How to Layer Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol
Let’s face it, there are so many products in the beauty industry that sometimes it feels like climbing to the top of Mount Everest and not knowing where to start! Even with the help of a skin care expert, understanding how to layer different skin care ingredients can become overwhelming and sometimes frustrating.
Today I want to shed some light on how to layer hyaluronic acid and retinol. Hopefully by the end of today’s information I have made your Mount Everest a piece of cake!
Can Hyaluronic Acid Be Used with Retinol?
Yes, you can use hyaluronic acid with retinol and it is completely safe. In fact, using hyaluronic acid and retinol has a synergistic effect on your skin because they complement each other. This is because retinol typically causes irritation, dryness, and flaking, while hyaluronic acid can hydrate your skin, improve your skin’s ability to tolerate irritation, and reduce the flaking and dryness caused by retinol. In other words, when used together, hyaluronic acid and retinol are the perfect dynamic duo.
Should I use hyaluronic acid before or after retinol?
You should use hyaluronic acid after retinol. To maximize the effects, you should apply retinol first and then wait at least 30 minutes before applying hyaluronic acid. Because you need to let the retinol absorb into the skin first before applying hyaluronic acid to moisturize your skin, increase the skin’s ability to tolerate irritation, and reduce the flaking and dryness caused by retinol. Moisturizing after using retinol should be an important step in your skin care routine.
How to layer retinol and hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid and retinol are powerhouses on their own, and when you use them together, you will find that they both have effective effects on the skin without causing too much irritation. Of course, there are some differences between the two, which are as follows:
Hyaluronic acid
Naturally present in the body, hyaluronic acid is an ingenious ingredient that is able to bind a lot of water in the skin. It draws water into the skin’s protective barrier, keeping the skin hydrated and healthy all day long. Not only will you look radiant and youthful, but you will also find that the skin is completely protected from damage caused by free radicals such as pollution, UV rays, and other environmental influences.
Retinol
Retinol is a potent form of vitamin A that has the unique ability to speed up the skin cell renewal cycle, bringing a new layer of skin to the surface. You’ll notice that the surface of your skin looks radiant, signs of premature aging like fine lines and wrinkles are visibly reduced, and dark spots and hyperpigmentation are visibly improved. Despite its power, this ingredient is one of the most complex to use, which is why I recommend that you read our dedicated blog post on retinol and how to incorporate it into your daily routine.
I’ve mentioned the rules for applying skincare products several times in previous blog posts. The general idea is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest. Not only does this make your routine more efficient, it also gives you a better idea of how to layer your products.
When it comes to retinol and hyaluronic acid, you’ll find them typically found in the formula of a serum, moisturizer, or facial oil, meaning they appear in the last steps of your daily skincare routine. As for the correct order, serum first, then oil, and finally moisturizer. Depending on the product each ingredient is formulated with dictates the order in which they should be applied. The beauty (pun intended) of layering retinol and hyaluronic acid is that the hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid keep the skin hydrated. This prevents the dryness and irritation that often occurs when using retinol.
Can I use hyaluronic acid after retinol?
Yes, absolutely. In order for powerful ingredients like hyaluronic acid and retinol to achieve their best results, you need to ensure that they remain on the skin for the optimal amount of time. This is probably why you’ll find that most skincare products containing these powerful ingredients are serums, face oils, and moisturizers. By applying both to the skin, you can ensure that the retinol will only dry out the skin to a limited extent, while the hyaluronic acid provides additional moisture to the skin.
This also means that there are some considerations when using formulas containing either ingredient, and I highly recommend using a 24-hour patch. To do this, apply a pea-sized amount to the inside of your forearm and leave it on to see how your skin reacts. This is especially important with products containing retinol, as they need to be slowly introduced into your routine to avoid unnecessary severe dryness and flaking of the skin.
What layers shouldn’t be used with retinol?
That being said, when using retinol, you need to remember not to overload your skin with products that contain high levels of vitamin C, AHAs like glycolic acid, and BHAs like salicylic acid. The mix of different pH levels and the exfoliating power of popular acids can often lead to redness, itchiness, and irritation.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use all of these ingredients in your daily routine. For best results, try applying a vitamin C serum in the morning after a gentle cleanser or toner containing AHAs or BHAs. Of course, don’t forget to apply SPF 30 as a last step to fully protect your skin. If it’s evening, you can apply retinol. Not only does this allow the vitamin A to work tirelessly all night long while you get your beauty sleep, but you’ll also benefit from the full power of this anti-aging hero ingredient, as retinol loses its effectiveness when exposed to UV radiation. If you want to learn more about what not to mix with retinol, read our blog post on the dos and don’ts of using retinol in your daily routine.
How long should you wait after a retinol treatment before applying a moisturizer?
If you wait 10 minutes after your retinol treatment before applying your moisturizer, that’s plenty of time. You’ll find that this allows the retinol to reach the lower layers of the skin, kick-starting the cell renewal process while boosting collagen production in the skin’s dermis. When you apply your moisturizer, you’re not only soothing the skin and counteracting the drying effects of the retinol, you’re also creating a physical protective barrier over the skin. This barrier keeps the skin’s microbiome balanced and fully functioning, i.e. it acts like a wet sponge, soaking up every drop of retinol, leaving you with renewed, radiant skin in the morning.
In what order should I apply my serums?
The basic rule of skincare is to apply products in order of thickness and consistency, starting with the thinnest and working your way up. You’ll often find that serums have a light, gel-like consistency and sometimes feel like they need to be applied last. Surprisingly, however, you always need to apply a serum before applying a facial oil or moisturizer. This is because serums penetrate deeper into the skin and deliver active ingredients to the lower dermis, reaching areas that moisturizers and facial oils can’t reach.
When it comes to determining which serums should be layered over each other, I recommend using no more than three, as this can have a counter-productive effect on the active ingredients in the formula. For example, if you use a serum that contains both retinol and hyaluronic acid, I would apply the retinol first, followed by the hyaluronic acid serum to prevent dryness or irritation and lock in moisture for a plump, healthy, youthful complexion with elasticity.
I hope today’s blog post has clarified a few things about how to layer hyaluronic acid and retinol. Once you get the hang of layering products, it’s easy, and you’ll be impressed with the results!
