Skin Care Ingredients Retinol & AHA Are Powerhouses but Can They Be Used Together?
The question of whether retinol can be used together with Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) is one that has been going on for sometime now. And because of how important and effective these are, it’s time we shed some light and provide answers to the question. With 100’s of skincare ingredients, figuring out how and when to use each product can become a task, especially when you’re trying to select the best skin care products for yourself.
If you’ve been reading articles trying to find out if you can use retinol and Alpha Hydroxy Acid together, I’m sure you’ve read conflicting information. Some say it is safe to do and other’s say no way. That makes it hard to find out if it’s truly ok to use retnoids and AHA’s together.
So, I’ve pulled info from dermatologist who are obviously the professionals on the topic. Let’s get to the bottom of the debate!
What exactly is retinol and what does it do?
Ever wondered if there was a beauty ingredient that when used can turn heads? That ingredient is retinol. Retinol products are often claimed to be the holy grail of skincare. It has been found to possess the ability to keep the skin looking firm and young for many years.
It works by increasing the level of collagen the skin produces and at the same time reduces its ability to deplete over time. With that said, retinol when used over an extended period of time can reduce the appearance of wrinkles even as you age. It will also give you a beautiful and firmer-looking skin.
And then again, it contains exfoliating properties so that you are left with skin that is free of blemishes and clean. It reveals fresh skin by getting rid of dead skin cells. Retinol is a powerhouse beauty ingredient that can lead to irritation due to potency. Retinoids should be started as a weekly use and if your skin handles it well , it’s safe to increase use.
What is AHA?
AHA has exceptional exfoliating properties formulated to provide clear young-looking skin. Check out our favorite 5 things AHA’s can do for your skin! Some examples of AHA are lactic or glycolic acid among others. It penetrates the skin to get rid of those dead and dull looking skin cells. It can be found in many face scrubs, toners, and other skincare products.
Dr. Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified and fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist, reported to HuffPost, “Alpha and beta hydroxy acids are typically used to exfoliate the top layer of the skin and help improve color irregularities over time.
Now that we know what the two ingredients are about, it’s time to find out if they can be used together.
Can you use AHA with retinol?
Admittedly, these two ingredients play major roles in our everyday skin care routine. And they are both very active and effective ingredients. Since both of them are potent, it’s safe to say that using retinol and hyaluronic acid together may produce excessive skin shedding and irritation. It appears that the main reasoning behind dermatologist recommending not using retinol and alpha hydroxy acid is due to the chance of irritation to the skin.
Some people use the two together with no adverse reaction, however other’s experience irritation and severe dryness. The point is to help the skin, not make it feel like fish scales.
If you must use the two, it’s best to use them on different days. This will help in reducing the possibility of irritation.
If you have a favorite alphy hydroxy acid and retinol product, the best way to use them would be at opposite times at not together. Use one in the morning and one at night or alternate every other day.
