Hi there,
I’m trying to find out how long to wait between applying skin care products. I’ve tried to google it but all the answers are different.
My AM routine: Gentle cleanser, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, moisturizer, sunscreen
My PM routine: Cleanser, hyaluronic acid, retinol, moisturizer
Here are reasons for waiting for exfoliating products such as AHA/BHA and Retinol/Retinoid:
Migration - Generally when you apply a moisturizer you are applying it everywhere across your face, including your eye area and lips. If you are using an exfoliate product that is not designed for the eye/lip area, you don't want to pick up the exfoliating/drying product and move it to those sensitive areas of your face. This could cause irritation to the eyes or peeling of the lips. Wait for your skin to fully absorb the product. You shouldn't "feel" the product on your face anymore. The amount of time depends on the product you are using and your skin. Sometimes a couple minutes is enough. If you notice that your eyelids are stinging or lips are peeling after starting a chemical exfoliate, even though you are not applying the product to those areas, then increase wait time.
pH dependent - This depends on the products you are using. You may not have to wait at all. There are different opinions on this. Some people say that if you are using a pH dependent product, and then you apply a product with a different pH, then you are reducing the potency of the ph dependent product. Some people say it doesn't matter.
Products that aren't compatible together - Wait times are longer for this. I haven't tested this on my skin. I don't use products that counteract each other at the same time of day. Examples include: Vitamin C and prescription retinoid/differin. AHA/BHA with non-prescription retinol. (Some studies say that AHA/BHA can reduce effectiveness of non-prescription retinols. This doesn't apply to prescription retinoids/differin.) Benzoyl Peroxide and prescription natural retinoids. (Benzoyl Peroxide can deactivate natural retinoids. Differin is synthetic.) There is one study that suggests that Niacinamide and Vitamin C can cause flushing when mixed. I have also seen these products mixed together though. (Mixed opinions on this one.)
Personally, I wait 10 minutes+ after applying my BHA exfoliant, before putting on Differin, and then wait 10 minutes+ before putting on my moisturizer. I use to not wait, and I have noticed a difference since waiting. I just do other things before I go to sleep. It is suggested to wait 20mins+ after Differin. I just don't have the time, so 10 minutes for me is a good compromise. In the morning, I use a Vitamin C acid and just wait a couple minutes for it to dry. Would it be better to wait longer? Maybe or maybe not. However, the Vitamin C serum still works on me, and I don't want to have to wake up earlier. But I do have to wait a couple minutes for it to dry, otherwise my Vitamin C serum moves to my lips and dries them if I go straight to my moisturizing step.
Many people intentionally apply moisturizer first and tretinoin second. If you feel like your skin is handling the tret well then you can do the moisturizer afterwards to avoid diluting the efficacy of the tret. Personally I have sensitive combination skin so I wash my face, apply a very light moisturizer so it doesn’t dry out, then appl tretinoin, and end with a heavier moisturizer (especially in winter).
You mentioned you aren’t having irritation and that you have oily skin, have you noticed your skin being any more or less oily since starting tretinoin?
Not every side effect is irritation or redness- sometimes an initial reaction to your skin drying out can be overproduction of oil as your skin tries to compensate.
I’ve read that people say that you don’t need to wait after applying serums etc before moving to the next step- the exception being tretinoin.
The claim is for maximum efficacy with tretinoin after you apply the tret you should wait at least 20 mins before applying anything on top, commonly moisturizer.
Can someone point me towards an article or study demonstrating the accuracy of this statement?
Edit: to be clear, I am not referring to wait time after washing face before applying tret. I mean AFTER applying tret, wait time before applying on top.
If you haven’t bought a retinol and are beginner- buy one with lower percentage like 0.25% or around there don’t go in hard with a 1%
I use a pea size amount 0.25 2x a week after cleansing and waiting for my skin to naturally be completely dry. Then moisturizer. It’s already working and I’ll increase usage as needed. If you bought a 1% already I’d do moisture first as it reduces potency of it & good for sensitive skin & beginners :)
Bring on the flake!