Can peptides and retinol go together?
Yes, there are some skincare ingredients that go well with strawberries and cream, but others are down to taste and require a little more consideration when using. Now the question is, can peptides and retinol go together? Is this the skincare combo you’ve been missing from your routine? Or will you end up with irritation? Let’s find out more together!
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that has a reputation as a highly effective skincare ingredient with a variety of skincare benefits. It increases the rate at which skin cells renew themselves, which means your complexion will look brighter and more youthful. You’ll also find it capable of fighting breakouts, whether they’re frequent pimples or occasional blemishes. Not to mention, the increase in cell turnover can also significantly improve all signs of hyperpigmentation and dark spots, giving you an overall even skin tone.
What are peptides?
Peptides are amino acids that form short chains in the lower layers of the skin. These ingredients are known for their bilingual nature and for communicating with cells. This basically means they can tell skin cells to increase collagen production. This strengthens the skin barrier and protects itself from damage caused by free radicals. Skin also appears plumper, smoother, and more youthful.
Can retinol and peptides be mixed?
Yes, you can! In fact, you’ll find that the combination of these ingredients brings an overall improvement. To get the most out of these two powerful ingredients, it’s best to use them both in your evening routine. This is because retinol is a photosensitive ingredient that becomes inoperable when exposed to UV rays. You’ll also find that peptides have antioxidant properties that effectively strengthen the skin barrier and fight signs of free radicals, such as pollution, UVA and UVB rays, and other environmental aggressors.
There’s nothing wrong with using these skincare products together. However, if you prefer to use both separately, start with peptides in your morning routine and follow up with retinol in the evening.
Which came first, peptides or retinol?
When using these powerful ingredients, it’s best to start with retinol. This allows the potent active ingredients of retinol to work, accelerating cell turnover and revealing brighter, healthier-looking skin. However, this also comes with the risk of irritation, dryness, and redness, which can be easily mitigated if you use a nourishing peptide-rich moisturizer.
However, for many skin types, using peptides and retinol together can be very beneficial. However, if you are prone to dryness and sensitivity, you should slowly introduce both ingredients into your routine. As with all ingredients in skincare, I also recommend consulting a doctor or dermatologist so you can be sure you are using the best options for your skin’s needs.
What Not to Use with Peptides?
There are very few skincare ingredients that can’t be used with peptides. To be most effective in your routine after introducing peptides, you should opt for formulas like serums and moisturizers, as they allow the peptides to stay on your face longer. You can also alternate with other ingredients you want to combine, such as vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, retinol, AHAs, and more.
Peptides work on the skin by penetrating the outer layer of the skin and easily reaching deeper areas of the skin. This makes it a convenient ingredient to incorporate into your daily routine and combine with other high-performance product formulas.
Which is Better, Peptides or Retinol?
Since each of these ingredients offers unique skin benefits when working on different areas of the skin, there is no reason not to use them together. In fact, they work perfectly together to improve the overall look and feel of the skin. As I mentioned before, if your skin type isn’t overly sensitive or prone to severe dryness, you will benefit from this potent skin combo.
If you want to learn more about peptides and retinol, as well as find out which one is better for you to incorporate into your daily routine, check out our dedicated blog post.
When should I use peptides?
The best way to incorporate peptides into your daily routine is to apply a serum to freshly cleansed skin before applying your moisturizer. Choosing a serum with active peptides ensures that your skin benefits without the potential side effects of dryness and irritation. If you apply your moisturizer afterwards, remember to be mindful of the active levels of irritating ingredients that may be present and irritate your skin. Skin irritation.
What are the benefits of peptides?
There are several reasons why peptides are beneficial for your skin. Here are some of the key benefits you can expect when using peptides in your daily routine.
Improves Skin Barrier
The protective skin barrier plays an important role in maintaining the health of your skin. As long as it contains the right amount of water and oil, it protects itself from harmful free radicals. These are caused by everyday aggressors like environmental pollution, cigarette smoke, UV rays, bacteria, and other pollutants. All of this can weaken the skin barrier, leading to signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and dark spots with uneven skin tone.
Reduce Signs of Aging
With their ability to communicate with cells, peptides can tell skin cells to boost collagen production in the underlying layers of the skin. With collagen and elastin, the skin is supported by peptides (the building blocks of protein) for a firmer, younger, and smoother complexion.
Antioxidant Benefits
Peptides are rich in antioxidants that soothe inflammation, even out skin tone, and repair damaged skin while protecting it from further damage.
These are the answers to some of the questions we recently received about whether peptides and retinol can be used together. If you have any more questions, 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.
