You don’t have to choose between retinol and hydration.

In fact, they actually work better together.

Think of it this way: Retinol is busy helping improve the look of your skin over time, while a hydrating serum helps keep your skin feeling comfortable, soft and supported along the way.

One of those products is focused on longer-term skin goals, whereas the other makes sure your skin barrier isn’t screaming at you while you get there.

So if you’ve been wondering whether you can use both in the same routine, the answer is a big yes.

Why does retinol get such a bad reputation?

Retinol is one of the most researched and clinically proven ingredients in skincare, and for good reason. It can help improve the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone, post-breakout marks and skin texture over time.

The downside?

When you first introduce it, your skin may need a little time to adjust.

The good news? Going red, flaky and miserable is not a compulsory retinol initiation ceremony. And if it does happen to you when you first start out, it doesn’t automatically mean retinol isn’t for you.

The missing piece? Hydration.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when they start retinol is focusing so much on the active ingredient and forgetting everything else about skin care. 

Namely, your skin barrier still needs support. Your skin still needs hydration. And that’s exactly where a hydrating serum comes in.

Rather than competing with your retinol, hydration helps maintain your skin's barrier in a good healthy condition, and keeps your skin feeling cushioned and comfortable while you’re using it.

So... which one goes first?

There’s no single right answer, but here’s an easy way to approach it:

Don’t get too hung up on finding the one “perfect” order you saw on TikTok.

The best routine is the one your skin is happy with; and the one you’ll actually stick to.

A simple retinol and hydration routine

If you’re completely new to retinol, there’s no need to dive straight into using it every night. Start slowly; a couple of nights a week can be plenty - and increase your frequency depending on how your skin responds.

Skincare isn’t a race, and your skin does not hand out prizes for going too hard too fast.

Do you actually need both?

Not necessarily.

If your biggest concern is skin that constantly feels dry, tight, dull or dehydrated, you might be perfectly happy focusing on hydration.

If you’re starting to notice things like uneven texture, lingering post-breakout marks or fine lines, retinol might be the next thing you want to introduce.

But if your goal is that sweet spot; healthy, comfortable, glowy skin and the longer-term benefits of retinol then the two make a pretty great team.

The bottom line

Retinol and hydration aren’t an either/or decision.

Hydrating skincare helps keep your skin feeling soft, comfortable and supported. Retinol works away in the background to help improve the look of texture, tone and fine lines over time. Sometimes the best skincare routine isn’t about finding one miracle product.

It’s about finding products that work well together.