Will your skincare mix?
Drop two ingredients into the vial and watch what happens. Every answer is sourced.
Yes, with timing: Yes, with timing. Use retinol and glycolic acid on alternating nights rather than together. Full answer
Tell us about your skin
Pick what fits your skin, and we'll point out what matters for you on every page.
Most asked
- Can you use retinol with vitamin C?Yes, with timingUse vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night.
- Can you use retinol with niacinamide?YesNiacinamide and retinol are an easy, well-tolerated pairing.
- Can you use vitamin C with niacinamide?YesVitamin C and niacinamide can be used together.
- Can you use retinol with tretinoin?No, not togetherDo not layer retinol and tretinoin; they are both retinoids.
- Can you use retinol with salicylic acid?Yes, with timingUse retinol and salicylic acid on alternating nights rather than together.
- Can you use retinol with hyaluronic acid?YesHyaluronic acid is an easy, gentle partner for retinol.
- Can you use tretinoin with vitamin C?Yes, with timingUse vitamin C in the morning and tretinoin at night.
- Can you use tretinoin with niacinamide?YesTretinoin and niacinamide have no known conflict.
- Can you use vitamin C with salicylic acid?Yes, with timingUse vitamin C in the morning and salicylic acid at night.
- Can you use vitamin C with hyaluronic acid?YesVitamin C and hyaluronic acid are a classic morning pair.
- Can you use niacinamide with salicylic acid?YesNiacinamide and salicylic acid work well together, especially for oily and acne-prone skin.
- Can you use niacinamide with hyaluronic acid?YesNiacinamide and hyaluronic acid have no known conflict.
The compatibility matrix
Every ingredient against every other. Tap a cell for the full answer.
| Retinol | Tretinoin | Adapalene | Vitamin C | Niacinamide | Glycolic Acid | Lactic Acid | Salicylic Acid | Benzoyl Peroxide | Azelaic Acid | Hyaluronic Acid | Ceramides | Peptides | Copper Peptides | Bakuchiol | Vitamin E | Ferulic Acid | AHA/BHA Peel | Sunscreen | Mandelic Acid | Tranexamic Acid | Alpha Arbutin | Kojic Acid | Snail Mucin | Centella Asiatica | Squalane | Clindamycin | Hydroquinone | Minoxidil | Urea | Moisturizer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retinol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tretinoin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adapalene | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Niacinamide | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glycolic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lactic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salicylic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benzoyl Peroxide | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Azelaic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyaluronic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ceramides | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peptides | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copper Peptides | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bakuchiol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin E | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ferulic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AHA/BHA Peel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sunscreen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mandelic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tranexamic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alpha Arbutin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kojic Acid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snail Mucin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centella Asiatica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Squalane | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clindamycin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hydroquinone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minoxidil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisturizer |
YesYes, with timingYes, with careNo, not togetherNot reviewed yet