What Not to Mix with Retinol?

Maybe you’re new to skin care or want to take your routine to the next level and introduce retinol into your skin care routine. The only question is, what exactly can retinol be used with? Or more importantly, what shouldn’t be mixed with retinol? Don’t worry, in today’s blog, I’m going to show you how to use this popular skin care ingredient and tell you what not to mix it with!

What Can Retinol Be Combined With?

I know, there seem to be a lot of dos and don’ts when it comes to retinol. Understandably, you want to use it effectively since it’s one of the most effective ingredients without having to worry about skin irritation or allergic reactions. The best ingredients to combine with retinol are peptides and hyaluronic acid. Here’s why:

Retinol and Peptides

When you use a peptide-rich product, you’re creating a powerful combination of ingredients that improve skin firmness and boost collagen production. Signs of premature aging like fine lines and wrinkles are significantly reduced, and you’ll get a radiant complexion thanks to retinol’s exfoliating properties. The advantage of combining peptides with powerful vitamin A is that there is a reduced risk of skin irritation, as they contain many emollients that keep the skin hydrated and moisturized. The best way to use these ingredients for the best results is to first apply a serum containing retinol, followed by a peptide-rich moisturizer. This is ideal for an evening routine, as exposure to UV rays renders the retinol ineffective and has no effect on the skin.

Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid

Similar to using peptides for their moisturizing benefits, hyaluronic acid is also great for moisturizing the surface of the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating ingredient, which means it can draw moisture from other product formulations around the facial area and on the skin. With this ability to bind moisture in the skin, you can avoid signs of dryness. A good way to ensure you get the benefits of both is to apply hyaluronic acid first, as this helps the retinol penetrate into the underlying layers without having to fight the barrier of dry skin or dead cells.

As you can probably tell from the previous suggestions, combining hydrating ingredients with retinol is the best way to fight dry or flaky skin patches, while using retinol in your daily skin application will reap the anti-aging and anti-blemish benefits.

Can Niacinamide and Retinol be mixed?

You can actually use Niacinamide and Retinol together. Like the ingredients I mentioned before, you’ll find that Niacinamide brings some impressive hydrating properties to the skin. The fact that you can mix the two ingredients in one product formula makes it easier and more convenient for the Retinol to work its magic while the Niacinamide keeps the skin happy. If you use the two ingredients in separate products, I recommend using the Niacinamide first and then the Retinol to protect the skin from the effects of the Retinol. If you want to know more about using Niacinamide and Retinol together, you can read our dedicated blog post to clarify all your questions.

Should Vitamin C be used before or after Retinol?

Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid using Vitamin C and Retinol together in the same product or with little time between applications. Personally, I think the glow you get from applying Vitamin C at night before bed shouldn’t be wasted, but rather applied in the morning for a brightened complexion. You can then use the Retinol in your evening skincare routine. Not only does this allow your skin to have enough time between applications, but the retinol can also work undisturbed while you get your beauty sleep.

If you want to use Vitamin C at night, apply it first and then wait about 10 minutes for it to absorb into the skin. This will balance the pH and prevent unnecessary skin irritation after using retinol. An important point I want to mention is that both ingredients increase the skin’s overall sensitivity to UV radiation. Therefore, unconditional use of an SPF every day is essential to protect the skin from harmful sun damage.

Which moisturizer should I use with retinol?

This really depends on your skin type. For those who often breakouts and acne, you will get the best results by combining a lightweight, gel-based moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and other non-comedogenic ingredients that won’t clog pores but still fight the dryness that comes with using retinol. For dry skin types, you can use a moisturizer that is thicker in consistency and contains nourishing plant oils and butters, such as shea butter, which dry skin loves.

When using retinol and moisturizer together, it’s good to keep in mind the best routine to follow when using these products. If you’re using retinol in serum form, you’ll need to apply it before your moisturizer, as its thinner consistency makes it difficult to penetrate the thicker formula of your moisturizer. If you’re using retinol in oil form, you can apply it before or after your moisturizer, depending on how you typically use your skincare.

How Often Should You Use Retinol?

Introducing retinol into your daily routine takes time, and it shouldn’t be rushed, no matter how excited you are about the effects on your skin. To avoid severe dryness or irritation of your skin, retinol should be used once or twice a week initially. Then, as your skin develops a tolerance to the potent retinoids, you can increase it to every other day or up to three times a week. If you use retinol at night, it works effectively even when there’s no UV radiation. Don’t forget we have a detailed blog post about retinol and how to incorporate it into your daily routine.So if you still have any questions about using it in your daily life, be sure to read it.

So I hope you now feel more confident about what you should and shouldn’t use with retinol. I know sometimes you can feel like a mad scientist mixing these ingredients and products together, but once you get the hang of it, your skin will see real dramatic improvements!

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.

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