How Long After Retinol to Apply Moisturizer?

How Long After Retinol to Apply Moisturizer?

It’s almost always a great idea to add retinol to your routine. Retinoids are the skincare world’s gold-standard anti-aging and clarifying ingredients, with incredible benefits for all skin types. However, it's essential to use retinol correctly for optimal results.

Figuring out how to use retinol isn’t a one-size-fits-all process, as different people can tolerate different intensities and frequencies. Your lifestyle and the type of retinoid you use are key factors in how long you wait to apply moisturizer after retinol. 

In this guide, we’ll help you understand exactly how long to wait before applying moisturizer, so you can get the most out of your retinol. 

Should I use retinol before or after moisturizer? 

When it comes to retinol, retinal, or other cosmetic retinoids, use retinol before moisturizer. These retinoids are gentle on the skin and less likely to cause irritation, but applying them after moisturizer may reduce their effectiveness

You may have heard of the concept of “buffering,” which means applying your active ingredient on top of moisturizer. The moisturizer slows down the rate of product penetration. It reduces the risk of irritation from strong active ingredients, but it can also reduce their efficacy. 

Buffering can make a lot of sense if you’re using a stronger type of retinoid, like prescription retinoic acid. However, it usually isn’t necessary with cosmetic options like retinol or retinal.  

Why should I wait before applying moisturizer? 

One of the biggest challenges for ingredients like retinol is their ability to penetrate the skin. Retinol needs a bit of time to work. Once applied to the skin, it goes through a one-step (in the case of retinal) or two-step (in the case of retinol) conversion process. Only once it’s converted can it interact with retinoic acid receptors in the skin and improve skin cell behavior.

Applying moisturizer too soon after your retinol can disrupt its absorption. You can even rub away some of the retinol as you massage the moisturizer into your skin. Allowing retinol to sit uninterrupted gives it time to absorb fully. It also allows your retinol to begin its conversion process, enabling it to effectively interact with your skin and promote healthy skin cell generation.

When to apply moisturizer after retinol

To make sure you get the most out of your retinol, we recommend you wait at least a few minutes until it has absorbed into your skin completely before applying moisturizer. 

Applying moisturizer too soon, for any retinol product — not just Protocol's — can dilute its potency and reduce its effectiveness. In fact, the more conversions a retinoid has to go through, the more time it needs on the skin, so this is even more important with weaker retinols. 

If you have extra time, you can wait a full 30 minutes before you apply moisturizer. If this sounds difficult, try to get creative with your bedtime routine scheduling. You don’t have to do your nighttime skincare routine right before bedtime. You can wash your face and apply your retinol at any point in the evening, as long as the sun has set and you’re not planning to head out anytime soon. 

Is it better to put retinol on damp or dry skin?

Additionally, it’s better to apply retinol to damp skin (unless your skin is extremely sensitive). Water enhances product absorption, which can be beneficial or problematic depending on the product. With over-the-counter cosmetic retinoids like retinol and retinal, the one or two-step conversion process significantly reduces your risk of experiencing skin irritation, so you might as well try to maximize efficacy. 

With prescription retinoids, however, you should practice caution. Most prescribers recommend applying tretinoin and other prescription retinoids to dry skin, to reduce penetration. An even better option is to buffer the product by applying it on top of moisturizer. This will help slow down the rate of penetration without forcing you to rub your skin harshly. 

Choosing an effective retinoid 

Waiting or not, it’s also important you choose a retinol that will work to improve the look and function of your skin. Choosing retinol serums over creams makes a big difference since creams can’t permeate through the skin as effectively.  

Retinoids come in different forms, from weak retinoid esters with minimal skin impact to powerful prescription-only options. The fewer enzymatic conversions a retinoid has to undergo, the more skin-smoothing, wrinkle-fighting, and pore-unclogging effects it will have. 

For a gentle yet effective retinoid, check out our Enzyme Active Retinol Serum, designed to fit seamlessly into any skincare routine. It’s made with retinal (with an “a”) rather than retinol, so it more readily transforms into an active form on the skin, for faster skin renewal and less irritation. It’s the ideal retinoid for most skin types since it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin but just as powerfully skin smoothing as stronger options.



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Is your retinol not yellow?

That's the first...yellow flag that your retinol may not be formulated properly. Real retinol––like it's cousin beta carotene that makes carrots bright orange––should be bright yellow.