Is it safe to use retinol and hyaluronic acid together?Updated a year ago
It’s perfectly safe to use retinol and hyaluronic acid together. The two ingredients work well together, and there is no need to worry about interactions or overwhelming the skin.
While it’s important to be careful when mixing retinol with other skin-renewing ingredients such as AHAs or vitamin C, hyaluronic acid isn’t an exfoliant or skin renewer. It has a mild ability to improve signs of aging, but not in a way that’s likely to sensitize the skin.
Some people do experience irritation as a result of using high amounts of hyaluronic acid in their routine, especially if they’re using more penetrative low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid. This isn’t because of over-exfoliation, though. Low molecular weight HA can be proinflammatory, and we believe it’s best avoided in skincare.