Ingredient pairing

Can you mix Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate?

Same answer whichever way you searched it: Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Retinol.

Fine togetherThey're fine together.

Retinol Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

These two actually work well together, and are often formulated side by side.

Routine: You can use these together, morning or night.

RetinolWorth paying for

Efficacy9

Anti-aging9

Brightening4

Skip if: pregnancy, breastfeeding, very sensitive, compromised barrier

Not in pregnancy

Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateWorth paying for

Acne9

Efficacy8

Brightening7

Written by Maya Faour How we score →

Which one goes first?

Either order works

1Cleanse
2Retinol + Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
3Moisturize

Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate sit at about the same step, so the order is not critical. As a rule of thumb, apply the thinner, more watery one first, then the richer one over it.

Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate: Fine together. They're fine together. These two actually work well together, and are often formulated side by side. Which goes first: Either order works. — The short version, if you want to keep it.

The short version, if you want to keep it.

Adding Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to your routine

Good news first: these two get along, so there is no special order or waiting period to manage.
Still add them one at a time, a week or two apart, so if your skin does react you know which one to look at.

For your skin type If your skin is sensitive or reactive, take this pair slowly: Retinol is the higher-irritation ingredient here, and using actives close together magnifies that.

Using a third ingredient? Check all three →Or decode a whole product label →

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Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, answered

Can you mix Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate?

They're fine together. These two actually work well together, and are often formulated side by side.

Should you use Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate in the morning or at night?

Either. Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate are fine to use together, morning or night.

How should you introduce Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate?

Good news first: these two get along, so there is no special order or waiting period to manage. Still add them one at a time, a week or two apart, so if your skin does react you know which one to look at.

What else should you not mix with Retinol?

Retinol is best kept apart from Salicylic acid (BHA), Lactic acid, Glycolic acid, Mandelic Acid. Introduce any new active one at a time.

Sources

Plus how we reach every verdict: how we score →

General guidance, not medical advice. When in doubt, introduce one product at a time, andhere is when to see a dermatologist instead.