Yes, but it's gentler not to layer them. Retinol and AHAs like glycolic, lactic or mandelic acid can each cause dryness and redness, so most people use them on alternate nights.
Why
AHAs don't appear to deactivate retinoids; a cream combining retinal with glycolic acid was well tolerated in a large study. The issue is overlap: both can increase water loss from the skin, dryness and redness, so layering separate leave-on products adds up to more stinging and flaking. AHAs also make skin more sensitive to UV light, which is why they're best kept to the evening with daily sunscreen.
How to use them
Use the retinol and the AHA on different nights, starting each a few times a week before building up. Wear sunscreen every morning.
Sources
- 1Functional changes in human stratum corneum induced by topical glycolic acid: comparison with all-trans retinoic acid · Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 1995
- 2Topical retinaldehyde with glycolic acid: study of tolerance and acceptability in association with anti-acne treatments in 1,709 patients · Dermatology, 2005
- 3Alpha Hydroxy Acids · U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2022
General cosmetic information, not medical advice. Written with AI assistance from the sources above; updated October 2026.