Can Vitamin C be used with Retinol?
Vitamin C and Retinol are probably two of the most powerful and difficult skin care ingredients to use in your daily skin care routine. Vitamin C often oxidizes, especially if it is not stored properly after opening, while Retinol can cause common side effects such as dryness and flaky patches. I don’t blame you if you have questions about the combination of these ingredients, but that is the goal of today’s blog post, as I hope to answer the question of whether or not it is okay to use Vitamin C with Retinol.
Can Retinol and Vitamin C be used together?
Yes, it is okay to use Retinol and Vitamin C in your daily life. There are three ways to combine Retinol and Vitamin C.
Take a look below and decide for yourself which is the most effective way to use it. I also recommend that you seek help from a doctor or dermatologist if you have any further concerns.
Use Vitamin C in the morning and Retinol in the evening.
You will get the best results if you use each ingredient at different times of the day. For example, Vitamin C is best used in the morning, while Retinol or other retinoids should be used in the evening.
By applying Vitamin C in the morning, you provide your skin with a protective layer for the day. This allows the skin to protect itself from the sun’s harmful UV rays, which can cause hyperpigmentation and dark spots on the facial surface. Other free radicals also present a risk of contributing to skin aging, such as: B. pollution, bad weather, and central heating. All of these factors can be combated by the antioxidant properties of Vitamin C product formulas.
If you use retinol in your evening routine, you can specifically combat all skin aging issues, such as fine lines and wrinkles. You’ll also notice that your complexion looks healthy and radiant, as retinol speeds up the skin’s cell cycle.
Leave 30 minutes between using Vitamin C and Retinol
You should use this technique when you’re sure how your skin reacts to using each ingredient at the same time. Wait 30 minutes to ensure that the Vitamin C serum is fully absorbed into the skin, rebalancing the pH of the face. Once the 30 minutes are up, you can apply the form of retinol you’ve chosen. By using each ingredient in this staggered approach, you benefit without burdening your skin. Just pay close attention to how your skin looks and feels. If you experience signs of severe irritation or dryness, switch to a different method of using each ingredient.
Alternating Retinol and Vitamin C
If you find that using both retinol and vitamin C at the same time is too much for your skin, you can try alternating the use of each ingredient on different nights of the week. This way, you can be confident that you are getting the benefits without having to worry about an imbalanced pH or increased skin irritation.
Whichever method you choose, make sure you have properly incorporated both vitamin C and retinol into your skincare routine. If you are unsure how to use vitamin C, or even how to incorporate retinol into your daily routine, check out our blog post on the benefits of retinol for skin care – Why is retinol good for skin?
Should vitamin C be used before or after retinol?
Vitamin C is considered best used before retinol. This is because each ingredient has a different pH level, and enough time needs to pass between uses for the skin to adjust its natural pH and return to normal.
As mentioned before, you can also apply vitamin C in the morning and retinol in the evening. Whichever method you choose, always remember to keep a close eye on your skin’s reaction. If you notice any changes or signs of irritation, stop using all products containing the corresponding ingredient and seek the advice of a doctor.
When should you not use retinol?
Retinol is one of the most potent ingredients in skincare. Not only does this make it a great addition to the skincare routine for anyone looking to combat signs of aging, acne breakouts, and dull complexion. You’ll also find that using retinol can be difficult if you have a dry skin type or sensitive skin prone to skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, etc.
Encourage your skin to build up a tolerance to topical retinol products and always apply SPF 30 or higher daily to protect against UV damage.
How often should I use retinol?
Introducing retinol into your nightly routine takes some time and dedication, especially if your formula contains high or medicinal levels of retinoids.
Apply retinol once a week for the first few weeks. You may experience signs of flaky patches on your skin, redness, and itching. This is a common side effect of using retinol and will subside after a few weeks. You can then increase the frequency of using retinol to twice a week until you can use it every other day.
Although it may be tempting to ignore all the retinoid rules and use your products whenever you want, the side effects can be so severe that you can experience a lot of discomfort, irritation and redness. If you want to learn more about how to use retinol and find the best strength for you and your skin, check out our dedicated blog post on which strength of retinol you need.
Can I use Vitamin C at night?
Yes, you can, but it’s not the best way to get the benefits of Vitamin C. Our skin is one of our largest and smartest organs. As mentioned before, she may change at different times of the day and need help. During your morning routine, your skin needs help protecting itself from free radicals. The antioxidants in Vitamin C can then intervene and fight the damage caused by pollution, UV rays, central heating and other environmental aggressors.When night comes, your skin changes and needs help repairing existing or new damage from the day.
If you have any more questions about using Vitamin C and Retinol together, follow us on Instagram, we’d love to see 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.
