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.
