To reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and signs of aging, you need to have two key players in your skincare arsenal: Vitamin C and retinol. Vitamin C is renowned for its brightening effects, while retinol promotes cell turnover. Using these two ingredients in your daily skincare routine can help you achieve smoother, more radiant skin. Here’s a guide on how to safely combine them:

Benefits of Vitamin C

L-ascorbic acid, or pure Vitamin C, is a potent antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals. Free radicals, generated by various environmental factors like pollution, smoke, and UV rays, break down collagen in your skin, leading to visible signs of aging, including wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and dry patches. In fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic, Vitamin C is the only antioxidant proven to stimulate collagen synthesis and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps address issues of excessive pigmentation and dark spots, resulting in a brighter complexion over time.

Benefits of Retinol

Retinol is considered the gold standard of anti-aging ingredients. It’s a derivative of Vitamin A naturally present in your skin, and it has been shown to improve fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture, tone, and even acne. Unfortunately, your body’s natural retinol reserves deplete over time. “By supplementing the skin with Vitamin A, you can maximize collagen and elastin production,” says board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com expert Dr. Dendy Engelman. Since retinol is quite powerful, most experts recommend starting with low concentrations and minimal usage frequency. Begin by using retinol once or twice a week, then gradually increase the frequency as tolerated, up to every other night or daily.

How to Use Vitamin C and Retinol in Your Daily Routine

First, you need to choose your products. For Vitamin C, dermatologists recommend high-quality serums with stable concentrations of the ingredient. These serums should also come in dark bottles because Vitamin C’s effectiveness diminishes with exposure to light. One of our current favorites is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum, containing 10% pure Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide for brightening and moisturizing. Another option we love is the L’Oreal Paris Revitalift 10% Pure Vitamin C Concentrate, which helps brighten and smoothen all skin types. When selecting retinol, you have various options. Prescription-strength retinoids (like tretinoin or retinoic acid) are more potent, while over-the-counter retinoids (like retinol or retinyl palmitate) are generally gentler. However, both approaches are effective, so choose the one that suits your needs and is recommended by a dermatologist. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, we recommend Vichy LiftActiv 0.2% Pure Retinol Face Serum, which is effective yet gentle for retinol beginners. It’s generally advised to use Vitamin C and sunscreen together in the morning, as that’s when their protection against UV rays and free radicals is most effective. On the other hand, retinol is an ingredient that should be used at night, as it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Mixing these two ingredients together makes sense since Vitamin C can help stabilize retinol, making it more effective against aging concerns. However, due to the potency of both retinol and Vitamin C, we recommend combining them only after your skin has acclimated to each separately. Always wear sunscreen during the day. If your skin becomes sensitive or irritated, consider using the ingredients on alternate days.