Can you use retinol with AHA/BHA peeling solution?

Yes, with timing

Retinol and aha/bha peeling solution: Yes, but not on the same night: an AHA and BHA peeling solution such as The Ordinary's is a strong exfoliating mask, so use it on a night with no retinol, and wait at least a day or two before your next retinol night.1 2 3

Evidence strength: Moderate

How we grade evidence

The chemistry

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is a ten-minute rinse-off mask. Its listed ingredients include salicylic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid, plus soothing panthenol and a hyaluronic acid derivative (The Ordinary). Alpha and beta hydroxy acids loosen the bonds between dead surface cells, and AHAs also make skin more sensitive to UV while you use them (Kornhauser 2010). Retinol speeds cell turnover and commonly causes dryness and peeling when you start, which is why the American Academy of Dermatology suggests introducing it slowly and moisturizing (AAD retinoid). Stacking a high-strength acid mask and retinol on the same night doubles the exfoliation without a study showing extra benefit.

Chemistry

No inactivation, but both exfoliate.

Irritation

High if layered. The peel is strong on its own.

Order and wait

Separate nights. Peel night, then at least one rest or moisturizer-only night, then retinol.

Common mistakes

The classic mistake is using the peel the same night as retinol, or the night before a retinol night, then wondering why skin burns. Another is leaving the mask on longer than the label says. A third is skipping sunscreen in the days after, when AHA-treated skin burns more easily (Kornhauser 2010). If you are new to retinol, let skin settle on it for a few weeks before adding a peel at all.

Your routine

Morning

Gentle cleanser
Moisturizer
Broad-spectrum SPF 30+

Evening

Peel night: mask for the labelled time, rinse, plain moisturizer
Retinol nights: retinol, then moisturizer
Rest nights: moisturizer only

Sample week

MonRetinol

TueRest

WedRetinol

ThuRest

FriAHA/BHA peeling solution

SatRest

SunRest

With a rest night before and after.

Go slower if

Skip the peel on broken, sunburned or freshly waxed skin. Avoid retinoids in pregnancy unless your doctor approves (AAD retinoid).

Evidence strength

Limited. We found no study of this product with retinol. The advice comes from how hydroxy acids and retinoids act on skin (Kornhauser 2010, AAD retinoid) and the product's own ingredient list (The Ordinary).

Products with retinol

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane

Picked for retinol

Same squalane base as the 0.5%, with retinol stepped up to 1%.

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FAQ

Do I use the peeling solution before or after retinol?

Not on the same night. Use the peel on a separate evening, rinse it off and moisturize. No study has tested layering the two, so we follow the separate-nights approach.

How long should I wait after the AHA BHA peel to use retinol?

At least one full night, and two if your skin feels tight or pink. No interval has been studied; let skin feel normal first.

Can I use the peel every week with retinol?

Many people manage once a week with rest nights around it, as in the plan above. Cut back if you sting.

Does it contain glycolic acid?

The ingredient list we checked names lactic, tartaric, citric and salicylic acids (The Ordinary).

Your skin