Using Alpha Arbutin and Retinol Together

If you’re following skin care trends, you’ve probably heard about both alpha arbutin and retinol.

Achieving your skin goals is about using a combination of the right ingredients and products. Alpha arbutin and retinol are both extremely powerful on their own — but can they be used together, and what can they do for your skin? 

What is alpha arbutin?

Let’s start with the perhaps lesser known of the two — alpha arbutin. Like many skin care products, arbutin is a compound that naturally occurs in plant sources. Examples of plants rich in arbutin are mulberry and pomegranate, although there are others. While you can find it in plants, alpha arbutin can also be considered the man-made version of arbutin.

Alpha arbutin’s main benefit is its ability to lighten the skin, slowly clearing up areas of hyperpigmentation or dark spots. Its effectiveness is likely tied to the fact that it is closely related to another holy grail skin-lightening ingredient – hydroquinone. 

However, although effective, hydroquinone can cause side effects for some, which is why alpha arbutin is growing in popularity.

What is retinol?

Now, onto retinol. Like alpha arbutin, retinol (and other retinoids) comes from natural sources. In this case, it comes from vitamin A. In addition to being an antioxidant, retinol is an effective exfoliant that can help speed up how quickly the skin can turnover skin cells.

The result of quicker skin cell turnover is multi-faceted. When your skin can refresh and rejuvenate itself quicker, you’ll always see newer, fresher, more radiant skin. It also speeds up how quickly you see a reduction in skin concerns like hyperpigmentation and age-related issues like fine lines and wrinkles. 

Can you use alpha arbutin and retinol together?

Yes! Alpha arbutin and retinol can be used together. Once you know how to safely combine them, you can access both of their benefits and reduce the risk of any side effects.

Every skin care routine should start with a thorough cleansing of the skin. Because alpha arbutin and retinol may cause irritation (especially if you’re not used to using one or both of them) for more sensitive skin, using a gentle cleanser like our Gentle Soothing Cleanser is ideal.

Once your skin is clean and fresh, you apply your alpha arbutin product. No matter what form you use this ingredient in, you’ll want to apply it lightly and let it dry for at least a full minute before moving on. 

Why does alpha arbutin go on first? It’s water-soluble, so it’s capable of getting deeper into your skin than retinol (which is fat-soluble). 

After giving your alpha arbutin plenty of time to absorb, you can use your retinol. With retinol, less is more. In fact, using too much retinol won’t improve your skin any faster — but it might lead to increased irritation and redness. Aim for about a pea-sized amount of product and let it sit until it is fully absorbed (which may take up to five minutes). Keep in mind, you should only be using retinol at night. 

Lastly, always end any skin care routine with a nourishing moisturizer like our Face Whip. Moisturizing provides hydration to the skin and helps seal in your other products. 

What else can you do to support your skin?

Alpha arbutin and retinol are powerhouses, but incorporating treatments can boost your results even further. Like a a skin care routine takes time and persistence to see results, staying consistent with cosmetic treatments is important.

If you’re looking to complement your at-home skin care routine, we’ve got a few suggestions:

Botox + Dysport 

Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments for a reason — it not only works, but it works well. 

Along with its sister, Dysport, these injectables help to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and create a smoother, more youthful appearance. At Skin Pharm, we aim for a natural look that addresses your concerns without altering your entire appearance.

Chemical peels 

While chemical peels require more downtime, they're worth it if you need a full-face reset. Essentially, chemical peels work as high-powered exfoliants, helping to peel away old, dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. 

After the healing process, the skin will look smoother and more radiant. When combined with an efficient skin care routine, the results are even more impressive.

Microneedling

Either with or without the addition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), microneedling is an effective, well-rounded treatment that can make a real difference. 

Microneedling involves making controlled punctures on the skin, which encourages collagen production and healing to the treated areas. The result is more even, firmer, glowing skin.

Dermal filler 

One final way to improve your skin and make it appear fuller and more firm is to use dermal fillers (like Juvederm and Restylane). We can inject filler into targeted areas, plumping up your skin and helping it appear more youthful. Filler can be used in a variety of areas like the cheeks, lips, around the mouth and along the jawline. 

In summary...

Including alpha arbutin and retinol in your skin care routine can be a real game-changer. If you’ve been looking to minimize the appearance of dark spots, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and overhaul your skin care routine, this duo may be your holy grail. 

Reach out to one of our Skin Pharm providers if you're interested in complementing your routine with treatments. We'd love to help you reach your skin goals! 

This article was medically reviewed by Chelsie Rogers, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant with six years of experience in cosmetic dermatology.

Sources:

A comprehensive review of the therapeutic potential of α-arbutin | PMC

Arbutin as a Skin Depigmenting Agent with Antimelanogenic and Antioxidant Properties | PMC

Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments | PMC

Human Skin Aging and the Anti-Aging Properties of Retinol | PMC