Does vitamin C go before or after retinol?

Should I use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night?

Yes. This is a straightforward general routine for using both ingredients. Vitamin C helps protect skin against free radicals, molecules that can damage cells. Retinol helps with fine lines, sun damage and uneven pigmentation, but makes skin more sensitive to sunlight. A useful routine can stay short, even if the bathroom shelf has other ambitions.12

In the morning:

1. 1Wash with a gentle cleanser.
2. 2Apply vitamin C serum.
3. 3Apply moisturizer.
4. 4Apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. A moisturizer containing sunscreen can combine the last two steps.

At night:

1. 1Cleanse gently and pat your skin dry. Do not scrub.
2. 2Apply a thin layer of retinol, following the package directions. General guidance is a pea sized amount for the face, avoiding the eyes, mouth and nose.
3. 3Finish with a moisturizer that will not clog pores.

Can I use retinol and vitamin C in the same routine?

Both can belong in your daily routine without being applied together. There is also evidence for a specifically formulated combination: a serum containing vitamin C, retinyl propionate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate improved measures of firmness and elasticity after 14 and 28 days in a trial involving 120 women aged 25 to 40. Those two vitamin A derivatives are not ordinary retinol. For separate vitamin C and retinol products, a universal before or after rule remains unsettled; the practical default is the morning and evening split above.4

Can I alternate vitamin C and retinol instead of using both daily?

You do not need to start retinol every night. Test a small amount on a small area first and wait a couple of days to check for redness or itching. Begin every other night for the first couple of weeks, or once every few days if you need a slower introduction. Increase gradually as your skin tolerates it. This gives you nights without retinol rather than requiring both ingredients every day.3

What if the routine irritates my skin?

Retinol can cause dryness, redness, itching and peeling. A thin layer of moisturizer before retinol can help reduce irritation. Sensitive or allergy prone skin needs particular care, and an alternative ingredient can be a better choice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak with your healthcare provider before using retinol. Follow your prescriber's directions for a prescription retinoid rather than substituting this general routine.13

Stop using a skincare product if it burns or stings. Irritation can itself cause dark spots in darker skin tones, so pushing through discomfort can work against your reason for using these ingredients. See a dermatologist if dark spots are not improving with your routine.5

What should I expect?

Retinol takes several weeks to produce visible improvement, and changes in wrinkles commonly take several months. Vitamin C's usefulness depends on a stable formula that reaches the skin, not simply its presence on an ingredient list. Choose vitamin C packaging that limits exposure to light. An opaque bottle is useful packaging, not just a way to make the serum look mysterious.136