Is it OK to use vitamin C and retinol together?

There's no problem with using both retinol and vitamin C as part of your skincare routine, dermatologists say. In fact, Shirazi calls this combo a "power couple" when it comes to aging well.

Do you put vitamin C on before or after retinol?

If you're determined to use vitamin C and retinol together in the same routine, you'll need to make sure to put enough time between them. It's also essential to apply your vitamin C first because it has the lower pH of the two ingredients.

Why can't you use retinol and vitamin C together?

Oils create a skin barrier, blocking the absorption of water-based products. Adding vitamin C (water-soluble) to retinol (oil-soluble) results in the non-absorption of vitamin C, thus no skin benefits. So, you see how mixing the two is a waste of skincare products, money, and time.

Can I use vitamin C and retinol same time?

Additionally, combining vitamin C and retinol in your skin care routine improves the skin barrier, protecting the skin from the harmful environmental factors that cause skin damage and premature skin aging. Consistent and proper use of Retinol and vitamin C can benefit your skin by: Brightening skin. Evening skin tone.

How do you layer retinol and vitamin C?

As a general rule of thumb: Use retinol at night and vitamin C in the morning. "To get the most benefit from vitamin C, you want to use it during the day to protect the skin while exposed to environmental stressors such as the sun and pollution," celebrity esthetician and skin expert Shani Darden tells mbg.

Can You Use RETINOL and VITAMIN C Serum Together? | Chris Gibson

What not to combine with retinol?

Don't Mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids. AHA and BHA acids are exfoliating, which can dry out the skin and cause further irritation if your skincare routine already includes retinol.

Can I use retinol at night and vitamin C in the morning?

So, the best way to use vitamin C and retinol together is by spacing out their application, using vitamin C in the morning and retinol in your nighttime routine. This method gives you all of the benefits without deactivating ingredients or irritating your skin.

What is best paired with retinol?

Mix With Hyaluronic Acid

Similarly, pairing a retinoid with a hydrating hyaluronic acid-based moisturizer is another good combination, according to Dr. Rabach. Retinoids are great because they can help tighten pores, decrease oil production, and get rid of dead skin.

What pairs well with retinol?

Niacinamide is also widely known to help protect the skin barrier and enhance hydration, and when used together with retinol, it counteracts retinol-induced dryness. In fact, if you like layering retinol with your serums, Dr. Mokaya says it's safe to do so with niacinamide.

What not to combine with vitamin C?

What Should You Not Mix With Vitamin C? Hydroxy Acids and BHAs such as glycolic and salicylic acids, as well as those found in probiotics, should never be combined with vitamin C because it is an acid and unstable, so the pH balance will be thrown off by combining them.

What does vitamin C react badly with?

Possible interactions include: Aluminum. Taking vitamin C can increase your absorption of aluminum from medications containing aluminum, such as phosphate binders. This can be harmful for people with kidney problems.

What serums don t go together?

When should you not use vitamin C serum?

If you do choose to use your serum in the morning, you'll need to follow up with a layer of broad spectrum sunscreen, with an SPF of 30 or higher. Now, hang on a minute – if you have sensitive skin and you're wondering when to apply vitamin C serum, you might want to steer clear of vitamin C serum during daytime hours.

Which brand of vitamin C serum is best?

What serums to use at night?

Does it matter what order you put serums on?

Order Matters: Serums are applied after cleansing and toning and before your moisturizer. If you don't use toner, then apply serum directly after cleansing. Keep It Simple: It's best to layer no more than two serums at a time. Too many layers can possibly prevent the ingredients from absorbing as effectively.

Which is the best retinol serum?

Why do I get small bumps on my face after using vitamin C serum?

Acids, vitamin C serums and retinoids can all cause purging. Purging is an initial acne breakout that can occur when you're starting a new active skincare product—one that causes your skin cells to turn over more quickly. Products that can trigger purging include: Hydroxy acids (AHAs, BHAs and PHAs) and fruit acids.

Can you put too much vitamin C serum on your face?

A tell-tale sign of vitamin C overuse is increased blackheads or the development of blackheads. General skin irritation and breakouts can also occur if you use your vitamin C serum too often. We recommend using your serum 1-2 times a day and 2-4 drops at a time. This is all that is needed!

How should I layer my skincare with retinol?

You should always apply retinol at night, after cleansing, and before your nighttime moisturizer. Five minutes is enough to wait for your retinol to sink in before applying moisturizer; you want to layer them, not mix them.

What happens when you stop using retinol?

Many studies show that retinoids improve acne and wrinkles- but what happens to the skin when you stop using retinol? The short answer is- you will get a short-term benefit after stopping retinol but eventually your skin will return back to baseline (how it was before you began retinol).