Can you use retinol and vitamin C together?
Yes, you can use both, but they're gentlest at different times of day: vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night.
Why
There's no harmful reaction between them. The reason to separate them is comfort. Both can sting or dry the skin, and pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is only absorbed well from very acidic serums, below about pH 3.5 (Pinnell 2001). Layering an acidic vitamin C serum straight under retinol makes irritation more likely, especially while your skin is still getting used to retinol.
Splitting them also suits what each one does best. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that pairs well with daytime sunscreen, while retinol breaks down in light and is normally used at night.
How to use them
- Morning: cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturiser, SPF 30 or higher.
- Evening: cleanser, retinol, moisturiser.
- Start one at a time. Add the second once your skin has settled, usually after a few weeks.
- If your skin is sensitive, a gentler vitamin C derivative such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is less acidic and less likely to sting.
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Other combinations
- Can you use retinol and AHAs together? — use at different times
- Can you use retinol and salicylic acid together? — use at different times
- Can you use retinol and niacinamide together? — works well together
- Can you use retinol and hyaluronic acid together? — works well together
- Can you use retinol and benzoyl peroxide together? — use at different times
- Can you use vitamin C and niacinamide together? — works well together
- Can you use vitamin C with AHAs or BHA? — yes, with care
- Can you use vitamin C and benzoyl peroxide together? — use at different times
Sources
Last reviewed 20 Oct 2026.