Can AHA/retinol etc be used with Vit C?
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free skin care · Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:08 pm

Hi everyone... Smile

Now that I have some knowledge of Vit C serums and hydrating gels (thanks to you guys!!)...perhaps I should learn more about the AHA's and retinol type things people rave about....

What are they, what do they do, which are the 'best' brands to go for...and can they be used with a Vit C serum?

Thanks for all your wisdom...

Niki

free skin care · Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:30 pm

They can but use them at opposite times of the day. For example, use your C serum in the morning and your AHA/BHA product in the evening. Two AHA/BHA products that I love are Cellex-c's Betaplex line smoother and new complexion cream.

Liz

Tue Jun 29, 2004 4:32 am

I wouldn't use vit C and retinol together - but I agree with what Liz says. Vit C in the morning and retinol at night should be fine.

I really like the Vivier serums because they don't feel as drying on my skin as the Cellex-C and Skinceuticals. I'm sure it's a matter of personal experience and preference though. By the way, Skinceuticals now makes a vit C+AHA serum all in one Wink

Btw, AHAs (Glycolic Acid is one of the most common ones) basically work to exfoliate your skin and also to lighten skin discoloration and scar marks. I think they're also supposed to do something that makes your skin retain moisture longer but I'm not sure how accurate that info is.

Mabsy

Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:56 am

Hi everyone!

I've actually been wondering the same thing - about coming Vit C, AHA and Retinol. My doctor prescribed Differin (a type of retinol treatment) for me to use at night. I'd already been using an AHA at night. She said I could use both, which surprised me. So far I have not tried both AHA and retinol at the same time because I'm worried about skin irritation. I've been using the Differin on my forehead and the AHA everywhere else. I have not experienced any irritation so far.

What I'm thinking of doing next is alternating - using the AHA all over my face one night and the Differin all over my face the next night, to see how that goes. And I just ordered a Vit C serum to use in the a.m.

Anyone try anything like this? Or has anyone tried Vit C in the a.m., and BOTH AHA and a retinol product at night??

free skin care · Tue Jun 29, 2004 8:20 am

I have done that. It really is very individual. If you have sensitive skin, I wouldn't recommend it. I don't have sensitive skin, and I have never had a problem. I used retin-A Micro .1% with Cellex-c new complexion cream which has 10% AHA at night. I also use SkinCeuticals serum 20 in the morning. I just never recommend using them together because so many people have issues with irritation.

I have also started alternating nights between the retinA and cellex-c's line smoother (15% AHA) I really only alternate because i didn't feel that I needed to use the retin A every night anymore.

I hope this helps.

Liz

Tue Jun 29, 2004 8:48 am

Hi Abejita!

Thank you so much for your response. It was very helpful. I wanted to hear from someone who has actually tried what I'm considering and I'm glad to hear that you did not get irritated.

The area under my eyes seems to be the only sensitive area on my face and I don't plan on using it there so the combination might be fine for me too. I may just start out alternating and see what happens. I'll give it a little more thought.

Thanks again!

free skin care · Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:23 pm

Thank you everyone for your help!

If AHA's help exfoliate the skin what does retinol do? My problem is that though I have dry skin I have numerous tiny skin coloured 'pimples' on both cheeks. They are not whiteheads or blackheads and from a distance are not very visible. I have started to use the Vit C serum (15% SkinCeauticals) and the B5 hydrating gel but I guess its too early to tell any difference. Is there anything else I should be using that might help? Sometimes I wonder what skin type I actually have!! Confused

All help much appreiciated!
Thank you Smile

Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:46 pm

Nikita,

My doctor prescribed the retinol product for minor breakouts - whiteheads and some basic "pimples" i guess you'd say. I have only been using it for 3 1/2 weeks and it is supposed to take 6-8 weeks to see a difference. I've heard retinol products are good for preventing and diminishing fine wrinkles. I believe it is just another type of exfoliator but maybe someone else could elaborate on that.

I often wonder what type of skin I have too! I get a lot of whiteheads, even have one under my eye in a sensitive area that I'm not sure what to do with!

Good luck!

free skin care · Sat Jul 03, 2004 4:16 pm

Thanks Morelia! Smile

I'll let you know how I get on....
Take care.... Smile

Niki

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