Retinol is an MVP among skincare ingredients, in part because it can do it all. And we’re not just hyping it up: The vitamin-A derivative has been proven (and backed by years of research) to help stimulate collagen production, speed up cell turnover, and offer antioxidant properties. As a result, it can address a ton of common skin concerns, such as adult acne, fine lines and wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. In other words, there are few people who wouldn’t benefit from it.

However, making the most of your retinol isn’t as simple as slotting it into your skincare routine and calling it a day — because even if you’re a beginner or prefer to keep things streamlined, your skin doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Rather, even if you’re just using cleanser or a face oil, you might be using other active ingredients; some of these play well with retinol, even making it easier on sensitive skin, while others require a little more consideration.

If you’re looking to incorporate a retinol like the NakedPoppy Renew Retinol Oil into your routine, you’re in luck. Not only have we carefully formulated it to be non-irritating — thanks to encapsulation technology and smart pairings, some of which are included below — but it’s also a truly clean formula, so you can use it without compromising.

Here’s a quick cheat-sheet to keep on hand, although we’ll go into more detail below:

  • Retinol + niacinamide: A winning combo
  • Retinol + vitamin C: Proceed with caution
  • Retinol + exfoliating acids: Green light, despite rumors
  • Retinol + hyaluronic acid: A powerful duo
  • Retinol + bakuchiol: A strategic pair

Before we get started, a quick note: If this is already a lot to consider, retinol or otherwise, that’s totally fine! You can take our easy, 3-minute beauty assessment to get personalized recommendations for what to add to your lineup. 

With that said, here’s how each duo works — and why they’re considering harnessing in your own routine, depending on your individual concerns and skincare goals. 

The duo: retinol and niacinamide

As known as vitamin B3, niacinamide is a skincare powerhouse in its own right. “Niacinamide helps to promote a stronger lipid barrier, by helping to stimulate the biosynthesis of ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol [1],” says NakedPoppy skin specialist Tara Parenti. “It also demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.” That’s why it’s the hero of many serums and moisturizers, including ​​Prima Enlightenment Niacinamide Serum.

Thanks to these unique properties, niacinamide is “the ideal ingredient to pair with retinol, especially since initially, certain retinol formulas can cause some irritation,” says NakedPoppy research scientist Marisa Plescia. (That said, irritation is unlikely to be a problem with NakedPoppy Renew Retinol Oil.) “Also, niacinamide can help improve transepidermal water loss, leading to increased overall skin hydration levels and better skin barrier function.” This can ultimately make retinol more tolerable among those with sensitive skin, or those who are just starting the acclimation process.

The duo: retinol and vitamin C

While retinol and vitamin C are both powerful skincare ingredients, they also have the potential to be irritating, especially among certain skin types. “Retinol should always be used at night, while vitamin C can be used morning and night,” says Plescia. “As far as using both vitamin C and retinoids together, this really depends on knowing your skin and your skin’s reactions.”

For most people, this is the easiest way to work them into your routine: Use your vitamin C in the morning — where it’ll serve as an addition to your sunscreen, intercepting free radicals and defending against sun damage — and retinol in the evening. Try the Maya Chia The Super Lift Vitamin C-More Treatment, which doubles as a makeup primer and creates a smooth canvas.

Heads up: There’s one exception to this rule. If a product is formulated with both retinol and vitamin C, or they’re within the same brand line with the intention to use together, you can pair them in the evenings, says Parenti.

The duo: retinol and AHAs or BHAs

While the Internet may have made you think otherwise, retinol and exfoliating acids, such as alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids, work well together — and can even enhance the results if you’re targeting, say, discoloration. “There’s no research that proves that AHAs and BHAs lessen the effectiveness of retinoids when used together,” says Plescia, who explains that the misconception stems from skin’s pH; some thought that lowering it, via an acid, would impact the efficacy of retinol, which works best at a higher pH. (Turns out, exfoliating acids can’t actually lower your skin’s pH for an extended period of time. Science!)

The only concern would be irritation, since you’re working on two levels to spur cell turnover. “Retinol works by stimulating cell turnover in the deeper layers of the skin, while AHAs and BHAs work in the upper layers and follicle itself,” says Parenti. But, she says, as long as you’re working with a healthy, intact skin barrier (and no discernible damage) and taking care to moisturize afterwards, it’s a good combo. She recommends newbies start with lactic acid, which is the gentlest among alpha hydroxy acids; find it in NakedPoppy Refresh Foaming Cleanser to cleanse and prep skin at the end of a long day.

The duo: retinol and hyaluronic acid

Another genius duo, hyaluronic acid and retinol work particularly well together in part because of hyaluronic acid’s ability to deeply hydrate skin. “Hyaluronic acid binds to water and is considered a humectant; these ingredients can absorb water from the air and help to hydrate and even plump skin,” Plescia says.

That can be a huge bonus when you’re using a retinol. “Using hyaluronic acid with retinol can help lower water loss from the skin and help keep the skin hydrated — which is important when using retinoids,” she says. While our Renew Retinol Oil was carefully formulated to be non-irritating, you can still pair it with Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer for an extra boost of hydration.

The duo: retinol and bakuchiol

Bakuchiol is often referred to as a retinol alternative — and that’s only partly true. Yes, they do activate the same retinoid receptors in skin. And, like vitamin A, bakuchiol also offers antioxidant properties that help repair and defend skin from external damage.

But that doesn’t make it a substitute for retinol. If anything, it can be an incredible complement. For one, it’s stabilizing. “Retinol is notoriously unstable so pairing it with bakuchiol can help the overall stability of retinol in formulation,” says Plescia. Plus, she says, “because high levels of retinol have been found to cause oxidative stress in the skin, bakuchiol’s antioxidant activity may help reduce this oxidative stress in the skin and allow for higher retinol concentrations when used in combination with retinol.” In other words, bakuchiol allows you to get the most out of your retinol.

Bottom line: Despite retinol’s rep as a standalone skincare winner, it also makes for a great team player — especially when paired with ingredients that can either complement or boost its effects. So, rest easy knowing your current skincare routine won’t get in the way of this wonder ingredient. After all: the more, the merrier.

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References

[1] by helping to stimulate the biosynthesis of ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10971324/