Can You Use Retinol With Vitamin C?
With care.
L-ascorbic acid needs a pH around 3.5 while retinol converts best near neutral. Layered together each destabilizes the other, and the low pH increases retinoid stinging.
How to use Retinol and Vitamin C
Vitamin C in the morning under sunscreen, retinol at night. This is the standard split and it costs you nothing in efficacy.
General guidance from common dermatological advice, not medical advice. If you use a prescription treatment, follow your prescriber’s instructions.
In the catalog
Products that already contain both
A single formula that combines the two has been balanced by the brand, which is not the same as layering two separate treatments.
Spot Treatment
Celimax
The Vita-A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
Eye Patch
Beauty of Joseon
Revive Under Eye Patch : Ginseng + Retinal
Eye Patch
Medicube
PDRN Pink Caffeine Collagen Eye Patch
Eye Cream
Centellian24
360º Shot PDRN Lifting Eye Cream
Serum
APLB
Retinol Vitamin C Vitamin E Ampoule Serum
Mask
Medicube
Kojic Acid Turmeric Night Wrapping Mask
Layering
Related pairings
- Retinol with AHADo not combine
- Retinol with BHADo not combine
- Retinol with Benzoyl PeroxideDo not combine
- Vitamin C with AHASeparate or space out
- Vitamin C with BHASeparate or space out
- Benzoyl Peroxide with Vitamin CSeparate or space out
- PHA with RetinolSeparate or space out
- Azelaic Acid with RetinolSeparate or space out
- Peptides with Vitamin CSeparate or space out
- Vitamin C with NiacinamideWorks 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.
Check my routine