RetinolandHyaluronic acid
Can you use retinol with hyaluronic acid?
Good togetherLimited evidence
Yes. Hyaluronic acid is a gentle hydrating ingredient with no known conflict with retinol, and it can help offset retinol's dryness.
Why
Hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin's surface and has been well tolerated in clinical studies. A cream combining retinal with hyaluronic acid fragments was very well tolerated in a 90-day study of more than 1,400 people. Hydration doesn't cancel out all retinoid irritation, so a slow start still matters.
How to use them
Apply hyaluronic acid before or after your retinol at night, then a moisturizer. It works well in the morning too.
Sources
- 1Retinaldehyde/hyaluronic acid fragments: a synergistic association for the management of skin aging · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011
- 2Benefits of topical hyaluronic acid for skin quality and signs of skin aging: From literature review to clinical evidence · Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
- 3Retinoid or retinol? · American Academy of Dermatology, 2021
General cosmetic information, not medical advice. Written with AI assistance from the sources above; updated October 2026.