What Products Can You use with Retinol?

Whether you have only started using a skincare routine, or you are die hard super fan, retinol is one of the ingredients that everyone would value from a little more information about. That is exactly why today we are going to be focusing on what products can you use with retinol and with any luck, you’ll all be skin experts by the end of today’s blog post. 

What can you use with retinol?

Retinol is a potent form of vitamin A and is praised for its anti-ageing benefits, as well as other properties to promote all-over skin health. Whether you are new to your retinol journey, or you have a skin type that is particularly sensitive, it’s best to avoid using exfoliating ingredients with retinol. By this I mean AHAs and BHAs, such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid as well as physical scrubs. This will help prevent the skin from becoming over stimulated.

The best skincare formulations to use with retinol are moisturisers and serums that are packed with hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. As for other potent actives, such as the very popular vitamin C, you can still include this in your routine if you apply it during a different time of day compared to your retinol.

Finally, the most important product you should use with retinol is a daily SPF of 30 and above. Due to the increase in photosensitivity your skin will experience when using retinol, it is vital for you to ensure the skin barrier is protected from exposure to free radical damage, such as UV rays and pollution.

Can you use retinol and hyaluronic acid together?

Absolutely, in fact, many skincare experts suggest that using these two powerhouse ingredients together will ensure the common drying effects of retinol are combatted.

When using hyaluronic acid and retinol together I would suggest to first of all apply your retinol product followed by a serum that is enriched in hyaluronic acid. This will allow the retinol to penetrate the skin and work at boosting collagen production, reverse the signs of ageing, restore luminosity to the skin and reduce any breakouts or blemishes. By following this with hyaluronic acid you will find this clever humectant is able to draw water in from the atmosphere surrounding the face and locking it into the skin surface. This will keep the skin barrier healthy, hydrated and enable it to be protected from daily aggressors.

Can I mix niacinamide with retinol?

You can indeed, applying niacinamide to the skin before retinol is considered a highly effective way for those with oily and acne prone skin types to regulate the sebum production in the skin and keep blemishes at bay.

The added benefit of teaming niacinamide with retinol is the humectant benefits of niacinamide will help keep the skin moisturised and counteract any dryness, redness, itchiness, and flaking, all of which are a common side effect when using retinol.

Can vitamin C and retinol be used together?

Not really, as amazing as both of these ingredients are at benefiting the complexion, using them together is considered a big no-no when keeping your skin healthy. This is because the potency of each ingredient will overload the skin and cause irritation. Having said that, you can still use both vitamin C and retinol in your daily skincare regime. It is just a case of applying each powerhouse ingredient at the optimal time of day. Vitamin C is packed with antioxidants making it a great addition to your morning routine. With help from the antioxidants, you can keep the skin barrier at its healthiest state meaning it is able to ward of any free radicals your skin encounters. Such free radicals, such as pollution, harsh climates, central heating, and UV rays can cause a lot of skin damage which if left untreated can worsen.

This damage can vary from hyperpigmentation, dark spots, acne, and signs of premature ageing. Whilst vitamin C is able to protect the skin throughout the day to these free radicals, retinol can repair any damage they have previously caused. The main difference you’ll find it retinol should not be used during the day as any exposure to UV light results in the potent form of vitamin A becoming completely useless.

Can I use a salicylic acid cleanser with retinol?

Yes and no, by this I mean you can indeed use a salicylic acid cleanser with retinol but keeping in mind to use it at the right time of day. Considering the potency of both these ingredients are very high, its best to ensure there is enough time left in between applications. This will not only keep the natural pH level of the skin balanced but will also ensure each ingredient is able to perform to the best of its abilities.

For best results I would suggest using your salicylic acid cleanser during your morning routine followed by retinol in the evening routine. If you’re wanting to find out more about using salicylic acid cleanser with retinol, we actually have a fully detailed blog post over on The Beauty Insiders.

Can you mix retinol with moisturiser?

Yes, you can, as long as the moisturiser doesn’t contain and active ingredients that can cause irritation. The beauty of mixing retinol with a moisturiser is thanks to the thick formulation of your moisturiser you are applying a physical barrier over the skin. With this you are ensuring the skin and any product applied underneath is protected and able to work without disruption by any environmental aggressors, such as bad weather and climate.

You will also ensure the skin is left feeling healthy, happy, and fully hydrated!

I hope that today I have answered some of the questions you’ve had about what products you can use with retinol. Don’t forget if you have any skincare questions you can come and find us over on Instagram for daily skincare tips, new product launches and exclusive discounts. You can find me in the direct messages so do come and say hello!