The Ultimate Skincare Face-off
Hyaluronic Acid vs. Retinol
October 13, 2023
Back to blog
October 13, 2023
The Ultimate Skincare Face-off: Hyaluronic Acid vs. Retinol
Selecting a skincare routine can feel daunting. If you feel like you’re constantly debating hyaluronic acid versus retinol and morning versus night applications, you’ll be happy to know you don’t need to choose. Skincare ingredients are allies, not adversaries—and pairing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and retinol can transform a typical routine into an effective regimen.
Let’s break down these two powerhouse ingredients individually, before discussing how to get more out of your daily skincare regimen by using them together.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid—you've likely seen this ingredient floating around your favorite skincare aisles or even in your own products. But what exactly is it? Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that your body produces to keep tissues—including the skin— well-lubricated and moist.
Because hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by your skin, it’s safe for almost all skin types, no matter how sensitive your skin may be. However, when formulated for skincare products, the molecule size of hyaluronic acid can vary. Smaller-sized molecules are better at getting deeper into your skin, while larger molecules can plump up the surface of your skin.
Hyaluronic acid is so hydrating because it’s a humectant. Humectants are molecules capable of holding up to 1,000 times their weight in water, and they attract water to themselves for this purpose. That means that when you use a product that features hyaluronic acid, you’re inviting all that helpful hydration into your skin.
Because of this, hyaluronic acid can promote a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion. It can also help minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles and even support your skin barrier over time.
What Is Retinol?
Derived from vitamin A, retinol is an incredibly popular ingredient for aging skin. Its superpowers lie in its ability to support the skin’s natural renewal process.
This means it can help your skin shed old cells and quickly produce new ones. This can encourage smoother-feeling skin, less visible wrinkles, and a more even skin tone.
Retinol is also a powerful antioxidant. It can penetrate deep into your skin’s layers to neutralize potentially damaging free radicals, minimizing the visible effects of sun damage and environmental damage over time.
Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol: The Final Showdown
We sort of spoiled this section earlier, but we’ll say it again because it’s important! When it comes to a showdown between hyaluronic acid and retinol, it’s not so much a showdown and more of a perfect pairing.
With retinol’s antioxidant properties and abilities to exfoliate and rejuvenate your skin, it’s a powerful ingredient that can promote a more youthful-looking complexion. Hyaluronic acid can also contribute to brighter-looking skin with its powerful hydrating abilities.
However, not all retinol is created equal—some formulations can be too harsh, causing dryness and irritation. This is why pairing it with super-hydrating ingredients is one of the best ways to get all of its benefits with less of its side effects. This dynamic duo works in harmony to deliver powerful benefits without overworking your skin.
Retinol takes the lead in accelerating skin renewal, smoothing texture, and visibly diminishing signs of aging. It's like your skin's very own personal trainer, pushing it to achieve its best performance. On the other side, hyaluronic acid keeps your skin thoroughly hydrated, buffering against retinol's potential for dryness.
In short, hyaluronic acid and retinol aren't adversaries—they're allies! So with that out of the way, let’s talk about how you can get the most out of this skin-nourishing partnership.
Using Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid in Your Routine
Thankfully, you won’t need to compare hyaluronic acid versus retinol or select one or the other, because you can incorporate both into your daily routine and enjoy all the benefits. To do so effectively, follow this simple, four-step skincare routine featuring hyaluronic acid and retinol:
Start With a Clean Face
Think of your skin as a canvas, ready to absorb all the goodness that your skincare routine has to offer. You want to wash away any makeup or impurities on your skin that can interrupt product absorption or cause breakouts, but you don’t want to strip your skin of its natural oils.
Our MANTLE Skin Conditioning Wash isn't your everyday face wash—it's a futuristic formula designed to cleanse and condition without disrupting your skin's natural balance.
The transformative oil-balm emulsifies into a cleansing milk, washing away everything from sunscreen to pollutants—basically, everything your face has been subjected to during the day. But it doesn't stop there.
With the power of dehydrated short-chain hyaluronic acid, your skin is replenished with moisture, resulting in a beautifully hydrated complexion that is primed for the next steps in your regimen. The formula also boasts a prebiotic complex, probiotic complex, and a range of skin-loving fruit AHAs to gently exfoliate and support optimal skin pH.
Apply Your Retinol Product
The first act of this skincare performance is all about retinol. Our Resurfacing Compound is where retinol takes the spotlight.
But this compound isn't just any resurfacing retinol serum—it's a comprehensive complexion enhancer. It brightens, resurfaces, renews, tightens, equalizes, and defends the appearance of your skin. Think of it as a full orchestra of benefits, playing harmoniously to make your skin look its absolute best.
Powered by stable retinol, stabilized vitamins C and E, and a blend of antioxidants, this compound is formulated to yield maximum results.
Hydrate Your Skin
After the renewing serenade of retinol, it's time to invite hyaluronic acid to take the stage. Think of The SUPER Hydrator as a luxurious symphony of hydration. This isn't just any skin moisturizer—it's a masterclass in skin hydration that works for up to 48 hours, providing your skin with the moisture it craves.
The SUPER Hydrator wields the power of five unique sizes of hyaluronic acid molecules, ensuring deep and multi-level hydration. It creates a protective 3D moisture shield that locks in hydration, keeping your skin plump, nourished, and glowing.
Coupled with an impressive lineup of purified oat extract, peptides, and various organic oils, this moisturizer doesn't just hydrate—it rejuvenates, ensuring your skin is well-nourished and ready for the day.
Protect Yourself From the Sun
No skincare routine would be complete without the crucial element of sun protection. This is where our Multimodal Defender Broad Spectrum SPF 30 steps in.
This product offers broad-spectrum protection against the visible effects of harmful UVA, UVB, infrared, and blue light rays. It’s also packed with hyaluronic acid for hydration and vitamin C to brighten and illuminate, providing an all-around solution for your complexion concerns.
Its multimodal approach helps it address discoloration, dark spots, and fine lines. It's like an encore performance—capping off your skincare routine while ensuring your skin is safeguarded against the harsh realities of environmental damage.
What Do You Need To Know To Apply Retinol Safely?
Adopting retinol into your routine requires a measured approach. With most formulations of retinol, you’ll want to introduce it into your routine gradually, increasing your applications slowly as tolerated by your skin. Most retinol can also make your skin photosensitive, so it’s generally recommended that you save your retinol application for your evening routine.
Our Resurfacing Compound is an exception to those rules. It harnesses a unique, stable form of retinol that encourages daily application—morning or evening, your pick. The magic lies in its exclusive SIREN Capsule Technology, which zeroes in on distressed skin areas, leaving the healthy surrounding skin undisturbed.
The result? Radiant skin sans dryness.
Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, and You
Hyaluronic acid and retinol are not opponents. When combined, they help hydrate, visibly rejuvenate, and revitalize your skin’s appearance. Rather than choosing hyaluronic acid versus retinol and missing out on the benefits of one or the other, incorporate both into your routine to help your skin reach its full potential.
Sources:
Hyaluronic Acid: A Key Molecule in Skin Aging | National Library of Medicine
Photosensitivity Due to Retinoids: Clinical and Laboratory Studies | National Library of Medicine
Sun-damaged Skin: Photoaging, Signs, Causes & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic
