Can Retinol and Hydroquinone be used together?
If you’ve been around for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about how retinol is one of the most powerful ingredients in skincare. Today, I want to introduce you to a lesser-known but extremely effective ingredient that some consider to be a heavyweight in the beauty industry: hydroquinone.
I know this may sound daunting, but hopefully after reading today’s content, you’ll be clearer and you’ll have the answer to your question of whether or not you can use retinol and hydroquinone together. But first, let’s take a quick look at the skincare benefits of using hydroquinone and retinol together in your skincare routine.
What is hydroquinone?
Hydroquinone is an effective skin lightener used to treat areas of hyperpigmentation on the surface of the skin. It is known to bleach the skin by blocking the production of melanocytes, the molecules that produce melanin, which is responsible for skin color.
It has had a rather controversial history, especially in the 1980s, when its safety was questioned, but now it is considered safe to use. You’ll find hydroquinone in a variety of prescription or over-the-counter products. While these formulas are generally well tolerated by many people, hydroquinone is known to increase dryness and irritation in dry or sensitive skin. Therefore, always consult your doctor before using hydroquinone. For those with darker skin tones, it is recommended not to use products containing this powerful ingredient unless a dermatologist advises that it can make hyperpigmentation worse.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a popular ingredient in skincare that is widely praised for its anti-aging benefits, fighting fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of skin elasticity. It can also help fade dark spots and areas of hyperpigmentation, and fight acne by clearing excess sebum and impurities from pores.
Finally, it can help brighten your complexion by increasing the rate of your skin’s natural cell turnover, leaving skin cells fresher and more vibrant. This also comes with an increased sensitivity to UV radiation, so it’s important to remember to apply SPF every day for extra sun protection. It is also recommended to use retinol at night, as the potent vitamin A is sensitive to sunlight. Any exposure to UV rays will render the retinol unusable and unable to work on the skin.
Can retinol and hydroquinone be used together?
Yes, you can, but be careful. Due to the high potency of these two ingredients, there is an increased risk of dry skin and irritation. If you continue to use both ingredients in your daily regimen, it is best to establish an effective routine that will give you the best results without any side effects. What I mean by this is that you should apply each ingredient separately and wait about 30 minutes between applications to allow the pH of your skin to return to balance. Another tip to ensure your skin stays at its healthiest and happiest is to use a moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid to replenish your skin with moisture after using hydroquinone and retinol.
What shouldn’t hydroquinone be used with?
Hydroquinone is known to not work well with benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and other peroxide formulas. Using these ingredients together can not only cause severe dryness of the skin, but also cause blotchy skin. This is only temporary and will only exacerbate skin irritation.
It is also considered best not to use any chemical or physical exfoliants when using hydroquinone. Ingredients such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and other alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), as well as popular BHAs such as salicylic acid, can cause severe skin irritation when used with hydroquinone. This irritation causes the skin to lose important sebum (the natural oil on the surface of the skin), which can stimulate the skin to overproduce sebum, leading to breakouts, spots, and acne.
Can hydroquinone be used with other products?
Yes, you can, but remember to avoid formulas containing the ingredients mentioned in the previous section. As for using hydroquinone in your skin care routine, you’ll find it to be completely safe and effective. Of course, make sure to leave plenty of time between uses and combine this powerhouse with ultra-moisturizing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
Always remember to follow the instructions on the packaging and consult your doctor if you have any questions to avoid adverse reactions.
Are retinol and hydroquinone the same?
Not really, but they offer similar skin benefits by fighting dark spots and hyperpigmentation. The main difference is that retinol speeds up skin cell turnover and removes the buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria, and impurities that often make pigmentation appear darker. Some forms of vitamin A are also rich in antioxidants, helping to protect the skin barrier from further damage caused by free radicals like UV rays and pollution.
The difference with hydroquinone is that it works on the lower layers of the skin by preventing the overproduction of melanin, which reaches the surface and darkens pigmentation.
Should I apply hydroquinone all over my face?
You actually can. When using hydroquinone, it is recommended to apply a thin layer all over the face. You can apply a larger amount of hydroquinone products to problem areas such as hyperpigmentation, dark spots, acne scars, and age spots. You should then apply an SPF sunscreen to prevent further sun damage and free radicals.
When using hydroquinone on a daily basis, keep in mind that you should only use it for short periods of time. After a maximum of 6 weeks, it is best to take a break from use for about 3 weeks. Check with your doctor to make sure it is beneficial for your skin, then continue using it as usual.
So here you can learn more about two powerful skincare ingredients that both deliver impressive results. If you have any questions, please visit my Procoal Instagram account. You can reach me via private message. I look forward to hearing from you!
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.