Should Hyaluronic Acid be Used Before or After Vitamin C?
By now you all know how Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C are equally valued by skincare experts. Both have a wide range of skin benefits that work on different layers of the skin to improve skin tone and overall appearance. As amazing as these ingredients are, the biggest hurdle is how we can use these skincare heroes to achieve your skin goals.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at whether Hyaluronic Acid should be used before or after Vitamin C.
Can Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C be used together?
These ingredients work successfully together and are actually considered a highly effective skin duo. Hyaluronic Acid balances and hydrates the skin, allowing the outer surface of the skin to function fully with the proper hydration level. This is important for maintaining the overall health and appearance of the skin and enabling it to resist free radical damage from pollution, UV radiation, and other environmental skin stressors. Hyaluronic Acid moisturizes the skin, acting like a wet sponge, making it more absorbent and allowing other ingredients to penetrate deeper into the underlying layers. This also helps Vitamin C reach the dermis layer of the skin to more effectively treat the skin and reduce dark spots and pigmentation. For more information on using hyaluronic acid and vitamin C together, see our dedicated blog post.
Which is better, vitamin C or hyaluronic acid serum?
Both ingredients offer a range of skin benefits targeting different issues, making hyaluronic acid and vitamin C an effective complement to each other in your daily skincare routine.
Vitamin C
The main benefit of vitamin C is its ability to minimize skin damage caused by UV radiation. It achieves this because it contains a high amount of antioxidants and boosts the body’s natural collagen production, resulting in plumper, more youthful skin.
Hyaluronic acid
This acid acts as a humectant, which means that water around the skin or contained in other product formulas is absorbed into the skin and retained there. This is how hyaluronic acid can continue to work throughout the day, keeping the skin in its healthiest state. Not only does this help the other ingredients work better, but it also fights free radical damage more effectively.
If you are considering which of these ingredients is better, I can honestly say that using both is your best option as it will result in an effective daily skincare routine that will achieve the best results.
How to use retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together?
If you incorporate vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid into your daily regimen, there are some important points you should keep in mind to avoid unwanted skin irritation or reactions.
Retinol
This powerful vitamin A is considered one of the most potent ingredients in skincare and must be used correctly as it can dry out and cause your skin to peel. This is a common side effect when you first introduce retinol into your routine, but don’t worry as it’s short-lived. You’ll find that retinol speeds up the skin cell renewal process, making your skin look younger and significantly reducing the signs of fine lines, wrinkles, spots, or breakouts.
When it comes to using retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C together to prevent skin irritation, I recommend incorporating these products into your daily routine as follows:
Morning Skin Care Routine
Vitamin C
Hyaluronic Acid
Not only does using vitamin C in your morning routine ensure a bright start to the day, but the ingredient’s high antioxidant content ensures that your skin is protected from free radical damage. While protecting your skin, it also works tirelessly to reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. You can also boost your skin’s hydration by using hyaluronic acid, which moisturizes the skin and improves its functionality.
Evening Skincare Routine
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Remember to follow the skin care rules when using retinol. You can also use it during your evening routine. This is because retinol loses its effectiveness when exposed to UV rays, rendering it useless and unable to produce results on the skin. By combining it with a serum containing hyaluronic acid, you can combat further skin dryness and see results faster.
What is the order of application of hyaluronic acid?
This really depends on you and your skincare products. I mentioned the rules of application for daily skin care in a previous blog post. Generally speaking, it is best to apply according to the consistency of the product. Try to apply the products in order from thinnest to thickest. This determines at which stage you apply hyaluronic acid. Of course, remember that hyaluronic acid works its magic no matter when you use it, giving you a hydrated, healthy complexion.
Can I use hyaluronic acid every day?
You actually can. In fact, you can use it twice a day because it is gentle yet effective in moisturizing the skin. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body and is one of those skincare ingredients that all skin types can use without worrying about unwanted skin irritation or reactions.
So you can learn more about hyaluronic acid and whether you should use it before or after vitamin C here. Visit us on Instagram for more expert skincare tips, exclusive codes, giveaways and product launches.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
