Can I use glycolic acid in the morning and retinol at night?
As the years go by, it often feels like skin care routines become more complicated. There are many products that contain a ton of active ingredients, some of which you may know and others that you may find difficult to pronounce, let alone have heard of.
The good news is that if you have a better understanding of how these ingredients work together, you will be safer when using them. So don’t panic, because by the end of today’s blog post, you will have a better understanding of how to use glycolic acid in the morning and retinol at night. Are you ready? Let’s get started and learn more.
Can I use glycolic acid in the morning and retinol at night?
Of course, using glycolic acid in the morning and retinol at night is considered the most effective way to utilize these active ingredients in your daily skin care routine.
You’ll find glycolic acid most commonly in face washes, exfoliating tonics, and serums. With such a wide variety, you’ll undoubtedly find a product that fits into your daily routine and delivers results. You’ll also find that you can use glycolic acid twice a day, especially if you have oily skin that often breaks out in rashes. However, be careful when using retinol in your evening skin care routine, as this combination can be too drying for the skin.
The reason retinol can only be used at night is that the ingredient is light-sensitive, and any exposure to UV rays will cause it to lose its effectiveness and no longer work at its best. You’ll also find retinol mixed into formulas like moisturizers and serums, which leave them on the skin longer than a face wash that rinses off. Using retinol at night can prevent the disruption of daily free radical damage while you sleep, resulting in a brighter, more radiant, and more youthful complexion.
Can glycolic acid and retinol be used on the same night?
Yes and no. The reason is that you need to remember to leave enough time between applications to allow the pH of your skin to rebalance. If you want to use glycolic acid and retinol on the same night, the best way to get the most out of both while avoiding irritation is to use the most appropriate products. Here’s an example of a nighttime routine for using glycolic acid and retinol together.
Remove makeup with makeup remover or micellar water
Cleanse skin to remove any remaining makeup and impurities
Soak a cotton pad with an exfoliating toner rich in glycolic acid
While skin is still damp, apply a serum containing hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture
Apply another serum containing retinol over this serum
Finally, apply a moisturizer rich in nourishing ingredients like vitamin E to keep the skin barrier soft and hydrated.
Following this or a similar routine will give you enough time for the glycolic acid to slough off dead skin cells and for the pH of your skin to rebalance before applying a retinol product.
Should I use glycolic acid in the morning or at night?
You can use glycolic acid morning and night. To do this, simply do a 24-hour patch test to make sure your skin is happy with the formula. If glycolic acid is a new ingredient in your skincare routine, I recommend introducing it with a product that won’t sit on your skin, such as a cleansing or exfoliating toner. This allows the AHA’s benefits to be on the surface of the skin without causing too much irritation.
What Retinol Should and Shouldn’t Do?
Retinol is one of the most complex and misunderstood ingredients in skincare. It’s often shrouded in mystery, causing many people to use it incorrectly or avoid it altogether. Here are some tips on what to look out for when using retinol in your skincare routine.
What you should do
Use only at night
Start slowly and use only once a week
Take time to build up your skin’s tolerance
Increase use to 2-3 times a week
Once your skin has adjusted to the effects, you can increase the intensity
What you shouldn’t do
Don’t use high ratios until your skin has built up tolerance
Don’t use it with other active ingredients like salicylic or glycolic acid
Don’t forget to apply SPF in the morning
Discontinue use if you experience severe dryness, itching, and redness
This is a quick overview of how to use retinol, but if you want to learn more about this potent powerhouse, check out our blog post on retinol and its skincare benefits.
Can you use retinol in the morning?
No, you definitely can’t use retinol in your morning routine. This is because exposure to UV rays can render retinol completely ineffective, jeopardizing the potency and effectiveness of the ingredient. You may find that applying retinol in the morning is just a waste of effort. But over time, the skin’s protective barrier weakens and becomes more vulnerable to free radical damage, such as from: B. Pollution, central heating and other environmental sources of pollution.
Can BHA be mixed with retinol?
No, absolutely not, it is best to avoid mixing BHA with retinol altogether. Salicylic acid is the most commonly used BHA in various skincare formulas and is often favored by people with oily and acne-prone skin. One of the main benefits of salicylic acid is that it is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deep into the lower layers of the skin and unclog the pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria and other impurities. Therefore, you should not use retinol after using salicylic acid-rich products because it can cause dryness, increased sensitivity, redness and rashes.
I hope this answers some of your questions about glycolic acid and retinol. If you have any questions, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram. You can find me via private message!
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.
