Hyaluronic acid is the hydrating hero of skincare, and retinol is the anti-aging, anti-acne powerhouse — so between the two of them, you would think you have pretty much everything you need. Not so fast. Before you layer them together, it is worth knowing whether the two can even be paired. Plenty of us obsess over the basics — cleansing, moisturizing and protecting the skin — but how the ingredients you use interact with each other matters just as much. To settle it, the article turned to board-certified dermatologists Dr. Jeremy Fenton and Dr. Ivy DeRosa, and the piece was medically reviewed by Dr. Julia A. Siegel. Here is what they say about using hyaluronic acid and retinol as a pair.
The short version first. Hyaluronic acid and retinol can be used together without causing irritation, and the pairing can even make your routine work better: hyaluronic acid helps soften retinol’s drying effects by adding hydration and helping ingredients absorb. The usual order is retinol first, then a hyaluronic acid serum, then moisturizer to lock the hydration in.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Jeremy Fenton is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. Dr. Ivy DeRosa is a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist with a small private practice outside of Philadelphia. Together, they explain how hyaluronic acid and retinol work — and work together.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating ingredient that moisturizes the skin, softens the look of wrinkles, replenishes cell moisture and speeds wound healing. To get more scientific about it, Dr. DeRosa explains that hyaluronic acid is a molecule in a class called humectants, and their job is to help retain water in your skin. That hydration is what gives skin the dewy, glowy effect so many of us want.
Hyaluronic acid comes in many over-the-counter forms, like serums and lotions, and it helps fill the nooks and crannies skin develops over time from pollution, sun damage and the normal aging process, Dr. DeRosa says. It does not change the architecture of your skin in the long run the way retinoids do, but it can help with a temporary improvement in how your skin looks and feels. It is generally safe for all skin types, with no known side effects when applied topically.
What Is Retinol?
If hyaluronic acid is the popular girl who is nice to everyone, think of retinol as her equally popular but very intimidating best friend. According to Dr. Fenton, retinol is an antioxidant that increases cell turnover, boosts collagen production and regulates oil production, and it is regularly praised as a godsend for anyone looking to address texture, acne or signs of aging. It can also work well with other topicals: Dr. Fenton notes that retinol may be helpful in combination with other topical treatments because it exfoliates the skin and can allow ingredients to penetrate deeper, making them more effective.
But retinol also comes with some serious side effects — both doctors note dryness, peeling and irritation — and the potential for intense, prolonged purging. Hence the intimidation.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol Together?
Much like the girls in the high school analogy, hyaluronic acid and retinol are a match made in heaven. Where retinol is rough, hyaluronic acid is soft; where hyaluronic acid is weak, retinol is strong. Together, they balance each other out without compromising the things that make them unique — and that is exactly what makes the combination one of the most popular across all skincare ingredients.
Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol Together
As the article puts it, hyaluronic acid and retinol are the ultimate duo. Together, they have a sort of synergistic effect, making it easier to reap the benefits of retinol without suffering the usual dryness, thanks to the moisture boost from hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid helps keep retinol in check by increasing the permeability of the skin, so when combined, the two ingredients can leave your skin clearer, smoother and more hydrated and moisturized. What more could you ask for?
And it is a combination you might already be using: many moisturizers contain hyaluronic acid anyway. Likewise, Dr. DeRosa says many high-quality, over-the-counter retinol products are formulated with hydrating and calming ingredients to help mitigate irritation, so there is a chance your retinol even contains some hyaluronic acid already.
Potential Side Effects of Using Hyaluronic Acid with Retinol
As with all skincare ingredients, there is always some potential for irritation. That potential is fairly high with retinol and very low with hyaluronic acid. So yes, there is still a chance of irritation — but it is a very, very small one, and that irritation would likely be caused not by the combination of retinol and hyaluronic acid, but by the retinol itself.
How to Use Hyaluronic Acid With Retinol
If you have sensitive or dry skin, Dr. DeRosa suggests a gentle way to tolerate retinol: start by cleansing with a gentle wash — no scrubs, toners or physical exfoliants. Then apply a pea-sized amount of retinol to the face (just a pea, more is not better), followed by a small amount of hyaluronic acid serum and then a moisturizer cream. The moisturizer helps lock in the hyaluronic acid so it can amplify the helpfulness of your moisturizer.
You can also try applying a moisturizer or hyaluronic acid in gel form around 30 minutes after applying retinol, so the treatment has time to dry and soak into the skin before you moisturize. For dry or sensitive skin, try using a hyaluronic acid serum before the retinol instead — then, once the retinol has dried, apply a moisturizer.
How to Minimize Irritation
One thing the article stresses is that proper application matters, and its importance cannot be overstated. Be sure to give your retinol time to dry and seep into the skin before moving on to the next steps. That pause is what keeps irritation to a minimum.
The Final Takeaway
Not only can you use hyaluronic acid and retinol together — both doctors actually encourage you to. Few other ingredient combinations are as well-regarded in the skincare community.
On their own, hyaluronic acid and retinol are both considered two of the most popular ingredients in anti-aging skincare products. Because hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin while retinol speeds cellular turnover, you can counteract some of retinol’s notorious drying properties while still allowing the ingredient to penetrate the outer layer of the skin. If anything, results are only better when you combine the two. As the article’s author Dani Hardman puts it, give the combo a try — you can thank her later.
The article’s claims are backed by peer-reviewed research, including a 2023 review on hyaluronic acid, a 2006 review on retinoids in skin aging, and a 2017 study on topical stabilized retinol and hyaluronic acid production in skin.
