Experts Say You Should Combine These 3 Ingredients in Your Skin Care Routine

 

Of course, when ingredients are good when used individually, you have to wonder whether they would be even better when used together. We reached out to dermatologist, Vichy ambassador, and Skincare.com consultant, Dr. Erin Gilbert to find out whether or not it’s a good idea to use all three ingredients together.

How Do Vitamin C, Retinol, and Hyaluronic Acid Benefit Your Skin?

First things first, let’s review exactly why vitamin c, retinol, and hyaluronic acid are staple skin care ingredients on their own.

Vitamin C: Besides being a key part of your favorite citrus fruits, when used in skin care formulations, vitamin C can make a major difference in your skin tone. According to Dr. Gilbert, vitamin C has been shown to brighten the appearance of skin and help neutralize the damage from free radicals.  

Retinol: If you have any interest in skin care, chances are you know about retinol’s powerful effects on acne and wrinkles. “Retinol causes the top layer of skin to turn over faster,” Dr. Gilbert says. “Which helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and gives your skin a fantastic glow.”

Hyaluronic Acid: It seems as if in the blink of an eye, almost every moisturizing formula now contains hyaluronic acid—and with good reason. “Hyaluronic acid binds 1000 times its weight in water,” shares Dr. Gilbert. “It provides your skin with fabulous hydration, making it feel hydrated and look dewy.”

How Does Using All Three Together Benefit Your Skin?

You can (and should!) combine all three ingredients within your routine, Dr. Gilbert says. By using vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid together, you’ll receive the benefits of all three in one skin care routine.

How Can You Use Vitamin C, Retinol, and Hyaluronic Acid Together?

Adding extra ingredients and products into your routine isn’t always easy. Thankfully we have a dermatologist’s expertise to help the determine the best way to use vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid together. Dr. Gilbert recommends the following regimens, which encompasses your morning and night routines:

Step #1: Cleanse to start the day. You may be thinking every routine starts the same way, and you’d be right. No matter which ingredients you plan to pair together, you need to start with a clean face.

Step #2: Apply vitamin C serum. Gilbert suggest using a vitamin C serum straight after washing your face, as it can increase the penetration of the product to help you achieve the best results. As for what product to pick, she recommends the Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum.

 

Step #3: Follow with hyaluronic acid serum. Once you’ve given your vitamin C serum a moment or two to sink in, you’re free to move on to layering hyaluronic acid—or a least a hyaluronic acid serum—overtop. Dr. Gilbert says to use Vichy Mineral 89, which contains Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water in addition to hyaluronic acid. Speaking of the serum, she says, “It locks in moisture and helps protect your skin against daily aggressors.”

Step #4: Cleanse again at night. Hopefully you already know the drill, before heading to bed it’s time to wash your face again.

Step #5: Use retinol. Retinol isn’t just for those with problematic skin. Dr. Gilbert recommends it for all her patients. She suggests starting off slow, using the Vichy LiftActiv Retinol Treatment just three nights a week. You can increase frequency overtime if needed. No matter how often you’re using retinol, be sure you’re applying it to clean, dry skin. Since retinol can cause skin sensitivity to sunlight, it’s better to apply it at night and follow with broad-spectrum sunscreen and additional sun protection measures during daytime hours.

Step #6: Moisturize. Anyone with experience using with retinol will know the multi-tasking ingredient can be seriously drying. While gradually building up to a higher frequency can reduce how dry your skin becomes, it’s still an absolute necessity to moisturize afterwards.