Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.  

Hyaluronic acid and retinol have been found to be increasingly popular as skincare supplements over recent years. Both offer a wide variety of skin health benefits and have been used for treating various skin conditions ranging from managing signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines to controlling sensitive skin. But what happens if they are used in the same skincare regimen? Will they clash or complement each other? Let’s try to find out together. 

In this article, we’ll explore the skin benefits of hyaluronic acid and retinol and their effects when used together. But before we get into how hyaluronic acid and retinol can help promote skin health, we’ll start with exactly what these two ingredients are. So, let’s dig deeper.    

Table of contents 

• What is hyaluronic acid? 
• What is retinol? 
• Benefits of hyaluronic acid and retinol for skin health
• Can I use hyaluronic acid and retinol together?  
• Precautions and side effects 
• Final words 

What is hyaluronic acid? 

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring ingredient found throughout the human body but most abundantly in the skin. It has a large chain-like molecular structure capable of binding huge water molecules that can greatly help retain moisture in the skin. It is also present in the fluids of joints and eyes and plays an important role in lubricating and protecting joints and eyeballs as well as other tissues.

The human body’s capacity of producing hyaluronic acid decreases with aging, which is why the skin loses its moisture and many people choose hyaluronic acid oral supplements and skin care products to maintain skin moisture.  

What is retinol? 

Retinol is a somewhat more potent and efficient form of retinoid, a type of vitamin A, which is a fat-soluble vitamin. Retinol is widely available as an over-the-counter vitamin A formulation and is used to treat various skin conditions including acne and the effects of aging. 

Let’s take a look at some of the most common skin benefits of hyaluronic acid and retinol: 

Benefits of hyaluronic acid and retinol for skin health

Both hyaluronic acid and retinol help promote skin health in many ways. While hyaluronic acid is best known for its tremendous moisture-retaining properties, retinol is widely promoted for its noticeable plumping effects on the skin that help for fighting acne and softening wrinkles. However, each has its own mechanism of action that impacts human skin differently. 

Let’s break down some of the common benefits of these two ingredients one by one in a little bit of detail: 

Skin benefits of hyaluronic acid

• Helps retain moisture in the skin 
• Acts as a humectant, meaning it attracts water molecules and pulls them up to the surface, making it highly beneficial for those who have dry skin 
• Helps lessen signs of aging including the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines 
• Helps provide the skin with a glowy and dewy look
• Helps speed up wound healing  
• Acts as an antioxidant and protects from oxidative damage caused by free radicals 

Skin benefits of retinol  

• Stimulates the production of collagen, a protein that gives structure to the skin and helps keep it well-toned and firm
• Lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Acts as a potent antioxidant and helps protect the skin from free radical damage caused by various environmental stressors such as pollutants or anything that irritates the skin 
• Increases cell turnover that helps clear away dead and dull skin, making the skin surface more even, smoother, and brighter 
• Fades up the appearance of age spots and other types of hyperpigmentation
• Helps regulate oil (sebum) production and unclog pores on the skin, making it an effective therapeutic agent for lowering the risk of acne and blemishes 

Can I use hyaluronic acid and retinol together? 

Hyaluronic acid and retinol work well together just like a perfect match of a boy and girl. While hyaluronic acid is weak and soft, retinol is strong and tough. Together they complement and balance each other without compromising their own unique functions and benefits. This is the main reason why the combination of hyaluronic acid and retinol is one of the most popular ingredients across all skincare regimens.  

Precautions and side effects

As with all skincare agents, there is always some sort of possible risk for sensitivity. While the potential risk for irritation or side effects is very minimal with hyaluronic acid, it is relatively higher with retinol. 

Retinol has been reported to cause dryness, peeling, and redness in some people, although the combination of hyaluronic acid and retinol has been found very safe to use. Therefore, it’s important to consider speaking with a licensed naturopathic healthcare provider prior to using hyaluronic acid and retinol so that he or she can analyze your skin type to determine whether they are right for your specific skin condition and also can help you with the ways to minimize the risk of irritation. 

Final words 

Hyaluronic acid and retinol have been considered two of the most widely used anti-aging skincare supplements. Although they impact the human skin differently and the way they work varies from each other, hyaluronic acid and retinol do not clash, but rather complement each other when it comes to promoting skin health. Both can be used together and also in combination with other ingredients as well in the same skincare regimen. 

Though hyaluronic acid alone, and when used with retinol together have been found truly safe and well-tolerated in most people, there is somewhat of a risk of irritation with retinol. The symptoms of irritation caused by retinol include dryness, peeling, and redness. Therefore, it’s always recommended to consult with a certified naturopath or dermatologist prior to adding hyaluronic acid and retinol to your skincare regimen.

Here you can see Vorst’s high quality Hyaluronic Acid 75 mg with Vitamin C Capsules 

Important resorces: 

1. https://www.byrdie.com/can-you-mix-hyaluronic-acid-and-retinol-5217416
2. https://fleurandbee.com/blogs/news/retinol-and-hyaluronic-acid
3. https://facemedstore.com/blogs/blog/hyaluronic-acid-vs-retinol
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5. https://procoal.co.uk/blogs/beauty/how-to-layer-hyaluronic-acid-and-retinol
6. https://www.myimperfectlife.com/features/hyaluronic-acid-vs-retinol
7. https://ro.co/health-guide/hyaluronic-acid-with-retinol/
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9. https://www.apostrophe.com/slather/can-you-use-hyaluronic-acid-with-retinol/
10. https://www.glamour.com/gallery/skin-care-ingredients-youre-not-using-but-should
11. https://theeverygirl.com/hyaluronic-acid-and-retinol/