Can I Combine Granactive Retinoid with Lactic Acid?

When it comes to skincare, certain ingredients are crucial for maintaining healthy skin. Chemical exfoliants like lactic acid and retinol are undoubtedly two of the most effective actives, known for delivering visible results. With such a vast range of ingredients and formulas available, it can often feel overwhelming to figure out how to layer them correctly. Additionally, it’s important to know which products are compatible and which ones should be avoided altogether.

This post will explore this topic further, focusing primarily on the popular skincare powerhouses—lactic acid and granactive retinoid. Let’s start by examining the benefits each ingredient offers for the skin.

What is Granactive Retinoid?

Granactive retinoid, also referred to as hydroxypinacolone retinoate, is a form of vitamin A and one of the most extensively studied retinoid compounds. Compared to other retinoid derivatives, granactive retinoid is celebrated for offering a wealth of skin benefits with minimal side effects, such as redness, irritation, and peeling, which are often associated with traditional retinol.

Skincare Benefits of Granactive Retinoid

Granactive retinoid stimulates skin cell turnover, leading to a brighter and healthier complexion.

It helps to thicken the skin, enhancing its ability to protect itself from harmful sun exposure.

Granactive retinoid speeds up the skin’s natural exfoliation process, which reduces fine lines and wrinkles while preventing new ones from forming.

It penetrates deeply into the skin, clearing clogged pores of excess sebum, dirt, and bacteria, which can lead to blackheads and breakouts.

Granactive retinoid helps to even out skin tone, making the skin look more radiant while visibly improving signs of hyperpigmentation.

By boosting collagen and elastin production, it promotes firmer, plumper, and smoother skin.

For more in-depth information about other retinoid types, check out our detailed blog posts on Skin School.

What is Lactic Acid?

Lactic acid is widely regarded as one of the gentlest chemical exfoliants within the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) family. Derived from fermented milk and other dairy products, it offers similar benefits to stronger acids, like glycolic acid, but with a much lower risk of skin irritation. Here are some key benefits of lactic acid for the skin:

Skincare Benefits of Lactic Acid

Lactic acid helps slough off the buildup of dead skin cells, which can contribute to breakouts, blemishes, and congestion.

It improves skin texture, making it firmer and thicker over time.

Lactic acid visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles, leaving the skin looking smoother.

It acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin and helping to lock it in, which supports a healthy lipid barrier.

Available in various concentrations, from 5% to over 12%, lactic acid allows for customizable results.

Due to its larger molecular size, lactic acid doesn’t penetrate too deeply, which helps avoid unwanted irritation.

Suitable for all skin types, lactic acid provides effective results without causing redness, dryness, or irritation.

For more details on lactic acid, be sure to read our dedicated blog post.

Can I Use Retinol and Lactic Acid Together?

Yes, you absolutely can—but there are some important tips to ensure you get the full benefits of both ingredients without experiencing adverse effects.

The most effective way to use both lactic acid and retinol is by applying them at different times of the day.

Use lactic acid in your morning routine to remove any residue or buildup of skincare products. It will also help prepare your skin for the next steps of your routine, allowing other formulas to absorb more efficiently.

Apply retinol in the evening, allowing it to work uninterrupted by external factors like pollution and UV rays while you sleep.

It’s crucial to use retinol in the evening because sunlight can deactivate retinoids, rendering them ineffective. Additionally, retinol can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so daily sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is essential to protect your skin.

As your skin builds tolerance to both ingredients, you’ll notice significant improvements in your complexion and overall skin health. However, if your skin is sensitive to the application, consider using these products on alternate days. If you’re new to either ingredient, or if you have concerns, it’s always a good idea to consult a dermatologist or skincare professional to ensure you’re using the right products for your skin’s needs.

Can You Use AHA with Granactive Retinoid?

Yes, it’s possible to use AHA and granactive retinoid together, but you need to be mindful of how you apply them to maximize their benefits. While granactive retinoid is known for being gentle on the skin, it’s still not ideal to layer it directly with acids. This is mainly because the more acidic pH of AHA products can disrupt the skin’s natural acidic environment, potentially causing irritation, redness, dryness, or discomfort.

To avoid this, the most effective method is to apply AHA in the morning and granactive retinoid in the evening. Alternatively, you can use both in the evening, giving your skin enough time to rebalance before continuing with the rest of your skincare routine.

With patience and proper application, you’ll be able to enjoy impressive results. If you have any more questions about layering skincare ingredients or other skin-related concerns, follow us on Instagram for additional tips and advice.

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.

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