Can You Use Retinol With Benzoyl Peroxide?
Do not combine
Not in the same routine.
Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidizer that chemically degrades retinol on contact, so you get the irritation of both with the benefit of neither.
How to use Retinol and Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide in the morning, retinol at night. Adapalene is the exception; it is stable against benzoyl peroxide and the two are co-formulated in some prescriptions.
General guidance from common dermatological advice, not medical advice. If you use a prescription treatment, follow your prescriber’s instructions.
Layering
Related pairings
- Retinol with AHADo not combine
- Retinol with BHADo not combine
- Retinol with Vitamin CSeparate or space out
- AHA with Benzoyl PeroxideSeparate or space out
- Benzoyl Peroxide with Vitamin CSeparate or space out
- PHA with RetinolSeparate or space out
- Azelaic Acid with RetinolSeparate or space out
- Adapalene with Benzoyl PeroxideWorks well together
- Niacinamide with RetinolWorks well together
- Centella Asiatica with RetinolWorks well together
- Hyaluronic Acid with RetinolWorks well together
Check your actual products
The Routine Check reads the actives in each product you add, flags every clash between your morning and evening steps, and puts them in the order to apply them.
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