Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol Together?
There’s a lot of value placed on adapting your skincare routine to suit your skin’s specific needs and concerns. While this is for good reason, the most efficacious skincare regimens also contain products and ingredients that complement each other. Every skincare ingredient has its own benefits and affects the skin in different ways, both at a surface and molecular level, so it’s important that we layer products with careful consideration. You might already be well-acquainted with hyaluronic acid and retinol as individual skincare ingredients, but what you may not know is how they can be layered together on the skin. If you’re ready to expand the ingredient range in your skincare routine but you’re apprehensive about how to pair retinol and hyaluronic together, we’re here to simplify the process for you.
Hyaluronic Acid And Retinol: Individual Benefits
Before we can answer the question ‘can you use retinol and hyaluronic acid together?’, it’s important to understand the individual benefits of these ingredients and how they interact with the skin:
- Retinol: renowned for its skin-renewing properties for ageing, oily and mild acne-prone skin. However, since it is a very potent ingredient, it’s important to introduce this ingredient gradually and layer with non-exfoliating ingredients.
- Hyaluronic acid: an ultra-hydrating ingredient that helps balance hydration levels for all skin types. It’s worth noting that this ingredient draws in moisture, so it works best on damp skin and then followed up with a moisturiser.
As we isolate the benefits of retinol and hyaluronic acid, you’ll see how these two beloved ingredients can help to improve your complexion.
Hyaluronic Acid: Hero Hydrator
Most of us are well-acquainted with hyaluronic acid since this cherished ingredient features prominently in a wealth of skincare and makeup products. At a basic level, hyaluronic acid equals hydration, but how does this hero ingredient actually benefit the skin? Hyaluronic acid is a humectant which means it attracts and retains moisture. Our body also produces hyaluronic acid naturally, making it highly compatible as a skincare ingredient because it is suitable for all skin types. People experiencing a damaged skin moisture barrier can also reap the gentle, comforting benefits of hyaluronic acid. As we’ll soon learn, it’s this skin compatibility and moisture-boosting quality that makes hyaluronic acid and retinol such an efficacious duo.
Retinol: Skin-Renewing Saviour
Retinol is highly favoured among dermatologists and skincare users alike for its capacity to accelerate skin cell turnover and promote collagen production. Many people adopt retinol for skin concerns like blemishes, breakouts, post-acne marks, pigmentation, uneven skin tone, oil control and fine lines and wrinkles. As you can see, there are copious benefits of retinol, but it can be dehydrating to skin. When using retinol products, some experience dryness and redness – this is where additional skin hydration is needed to manage some of retinol’s side effects.
Benefits Of Using Retinol And Hyaluronic Acid Together
With knowledge of the individual benefits of hyaluronic acid and retinol, you might have already begun to see how these two ingredients can work harmoniously. Where retinol is a strong ingredient that can make the skin somewhat reactive, hyaluronic acid is mild and works as an effective counterpoint to mitigate some of the drying and potentially sensitising side effects of retinol. In many ways, hyaluronic acid and retinol balance each other out: hyaluronic acid is a gentle hydrator but lacks skin renewing properties; retinol can have a potent, visible affect on the skin’s tone, texture and oil production, but is harsher on the skin moisture barrier. Let’s examine this symbiotic relationship a little further.
Increased Hydration
Being a vitamin A derivative, retinol speeds up skin cell turnover to bring stronger, brighter, plumper skin to the surface. During this process, however, the skin can become prone to dryness and flakiness. Since retinol use depletes the skin’s moisture levels, hyaluronic acid can be used to compensate for this loss and keep the skin looking plump and feeling hydrated. With its water-attracting properties, hyaluronic acid also increases the efficacy of moisturisers which is ideal for retinol-related dryness on the skin’s surface.
Reduced Irritation
You might find that your skin sensitivity is heightened when using retinol, particularly for the first time. You may even experience redness or initial breakouts in addition to the telltale signs of dryness and flakiness. Hyaluronic acid can help to reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier, forming a protective hydrating layer on the skin to help ease some of the sensitivity caused by retinol usage. The great advantage of the hyaluronic acid and retinol combination is that hyaluronic acid helps the skin tolerate retinol to enjoy its benefits.
How Can I Mix Retinol And Hyaluronic Acid?
We recommend following a specific retinol and hyaluronic acid order when applying your skincare and layering your serums. Not only will this help avoid sensitivity, but it will help ensure the efficacy of your products. It’s important to note that retinol is best applied in the evening because it can increase photosensitivity. For this reason, always ensure you apply SPF as part of your morning skincare regime when using retinol.
- After cleansing, apply retinol to clean, dry skin. For sensitive skin types or beginner retinol users, we suggest a lower concentration of retinol like Kiehl’s Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum so your skin can acclimate. This low-dose retinol is formulated with peptides and ceramides to help promote your skin’s tolerance of retinol with minimal discomfort. More tolerant skin types can opt for a higher concentration of retinol like Retinol Fast Release Wrinkle-Reducing Night Serum.
- Ensure the retinol has fully absorbed into the skin before applying your hydrating products. Kiehl’s Ultra-Pure High Potency 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a fast-absorbing, intensely hydrating serum, making it ideal for application after retinol. Maximise this hydration with a squalane-based moisturiser such as the Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane.
Now that you’re confident in layering hyaluronic acid and retinol, consider how you can use vitamin C and retinol together
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Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum
The Kiehl's Skin-Renewing Retinol Serum is a potent retinol face serum that targets the visible signs of ageing skin. After continuous use, Kiehl's anti-ageing retinol serum visibly reduces the appearence of wrinkles, firms skin and refines the feeling of skin’s texture. Formulated with peptides, ceramides and retinol, this daily retinol serum is suitable for all skin types, making it the perfect retinol serum for sensitive skin and beginners
Retinol Fast Release Wrinkle-Reducing Night Serum
The Pure Retinol Night Serum is a powerful Retinol serum for wrinkles and fine lines that helps accelerate skin surface cell renewal. Formulated with one of our highest concentrates of Retinol, this Retinol night serum visibly improve fine lines, wrinkles and deep wrinkles for smoother and more youthful looking skin.
Ultra Pure High-Potency 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum
A concentrated 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid serum for dry skin made with only 7 ingredients that helps replenish and retain moisture for healthy-looking, hydrated skin.
Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
Our number one squalane moisturiser for ultra-lightweight, 24-hour hydration. The perfect daily moisturiser for all skin types, including sensitive. Help recover the skin barrier, and leave your skin softer, smoother and healthier with the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. Paraben-free and fragrance-free.
