Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid With Retinol?

Though retinol is by no means a new skincare ingredient, it is one that people often approach with caution. And we get it: retinoids are a powerful chemical. Too much of it (or even the right amount in the wrong way) can have side effects on your skin.

That said, retinol definitely has a place in your skincare routine . Though there are some skincare ingredients that you should avoid if you’re also using retinol — namely alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs — you don’t have to revamp your entire routine when adding retinol into the mix.

Today, we’ll discuss one skincare ingredient you can pair retinol with: hyaluronic acid .

In this article, you’ll learn the benefits of both hyaluronic acid and retinol on their own — and how, when used together, these skincare ingredients can transform your skin in ways you never expected from an over-the-counter skin treatment.

What Is Hyaluronic Acid?

When it comes to incorporating acids into your skincare routine, there are two primary categories:

Alpha hydroxy acids (or AHAs) are water-soluble acids that exfoliate the skin’s surface at a cellular level. Types of AHAs include glycolic acid and lactic acid.

Beta hydroxy acids (or BHAs) are oil-soluble acids that exfoliate at a deeper level, targeting skin cells hidden away within your pores. Types of BHAs include salicylic acid and tropic acid.

Hyaluronic acids aren’t either of these things. Instead, this skincare ingredient isn’t actually an acid at all — it’s a type of sugar.

Chemically speaking, hyaluronic acid is a long chain of polysaccharide molecules that form the backbone of a lot of the connective tissue throughout your body. In your skin, hyaluronic acid helps provide structure within your skin layers.

Your body can make hyaluronic acid on its own, but the natural aging process can change that. Starting as early as 20 years old, your skin begins to produce less and less hyaluronic acid for itself. That’s why this type of acid is such a popular skincare ingredient: products that include hyaluronic acid can supplement what the skin used to make on its own.

What Are the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid?

There is a reason hyaluronic acid is such a popular skincare ingredient: it has many benefits.

While the specific advantages of this ingredient go on for seemingly ever, there are two primary benefits of hyaluronic acid:

Its ability to hydrate the skin.
Its role as a structural component of the skin.

As a humectant, hyaluronic acid can capture and hold onto water in the skin, making it a particularly powerful moisturizer. This trait benefits the skin by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

As part of your body’s natural connective tissue, hyaluronic acid fills in the gaps between other structural proteins in your skin, like collagen and elastin, to support the structure of your skin layers. This process benefits the skin by boosting firmness and working against a sullen or sagging texture.

What Is Retinol?

Retinol is another popular skincare ingredient—and for good reason. In addition to supporting the chemical composition of your skin in various ways, retinol is praised as the leading anti-aging product.

There are dozens of different types of retinol products (and even some retinoids that people commonly call retinol) out there in the skincare market. You can get retinol creams, retinoic acid serums, retinol serums, and more. Though each is a little different and is recommended by dermatologists for different reasons, all types of retinoids come from the same organic compound: vitamin A.

Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A , meaning the skincare ingredient is synthesized from this powerful antioxidant. Vitamin A is known for its healing properties in the skin, including its ability to support skin cells and cellular turnover.

Unlike other nutrients, the human body can’t manufacture vitamins on its own — so it can’t produce retinol either. Because of this, we rely on external sources (like diet and skincare) to provide this ingredient for us.

What Are the Benefits of Retinol?

Retinol supports your skin in many ways, but hands down, its most popular benefit is its ability to fight against signs of aging.

Retinol works closely with two structural proteins in your skin — collagen and elastin — that naturally diminish as you age. Without these proteins, your face loses its firmness and structural integrity, making it more prone to wrinkles and fine lines. By encouraging your skin to ramp up elastin and collagen production , retinol keeps your skin looking youthful as you age.

Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol Together?

Now that you know just how powerful each of these skincare ingredients are on their own, you have to be wondering: are they more powerful together?

The answer is yes.

While it’s true that there are some skincare ingredients that you shouldn’t combine with each other, hyaluronic acid and retinol aren’t one of them. In fact, pairing hyaluronic acid with retinol can increase the effectiveness of the anti-aging ingredient.

What Are the Benefits of Combining Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol?

One of the largest barriers to using retinol is that this powerful skincare ingredient can be a little harsh on the skin. Especially if you have sensitive skin, retinol can cause irritation and dryness if used too much.

That’s where hyaluronic acid comes in.

Remember that hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it’s highly moisturizing. When you use hyaluronic acid, you support a more supple and hydrated skin barrier that’s stronger than before — strong enough to stand up against a powerful retinol product.

Because you need to use retinol consistently to see any major results, combining the product with a hyaluronic acid serum can ease any irritation caused by the retinol and help you use the product more regularly. So, not only are you getting the hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid, but you can now get the anti-aging benefits of retinol, too.

How Can You Make the Most of Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol?

Using retinol and hyaluronic acid together isn’t as simple as putting one on top of the other. Like any other element of your skincare routine, using these ingredients correctly can help you get the most out of them.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a few insider tips for pairing hyaluronic acid with retinol.

Apply Hyaluronic Acid to Damp Skin

One way that you can increase the effectiveness of your retinol treatment is by strengthening the effectiveness of your hyaluronic acid serum.

Because hyaluronic acid is designed to absorb water, applying it on damp skin helps jumpstart the hydration process.

Some of our favorite hyaluronic acid products include the SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier and the M-61 Hydraboost HA Serum Pad .

Wear SPF During the Day

Retinol is an exfoliant that sheds away the top layers of (albeit dead) skin cells, exposing newer and healthier skin cells in their place. While this fresh layer of skin is good for your complexion, it can make your face more sensitive to outside irritants, including the sun.

To protect your skin while using retinol, it’s important to wear sunscreen during the day. This SPF can block out harmful UV rays that would otherwise penetrate the vulnerable skin and cause damage to the cells within.

One of our favorite sunscreens is the Solara Suncare Fortune Teller Brightening Sunscreen Serum .

Keep Retinol in Your Nighttime Routine

Cell regeneration is at its highest while you sleep — which means that retinol (which supports cell turnover) is most effective as a part of your nighttime skincare routine.

Unlike other skincare ingredients that can be used both when you wake up and right before bed, retinol should only be used once a day (if used daily at all). This means you have to pick between including the product in your morning or nighttime skincare routine. Since the ingredient already works to support a skin function that occurs overnight, it makes sense to use retinol before bed.

Use Gentle Retinol Formulations

Retinol is generally considered an intense skincare ingredient, but that doesn’t mean it has to be harsh or aggressive. When picking the right retinol product, opt for one that is appropriate for your skin type.

This is especially important if you have a more sensitive skin type or are new to retinol treatments. Because this type of vitamin A is a powerful exfoliant, it can take time for your skin to adjust to its effects. Starting slow and gentle is an important step in building a long-lasting relationship with retinol.

Some of our favorite gentle retinol products include the SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 , the M-61 ProSmooth Retinol Night Cream , and the SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.25 .

Your Dream Complexion

Though clear, hydrated, and youthful skin might seem like a dream, you can make this complexion your reality. All you have to do to achieve this is to use hyaluronic acid and retinol together.

With the hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid and the anti-aging effects of retinol, you can make the most of your skin with these skincare ingredients.