You can use lactic acid and retinol in the same routine, and the simplest default is to put them on separate nights rather than layering them together. DermNet says leave-on AHAs can be alternated with retinoid creams (DermNet). Add the products on your shelf to Oleah. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together.
Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid, or AHA, and the FDA lists it with glycolic acid as one of the most common AHAs in cosmetics (FDA). Retinol is a type of retinoid, a catch-all term for vitamin A based products used on skin (AAD).
Why do separate nights make sense?
Both can bother skin when you start them. The FDA says AHA products cause exfoliation, or shedding of the surface skin (FDA). The AAD notes that retinol and glycolic acid can irritate skin, particularly if it is sensitive (AAD). Giving each its own night means fewer strong products on your face at once, and if your skin reacts you have a better idea which one did it.
| Night | What goes on |
|---|---|
| Lactic acid night | Cleanser, lactic acid, moisturiser |
| Retinol night | Cleanser, retinol, moisturiser |
| Plain night | Cleanser, moisturiser |
No source we opened sets a fixed number of nights for each, so let your skin set the pace.
How do you start both without overdoing it?
- Start with one, not both. If you already use one comfortably, keep it as it is and add the other later.
- Patch test the new one. The AAD suggests a quarter-sized spot on the underside of your arm, twice a day for seven to 10 days (AAD).
- Go slowly with retinol. Dermatologist Tina Alster, quoted by the AAD, advises using "the least-intense retinoid formula they can find, and use it every other night to start, slowly building up." (AAD)
- Add both to Oleah. Add the products on your shelf to Oleah. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together.
- Give each product its own night. Keep plain cleanser and moisturiser nights in between.
- Wear sunscreen in the day. The FDA advises sun protection when using AHAs, while using the product and for a week afterwards (FDA). The AAD says retinoids can make skin more sensitive to sun (AAD).
Can you use lactic acid in the morning and retinol at night?
You can. The AAD quotes Dr. Alster advising retinoids only at night (AAD). If you use lactic acid in the morning, sunscreen matters even more, because of the FDA's sunburn alert for AHAs (FDA). For more on lactic acid itself, read what is lactic acid. If you also use niacinamide or vitamin C, read can I use niacinamide and vitamin C together?
What about pregnancy?
The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy (AAD). DermNet lists some topical retinoids as not for use in pregnancy (DermNet). If you are pregnant, planning to be or breastfeeding, ask a doctor or pharmacist before using either product.
When should you stop?
If a product stings, burns or makes your skin red, wash it off and stop using it. If a doctor prescribed it, ask them first. If your skin stays sore, see a pharmacist or doctor. If it blisters or swells, see a doctor today. If your lips, tongue or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing, call emergency services now. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
If you are new to retinol, start with how to start using retinol.
Where Oleah fits
Add the products on your shelf to Oleah. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together.
Oleah is an iPhone app for the skincare you already own. You add the products on your shelf or in your routine, take quick face scans that take about 30 seconds to follow visible changes over time, and ask questions along the way. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together. There is a check-in on day 3, a first report on day 7 and the next report on day 14. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice, and it does not sell skincare.
Download the free iPhone beta. Add the products on your shelf, then take a quick face scan.
Questions people ask
Can I use lactic acid and retinol on the same night? The simplest default is separate nights, so fewer strong products are on your face at once.
Should I use lactic acid or retinol first? Start with one. Add the other later, on its own night, once your skin is comfortable.
Do I need sunscreen with lactic acid and retinol? Yes. The FDA advises sun protection with AHAs, and the AAD says retinoids can make skin more sensitive to sun.
Can I use retinol while pregnant? The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy. If you're pregnant or trying to be, ask your doctor about any retinoid you already use.
Sources
- FDA: Alpha Hydroxy Acids
- AAD: Retinoid or retinol?
- AAD: How to test skin care products
- DermNet: Topical retinoids
Oleah tracks how your skin looks. It is not a medical device. See a doctor about skin conditions.
