Can You Use Retin A and Hyaluronic Acid Together?
Retinol and hyaluronic acid are undoubtably two of the most impressive skincare ingredients that deliver results and are backed with a lot of scientific research. It’s no wonder that so many of us would want to combine these powerhouse ingredients together, but the question is- Can you use retin A and hyaluronic acid together? That is exactly what we will be finding out more about in today’s blog post, but before we get stuck in, here is a brief recap on what hyaluronic acid and retin A do for the skin and the results you can expect to see.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in the body and is responsible for keeping your skin, joints and tissue hydrated and maintain their healthiest state.
When it comes to skincare formulations, the form of HA is derived from sugar cane and is blended into an array of products that give the skin a hydrated, plumped, and glowing looking complexion.
The way it works is by drawing moisture from the area surrounding the face and found in other skincare formulas and locking it into the skin. This ensures the protective skin barrier is strengthened and able to ward off any exposure to free radicals, such as pollution and UV rays that result in skin damage and other concerns.
You’ll find that hyaluronic acid can be used by all skin types, even those with dry skin that is prone to sensitivity. It is also one of the few ingredients that can be teamed with almost all other skincare ingredients, with the hydrating benefit it has for the skin it can counteract any irritation caused by more potent ingredients.
Find out more about hyaluronic acid over on our dedicated blog post about HA and its skincare benefits.
What is Retin A?
Retin-A also known as tretinoin is a potent form of vitamin A that is favoured by many to use to help combat signs of ageing as well as treat acne simultaneously.
Often mistaken as an exfoliant, Retin-A can increase the speed of the skin cell natural turnover cycle. This helps to rid the skin of any build-up of dead skin cells and reveals fresh, new skin underneath, leaving you with a glowing, vibrant complexion.
Signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles are combated whilst the loss of skin firmness is also combated with the help of Retin-A as it works in the lower layers of the skin and gives the collagen production a boost resulting in a firmer, younger face.
If you are wanting to know more about Retin-A and how it benefits the skin, there’s a dedicated blog post about it over on The Beauty Insiders.
Can you use retinol cream and hyaluronic acid together?
Yes, you absolutely can use hyaluronic acid and retinol cream together. Quite often you’ll find there are a variety of skincare products that come with both ingredients blended in a formula. This is considered the easiest way to incorporate both powerhouse ingredients and reap the rewards the quickest way possible. Having said that there is nothing stopping you from using hyaluronic acid and retinol separately, starting with retinol allowing it to absorb into the skin before applying hyaluronic acid as this will lock moisture into the surface and counteract the common drying side effects that occur when using any form of vitamin A in your daily routine.
What goes on first hyaluronic acid or Retin A?
This is very much dependant on the type of product each ingredient is formulated into. The basic skin rule is to apply your skincare products in the order of consistency, starting with the thinnest to thickest.
You’ll often find that hyaluronic acid is found in serums and moisturisers which are applied to the face during the later stages of your skincare routine. Retin-A for example, are often found in moisturisers and face creams. Once you have established which product would be applied first you will find that teaming both ingredients together will result in a brighter, glowing complexion with minimal skin irritation or side effects.
I would still suggest its best you perform a patch test for 24 hours before applying any ingredients or formulas to the face, this is the best way of avoiding unwanted irritation.
What is the difference between hyaluronic acid and Retin A?
Although they are as potent as each other, hyaluronic acid, and Retin-A work very differently on the skin. The easiest way to remember the difference is to think of hyaluronic acid as a large glass of water for the skin. The humectant traits found in the acid results in water being continuously drawn into the skin and locked into the surface. This is where you will find the protective skin barrier which when weakened can result in the skin becoming exposed to skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation from the sun, fine lines, and wrinkles from pollution and well as many other environmental aggressors causing long-term damage to the skin.
Can hyaluronic acid make wrinkles worse?
Not really, but you can have too much of a good thing, by this I mean applying a liberal amount of hyaluronic acid will cause water to be drawn up from the lower layers of the skin. This will have an all-over drying effect on the skin and over time will make fine lines and wrinkles appear more visible, often looking deeper than they are.
To counteract this, I would suggest stop using hyaluronic acid for a couple of day to allow the skin to rebalance. You should then reintroduce the acid and apply the correct amount onto the face which will help keep the skin hydrated, plumped, and healthy.
There you have a little more information about whether you can use Retin-A and hyaluronic acid together. Don’t forget if you had any more skincare questions, come and follow us on Instagram, you’ll find me over in the direct messages, looking forward to seeing you there!
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.
