Introduction:
Retinol is one of the gold standard ingredients when it comes to anti-ageing. It is a member of the retinoids class of chemicals which are derivatives of vitamin A. Retinol speeds the process of cell turnover and increases the production of collagen. This helps your skin with glowy and line-free skin. Though it possesses some irritating side effects due to its exfoliation which happens on the outside layer of the skin.
Key points:
- Skincare ingredients like Retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid are a treasure for the skin. But on the flip side if they all are combined for a skin routine. They either end up inactivating one another or lead to some kind of skin irritation.
- It’s important to understand about mixing skincare ingredients with correct knowledge. So that you do it effectively. Here is our guide when it comes to using retinol with other ingredients.
While certain ingredients can enhance the benefits of retinol. But there are certain specific pairings which lead to irritation so to help you get started with the retinol. So we highly recommend you integrate a small amount of retinol initially in your skincare routine. Then you can slowly build a tolerance for it. We have asked some dermatologists who have curated this guide what ingredients you can use with retinol to work better. So let’s get started.
Can I Use retinol with hyaluronic acid?
One of the common side effects users face with retinol is peeling, redness and dryness. But if you combine hyaluronic acid with retinol it provides satisfying results. Because hyaluronic acid is an A-list ingredient which acts as a fantastic moisturizer. So using retinol with hyaluronic acid provides your skin with soothing and hydrating properties.
Use it with SPF:
Make sure your money is worth spending on retinol because it also increases the skin’s sensitivity to the sun. You also can mix retinol with moisturizing ingredients like SPF. Because it’s a worthwhile investment for your skin. Since retinol works by replacing old, dead skin cells with new ones. And this skin is also prone to sun damage that’s why it’s important to use SPF daily which not only protects from Sun’s UV rays. But also protects your skin from skin cancer and irritation and acts as a second line of defence for your skin.
Mix with Peptides:
The best time to apply retinol is during nighttime since sunlight can inactivate them making it effective. The best way to use peptide-based cream with retinol is during nighttime. Where the peptide cream helps to improve the penetration of the skin along with the collagen-building effects of the retinoid.
Peptide cream contains hydrating ingredients with plenty of emollients which counters the side effects of retinol when using them.
Choose to increase the antioxidant effect:
Though incorporating retinol and vitamin C at the same time would cancel each other out. Because just how retinol is crucial for the skin, in the same way, vitamin C also plays a vital role in the skin regime. Because vitamin C is one of the best antioxidant ingredients which helps in collagen-boosting and brightening effects.
Whereas retinol rebuilds the skin and is recommended to use overnight. As both of these ingredients work best at different times of the day. So you can use the vitamin-C serum in the morning routine and retinol in your night routine.
AHAs or BHAs and retinol acids:
It is a common misconception that AHAs/BHAs and retinol cannot be used together in a routine. But it’s not true because both AHA/BHA and retinol work as exfoliants which improves the texture of your overall skin health. But they could be harsh on your skin which causes irritation, dryness etc due to their high potential for skin sensitivity. Moisturizing after applying AHA/BHA is important to limit the increase of skin irritation.
So you could alternate them through one-day retinol and then AHA/BHA the next day or leave a gap of a few days between them while using both ingredients. Because the waiting period is to give your skin time to return to normal pH. Also, be careful in combining various acids with retinol as this can lead to eczema and irritation.
Ingredients to avoid with retinol:
Some of the ingredients to avoid with retinol is benzoyl peroxide. As it is mostly recommended to treat pimples and spots, using it with retinol will have similar drying effects.
Another ingredient to avoid with retinol is Salicylic acid. Though this one can increase cell turnover and keeps the pores clear. However both retinol and salicylic acid have anti-inflammatory properties to help calm the skin. But used together with retinol it has adverse effects which are too harsh on the skin. When you are not using retinol you can limit the use of Salicylic acid and sunscreen for the skin in the morning.
Conclusion:
The bottom line is you should use retinol more cautiously as it may interact with other skincare products. if you are experiencing side effects like irritation, redness, flaking or not getting the result. Then there is something wrong with layering the products. Also giving a break to your skin from actives is important, so make sure you seek advice from a certified dermatologist for the best skin results.
