
Can I use Vitamin E with Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E are highly effective skincare ingredients that offer a variety of benefits. When it comes to combining ingredients together, people often think that some ingredients are a recipe for disaster, while others complement each other. Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E fall into the latter category. So, with that in mind, let’s explore how to combine vitamin E with hyaluronic acid.
Before we dive in, though, let’s briefly review these two powerful ingredients and their effects on the skin.
What are the benefits of hyaluronic acid for skin?
Known for its unique ability to bind water and retain moisture in the skin.
Hyaluronic acid molecules can bind up to 1,000 times their own weight in water.
Ensures that the skin’s natural protective barrier is fully functional and can fight free radicals or other environmental influences.
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin looking smoother and plumper.
Removes signs of fatigue by boosting hydration, leaving skin looking fresh and energized.
Helps tighten the skin, making pores less noticeable.
Makes sure the skin is well hydrated and able to absorb any skincare products applied to the lower skin area.
Leaves skin feeling softer and smoother, making makeup last longer and easier to apply.
What are the benefits of vitamin E for skin?
It is rich in antioxidants, which fight any signs of free radicals and other environmental aggressors.
Helps reduce UV damage such as dark spots, pigmentation and uneven skin tone.
Provides nutrients to the surface of the skin, keeping it plump and healthy.
Highly hydrating, helps combat severely dry areas of the skin, from the elbows to the cuticles.
Absorbs quickly into the skin, keeping it hydrated and able to absorb any other skincare products applied to the face.
Can be taken as a supplement or through a topical skincare product such as a cream or serum.
Reduces the appearance of scars and wounds and prevents the formation of new ones.
Can vitamin E be used with hyaluronic acid?
It is actually possible, and the two skincare ingredients can work together with little to no side effects. The hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid keep the skin barrier plump and hydrated, while vitamin E nourishes the skin, keeping it moisturized, balanced, and at its healthiest.
How you choose to layer them depends on the product formula, as it is always considered best to apply products from thinnest to thickest consistency. Start with cleanser, toner, serum, face oil, and moisturizer. This is a basic skincare rule when incorporating layered products into your routine. This ensures that the products are properly absorbed into the skin without having to compete with the physical barrier created by thicker skincare products.
What does hyaluronic acid work best with?
The beauty of hyaluronic acid is that it works impressively both on its own and in combination with other potent skin ingredients. It is one of the few skincare ingredients that works well with other formulas and ingredients, like lactic acid, niacinamide, retinol, and vitamin C. As with all skincare ingredients, I recommend doing a 24-hour patch test before applying the product to your entire face to prevent any unwanted irritation or allergic reactions.
To get the most out of hyaluronic acid, the molecules in different formulas are of different sizes, which means they can reach the lower layers of the skin. With hyaluronic acid’s hydrating properties, it will constantly draw moisture from the lower layers of the skin and bring it to the surface. This will keep the complexion plump and hydrated, but you may notice that the skin feels “thirstier,” especially if you’ve applied hyaluronic acid on dry skin. Therefore, I recommend making sure the skin is still slightly damp, as hyaluronic acid can lock in every gram of moisture and prevent it from being lost.
Can hyaluronic acid be mixed with vitamins C and E? Yes, you can certainly use hyaluronic acid with vitamins C and E. Incorporating all three into your daily routine will help you reap the benefits of these powerful forces. With this combination, you’ll get a radiant complexion while fighting signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. With the antioxidant properties of vitamins C and E, any signs of discoloration, such as dark spots or acne scars, will be significantly reduced. The skin barrier is also strengthened to protect itself from free radicals such as UV rays, pollution, and harsh climates. The best way to combine hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E is to start your day with a serum rich in vitamin C, followed by hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture. Use a hyaluronic acid serum at night, followed by a vitamin E moisturizer to nourish and repair your skin while you get some well-deserved beauty sleep. Should I use hyaluronic acid before or after retinol? It’s best to use hyaluronic acid after retinol to counteract the drying effects of retinol. Allow about 30 minutes between applications to allow each product to fully absorb into the skin. Ideally, you should use a retinol-rich serum and then a moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid. Not only does this lock moisture into the skin, but the physical barrier created by the moisturizer also provides an extra layer of protection from the elements, free radicals and other aggressive environmental influences. If you’d like to learn more about how to layer hyaluronic acid and retinol, check out our dedicated blog post. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more information about skincare experts, new products and exclusive discount codes.
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.