Vitamin C. Retinol. Both? Do Vitamin C and Retinol Work Together? Your questions answered.

You’ve probably heard of Vitamin C, but you may not be as familiar with retinol. Both are powerful ingredients that can help you fight signs of aging and improve your overall skin health. But do these ingredients work together?

Here’s what you need to know about Vitamin C and retinol – and why these two ingredients complement each other so well. 

What is Retinol? 

Retinol has become a staple in nighttime skin routines. It is a derivative form of vitamin A that can be applied topically for skin care benefits. It's often used as an alternative to prescription tretinoin (a form of vitamin A) because it doesn't require a doctor's prescription.

Today, the benefits of retinol are widely accepted by dermatologists and beauty experts. This vitamin A derivative has been proven to help with acne, wrinkles and even dark circles. It's also an effective treatment for hyperpigmentation, scarring and sun damage.

The small molecules that make up retinol penetrate deep into the skin, helping it to repair the look of damaged tissue. Once in this middle layer of skin, retinol helps neutralize free radicals. This helps boost the production of elastin and collagen, which creates a “plumping” effect that can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores. 

Retinol is renowned not just for its anti-aging benefits, but for its ability to address the signs of acne. Retinol has been shown to help with the appearance of acne and rosacea.

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that's necessary for the formation of collagen, an essential building block of the skin. It's also essential for healing wounds and fighting free radicals caused by environmental factors. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production, making it an important ingredient in anti-aging products.

In addition to protecting against damage, vitamin C has been shown to help treat acne and reduce inflammation. It's also an effective exfoliator that helps remove dead skin cells from the surface of your face. When used in conjunction with retinol, vitamin C can help reduce redness and irritation caused by retinol products.

Do Vitamin C and Retinol Work Together?

The short answer is yes! They both work to help your skin look younger, firmer and brighter. But they don't work the same way - they have complementary modes of action.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect the skin against damage from sunlight and pollution. Retinol is a form of vitamin A that speeds up the turnover of skin cells, so your complexion looks smoother and more even toned. Both have been proven to improve signs of aging like wrinkles, discoloration and roughness.

When you use products with vitamin C and retinol, you're able to get more benefits from each ingredient. Enter The Straight A- Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum. This gentle, yet wildly effective, serum is specially formulated with Encapsulated Retinol (a safe derivative of Vitamin A without BHT), two forms of “Botanical Retinols”, and the highest quality shelf-stable Vitamin C to ensure maximum benefits for your skin. 

The recommended way to use this retinol product is at night after washing your face. Apply a pea-sized amount to your face and neck, then follow with a vitamin C serum- like the Super Lift Vitamin C-More Serum, or moisturizer. In the morning, always apply your SPF sunscreen if using a retinol product during the day, always we recommend reserving retinol for nighttime use.