Best C Serum

Guide

Vitamin C and Retinol: How to Use Both

By the BestCSerum editorial team · Updated 2 October 2026 · How we write and check content

You can use both, but most people do best with vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night. Both can irritate on their own, and using them in the same step increases the chance of redness and peeling, especially when you are new to either.

The simple split

Morning: vitamin C, moisturiser, sunscreen. Night: retinol, then moisturiser. This keeps vitamin C working alongside sunscreen during the day and puts retinol at night, when it is usually recommended because retinoids can make skin more sensitive to sun.

Introducing them

Start one product at a time and give your skin a few weeks before adding the second. If you are new to retinol, use it two or three nights a week at first. Gentler vitamin C forms such as ascorbyl glucoside or THD ascorbate may be easier to pair with retinoids than low-pH L-ascorbic acid.

If you use prescription retinoids such as tretinoin, follow your dermatologist's advice on combining products.

Frequently asked questions

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

Some people tolerate it, but it raises the risk of irritation. Separating them into morning and night is the safer default.

+Is retinol safe during pregnancy?

Retinoids are generally avoided during pregnancy. Speak to your doctor before using any retinoid if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.

Related guides

Vitamin C forms mentioned on this page

Sources

  1. Al-Niaimi F, Chiang NYZ. Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2017.

General information only, not medical advice. This page has not been reviewed by a dermatologist. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or react to a product, speak to a qualified doctor. Product data is checked against named sources; see our methodology.