Can peptides and retinol be applied?
It’s easy to think of skincare as a simple task if you don’t know exactly what it is. If you’re new to all things beauty, the idea of layering skincare can be pretty intimidating, especially when they have unusual names like
peptides and retinol.
But don’t panic, things are going to make more sense after today’s blog post, so let’s dive into how to layer peptides and retinol.
Before we get started, a quick summary of the skincare benefits of peptides and retinol and what you can expect.
What Are the Benefits of Peptides for Skin Care?
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Helps strengthen the skin barrier. Provides skin anti-inflammatory properties. Helps Skin Feel Firmer and Look Firmer. Boosts Collagen Production
Repair skin barrier damage. What Are the Benefits of Retinol for Skin Care? Fights signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. Brightens for a radiant complexion
Regulates oily skin types. Reduces the frequency of breakouts and acne. Lightens dark spots and hyperpigmentation Can peptides and retinol be used together? Yes, it is indeed possible. Due to the high potency of these two
ingredients, using peptides and retinol together requires some careful time and consideration.
Many skin experts believe that while peptides are very effective on the skin, they tend to penetrate too deep into the underlying layers. This helps many people with oily or combination skin, but dry or sensitive skin can cause
skin irritation and severe dryness.
If you’re not sure whether to use peptides and retinol together, you can use each ingredient interchangeably. Ideally, you should use retinol as part of your evening routine, as UV exposure renders potent vitamin A useless and
ineffective, rendering it ineffective.
If you want to learn more about using peptides and retinol together, read our dedicated blog post. What belongs to the first peptide or retinol? If you opt for layered peptides and retinol, the first application of retinol will
give you the best results.
This allows your skin to benefit from the many benefits of retinol, as well as the nourishment of the peptides. This counteracts excessive dehydration of the skin and keeps the protective barrier fully functional.
When using the two ingredients alone, it’s best to use the peptides in the morning and the retinol in the evening. This is not only because retinol needs to be applied overnight, but also because our skin has a daily circadian
rhythm, which means its needs change every 24 hours in the morning and evening.
In the morning, your skin needs help protecting itself from UV rays, pollution, and other free radicals, and at night, you need help repairing existing damage.
Can I use peptides in the morning and retinol in the evening?
By using peptides in the morning and retinol in the evening, you can absolutely ensure your skin is getting the best from these powerful substances.
Even if you’ve developed a tolerance to the benefits of retinol, you can still unintentionally irritate your skin. By using peptides in the morning, you nourish your skin while ensuring that the peptides boost collagen
production. You can then repair the damage caused by your daily exposure to free radicals.
If I may add, retinol increases skin sensitivity to light. So make sure to apply SPF 30+ every day, even on cloudy and rainy days.
Are Peptides Good for Wrinkles?
Yes, peptides are very effective for reducing wrinkles. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that form the building blocks of collagen and elastin in the lower layers of the skin.
Are Peptides Good for Wrinkles?
Yes, peptides are very effective for reducing wrinkles. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that form the building blocks of collagen and elastin in the lower layers of the skin.
When applied topically to the skin in serums or moisturizing formulas, peptides act as messengers, stimulating collagen connections to produce more collagen. As a result, skin looks and feels firmer, retaining its youthful
elasticity and healthy-looking complexion.
What can peptides bind to?
While peptides are generally considered very effective and well tolerated with other skin ingredients, it is best to avoid using vitamin C with peptides.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that does a variety of things: from reducing hyperpigmentation and dark spots to fighting fine lines and wrinkles. The problem with mixing peptides is that they cancel each other out, making
them useless for the skin and often causing irritation and dryness in some cases.
Can serums be applied over retinol?
Yes and no, because the consistency of retinol-rich products plays a big part. As a general skin rule, skincare products are best applied from the thinnest layer to the thickest.
Since serums typically have a light, watery or gel-like consistency, they absorb quickly into the skin, allowing you to layer heavier moisturizers and oils on top. When it comes to retinol formulations, you’ll find them in
serums, oils, and moisturizers you use as the final step of your routine. If you want to hear my opinion, I recommend two serums, one with retinol and the other with hyaluronic acid. This ensures you avoid severe skin dryness
or irritation and still benefit from the skin renewal properties of retinol.
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.
