Can I use hyaluronic acid with retinol and vitamin C?
While you can use hyaluronic acid with retinol and vitamin C, without a real understanding of how to use these powerful substances together, you can often experience issues such as skin irritation, redness, and itching.
With that in mind, I plan to do more research and answer some of the questions we’ve received recently about using hyaluronic acid with retinol and vitamin C. So stay here and hope everything will become clearer.
How do Retinol, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid work together?
When using all three of these skinned heroes in your day-to-day life, it’s important to remember the best order to apply them for rewards. To avoid unwanted reactions, I recommend using vitamin C in your morning routine. This
enables powerful antioxidants to protect the skin’s surface from free radical damage and leave the complexion radiant.
You can then use retinol in your evening routine, as this will prevent your exposure to UV rays and render any form of retinoid useless. You can use hyaluronic acid twice a day. In fact, using hyaluronic acid with vitamin C and
retinol can reduce the risk of skin irritation, redness, and redness, which are common side effects of using vitamin C and retinol.
When you layer these ingredients in this way, you’ll notice that your skin benefits from faster results, and you’ll also know you’re using each ingredient correctly. If you are unsure how to use these ingredients, it is best to
consult your doctor.
Which came first, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C or retinol?
As I mentioned, apply vitamin C in the morning, retinol at night, and hyaluronic acid twice to get the most out of your routine. But you need to consider the consistency of the product consistency, the correct order of skin care
is from thin to thick. Vitamin C is usually formulated in a serum, which is more water-based and lighter in texture, hyaluronic acid in a thicker gel, and finally retinol in a serum, oil, or cream.
Should I use hyaluronic acid before or after retinol?
When using hyaluronic acid and retinol, it is believed that the best application is to start with hyaluronic acid, as it regulates the water level on the outer surface of the skin’s natural barrier.
When this barrier is working properly, you’ll find that it fights free radical damage from exposure to factors like pollution, central heating, UV rays, and other environmental aggressors. You’ll also find that the skin acts
like a wet sponge, meaning it absorbs other active ingredients quickly and efficiently, allowing you to see impressive results in less time.
Since the hydrating action of hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin and locks it in place, you’ll also find that the drying and itchy effects of retinol are less severe, keeping skin hydrated throughout.
Can vitamin C and retinol be used together? It’s generally agreed that taking vitamin C and retinol together isn’t the best idea. This is because both ingredients can have a drying effect on the skin, and overuse can lead to
severely dry, itchy, and flaky skin.
To get the most out of these two powerful skin heroes, it’s best to alternate the time they’re on your face: vitamin C in the morning and retinol in the evening. The benefit of using vitamin C in the morning is to make your skin
glow. Using it in your evening routine can be quite a waste.
An important step to remember in your daily life is to make sure you use products with SPF 30+ every day, even on cloudy days. That’s because retinol and vitamin C increase skin’s photosensitivity, making it more susceptible to
UV damage, such as hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
Can I mix hyaluronic acid with retinol?
Yes! A blend of hyaluronic acid and retinol is the perfect combination for skin. The anti-aging and collagen-boosting properties of retinol, which fight the signs of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin, do so more effectively
with the help of hyaluronic acid.
The skin’s ability to retain moisture keeps skin plump, hydrated and full of youthful elasticity. Not only does this combat the dryness that powerful retinols can cause, it also ensures that your skin doesn’t become dehydrated,
dry, and uncomfortable.
Should the retinol be used before or after the serum?
A lot depends on the consistency of the product you’re mixing the retinol into. As I mentioned before, the order of application of skin care products is from thin to thick. I mean face washes, cleansers, toners, serums,
moisturizers, oils, and sunscreens for day use.
Retinol is a potent ingredient that’s notoriously moody and difficult to mix with various skincare ingredients. Therefore, you can only use different types of serums. Formulas with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid
or niacinamide are two effective moisturizers.
Should hyaluronic acid be used before or after moisturizer?
Applying the Hyaluronic Acid Serum to the skin first will hydrate the skin, which will also cause the HA to absorb moisture from around the face and from other skin care products.
When hyaluronic acid is used with a moisturizer, it creates a protective physical barrier on the outer surface of the skin, allowing any products underneath the moisturizer to do their job without interference. You’ll also find
hyaluronic acid in moisturizer formulas to attract moisture.
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.
