Can I use hyaluronic acid with retinoids?
The good news is that the combination of hyaluronic acid and retinoids is a skincare match made in heaven. Although retinoids (another more potent form of retinol) are considered a rather difficult ingredient to use in skincare, they work well with hyaluronic acid. You’ll often find that the drying effects that occur when you first use retinol in your skincare routine are balanced and alleviated due to the hydrating effects of hyaluronic acid.
If you need a quick reminder of the skincare benefits that can come from using hyaluronic acid and retinol, you can check out our Skin School, which contains a collection of information on all of the most commonly used and popular skincare ingredients. Now let’s get started to learn more about whether or not you can use hyaluronic acid and retinoids.
Which came first, hyaluronic acid or retinol?
For the best results, people often consider using hyaluronic acid after retinol. This is due to the hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid, which ensures that moisture around the face is absorbed from the atmosphere and trapped on the outer surface. This is also what happens when hyaluronic acid is applied to the skin. Making sure your skin’s protective barrier remains hydrated, plump, and moisturized not only protects against potential damage from free radicals like pollution and UV rays, but also prevents the drying effects of retinoids.
How to layer hyaluronic acid and retinol
Cleanse your skin from all traces of makeup and impurities.
Apply a retinol-rich product to clean skin.
Wait about 30 minutes between applications to ensure the retinol is fully absorbed into the skin.
Then apply a serum or moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid to your skin to lock in moisture on the surface of the skin.
When morning arrives, end your morning routine with an SPF 30 or higher.
If you want to learn more about the hyaluronic acid and retinol combination, you can read a dedicated blog post about it.
Is it OK to layer retinol and hyaluronic acid?
Absolutely! It is completely safe to layer retinol and hyaluronic acid. The combination of these ingredients is one of the most popular skin combinations because hyaluronic acid is very effective in helping to combat the side effects that occur when using retinol.
While these side effects are sure to happen to anyone using retinol and don’t usually last long, when you combine it with a clever moisturizer like hyaluronic acid, you’ll notice less irritation with dry, flaky and red patches.
What not to take with hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is undoubtedly one of the most versatile ingredients in skincare and can be combined with some of the most potent ingredients like retinol, benzoyl peroxide, certain forms of vitamin C and beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid. All of these ingredients have impressive skin benefits, from even skin tone to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to improving complexion by improving skin firmness.
While incorporating hyaluronic acid into your daily skincare routine is both effective and simple, it’s still important to consult with your GP, dermatologist or medical professional to ensure you’re getting the benefits and avoiding unnecessary skin irritation.
What not to mix with retinol?
There are a number of powerful ingredients that should be avoided when mixing ingredients with retinol. These are vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide and acids like glycolic and salicylic acid.
You will find that mixing these ingredients will cause them to cancel each other out and become too harsh on the skin. You will often find that using retinol with these ingredients will cause important oils needed for the surface barrier to be removed. This can cause the skin to become irritated, dry and uncomfortable, weakening the skin’s protective barrier and leaving it vulnerable to potential skin damage.
If you would like to learn more about retinol, how it benefits the skin and what not to mix with it, read our dedicated blog post.
Can Hyaluronic Acid be used daily?
Yes you certainly can, in fact you can use hyaluronic acid twice a day in your skincare routine. Ideally, you should apply hyaluronic acid-rich products to clean, slightly damp skin so that the hydrating properties of the ingredient lock in extra moisture. You can then apply a moisturizer or facial oil as this will not only form a protective layer on the skin, but will also help the hyaluronic acid keep your complexion plump, hydrated and youthful throughout the day.
Can I use retinol every night?
This is not the case as retinol is an ingredient that works until the skin develops a tolerance. You’ll find that skincare formulas range from 0.25% to over 2% retinol if it’s medical or prescription standards. There’s nothing wrong with using retinol during the day, but exposure to UV rays can actually cause it to lose its effectiveness. That’s why nearly every skincare expert recommends using retinol only in your evening routine so that this powerful ingredient can work undisturbed while you get your beauty sleep.
All skincare ingredients work differently and have different effects on the skin. The best way to ensure you’re getting results is to do a 24-hour patch test before applying the product to your entire face. This will help you avoid redness, skin irritation, and flaking.
Here’s more information on using hyaluronic acid and retinol together. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram if you have any skincare questions.
