How To Combine Vitamin C, Retinol, and Hyaluronic Acid

4. Apply sunscreen

No morning skincare routine is complete without sunscreen. Take it to the finish line with a broad-spectrum sunscreen (look for one with an SPF of 30 or higher). If you need a recommendation, try the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion Defense SPF 50—the tinted mineral formula is lightweight, non-comedogenic, and suitable for all skin types.

Evening skincare routine

Double cleanse

Before heading to bed, wash your face to remove dirt, oil, and debris (along with any makeup or sunscreen you wore during the day). At night, we love double cleansing for a thorough cleanse. To do this, massage a cleansing balm, like the Garnier Erase It All Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm, onto dry skin (or try the vitamin C version for a brightening boost). Then, add water to emulsify the balmy cleanser and rinse with lukewarm water. Then, wash your face again, this time with your morning facial cleanser, to remove any lingering debris.

Apply retinol

The key to adding retinol is to start slow and gradually work it into your skincare routine so you don’t cause skin irritation. If you’re new to the ingredient, we suggest using a product with a low concentration of retinol, like the SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3, just once or twice a week. As your skin acclimates, you can increase your frequency to nightly usage. If you have dry skin, you may want to consider using a moisturizer with retinol instead. We love the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Retinol Pressed Night Cream With Retinol + Niacinamide—it provides deep yet non-greasy hydration and helps reduce the appearance of unevenness and wrinkles.

Moisturize

If you used a retinol serum (rather than a moisturizer), you’ll want to apply moisturizer afterward. Retinol, as we mentioned, can be drying, particularly for those who are using it for the first time. Look for a rich yet non-greasy night cream that can help lock in hydration and replenish the skin. The Lancôme Advanced Génefique Night Cream is an excellent option. It contains hyaluronic acid, probiotics, and ceramides and helps repair the skin’s moisture barrier to promote stronger, healthier-looking skin.

3 Editor-Approved Skincare Products With Vitamin C, Retinol, and Hyaluronic Acid

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer

This drugstore favorite combines pro-retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid in a gentle moisturizer suitable for all skin types. Apply it to your face and neck for an instant boost of hydration for smoother, softer skin. Over time, you can expect the non-comedogenic formula to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin tone and texture, and firm the skin.

SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream

AlphaRet—a unique combination of AHA and retinoids—serves as the star of this hydrating overnight cream. It’s also jam-packed with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, peptides, squalane, and niacinamide (all of which we’d nominate as skincare VIPs). Apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin before hitting the sheets each night. Within four weeks, you’ll notice your skin appears smoother with a visibly more even skin tone and texture.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream

The only thing better than a moisturizer with retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C is one that features sunscreen in its formula, too. Enter: CeraVe’s gentle, skin-smoothing daytime moisturizer. This dream cream provides broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection against UVA and UVB rays, targets the visible signs of aging, and helps lock in moisture to restore your skin’s natural moisture barrier.

Next Up: Facial Moisturizers: Gels vs. Creams vs. Lotions