the skin to become dry and cause irritation, leading to increased discomfort.
Which is better, Retinol or Hyaluronic Acid?
Both Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid are powerful ingredients. It is impossible to determine which is better because the benefits you get from using it are so impressive. The beauty of Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid is that you can use both in your daily routine. Retinol speeds up the skin’s natural cycle and reveals a fresh layer of skin underneath, while Hyaluronic Acid protects the skin from irritation and over-drying. To really benefit from them, you should use both in your daily routine. You can apply hyaluronic acid to your skin twice a day.
Should you apply retinol or hyaluronic acid first?
In your skin care routine, there is a well-known rule that you should follow from thinnest to thickest consistency when applying products. This will determine the order in which you apply hyaluronic acid and retinol. However, in general, hyaluronic acid is often found in formulas with a more gel-like consistency and tends to be thicker than retinol formulas. In addition to the thickness of the product, applying hyaluronic acid before retinol is also thought to treat the skin like a wet sponge. This allows the retinol to absorb quickly into the underlying layers with minimal irritation.
I hope this has answered some of your questions about hyaluronic acid and retinol and their uses together. If you want to learn more about how to apply them in layers, check out our blog post. If you are interested in skin care specifically, follow us on Instagram.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
