# Tretinoin and lactic acid

Page: https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Ireland.

Keep them apart

Use them on alternate nights because combining them causes irritation. Both ingredients increase cell turnover, which can make skin red and peel when used together. The shopper can use a gentler strength or leave more time between applications.

[Retinoids: a journey from the molecular structures and mechanisms of action to clinical uses in dermatology and adverse effects](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28318351/) [Why Topical Retinoids Are Mainstay of Therapy for Acne](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28585191/)

- [All about tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin)
- [All about lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid)

### [Tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin) products

- [Retin-A Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/retin-a/cream/for/oily-skin) — High fit
- [Tri-Luma Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/tri-luma/cream/for/dark-spots) — Average fit
- [Musely The Spot Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/musely/the-spot-cream/for/mature-skin) — High fit
- [Obagi Tretinoin Cream 0.05%](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/obagi/tretinoin-cream-0-05/for/oily-skin) — High fit
- [Taro Tretinoin Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/taro/tretinoin-cream/for/combination-skin) — High fit
- [Mylan Tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/mylan/tretinoin/for/acne-prone-skin) — Average fit
- [Curology Formula](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/curology/formula/for/oily-skin) — High fit
- [Menarini A-Ret Gel](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/menarini/a-ret-gel/for/oily-skin) — High fit

### [Lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid) products

- [Medicube Zero Pore Pad](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/medicube/zero-pore-pad/for/oily-skin) — Superior fit — [€20.59 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.ie/dp/B0FNRTX91F?tag=lovi-care-web-product02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/first-aid-beauty/kp-bump-eraser-body-scrub/for/dark-spots) — Average fit — [€24.32 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.ie/dp/B08GNS58PQ?tag=lovi-care-web-product02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/eltamd/uv-clear-broad-spectrum-spf-46/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — Superior fit
- [First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/first-aid-beauty/facial-radiance-pads/for/sensitive-skin) — Superior fit — [€33.00 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.ie/dp/B0G8TPX5DR?tag=lovi-care-web-product02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/cerave/sa-lotion-for-rough-and-bumpy-skin/for/oily-skin) — Average fit — [€19.84 at Lookfantastic](https://www.lookfantastic.ie/p/cerave-sa-smoothing-cream-with-salicylic-acid-for-dry-rough-bumpy-skin-340g/12207664/)
- [CeraVe Renewing SA Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/cerave/renewing-sa-cream/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — High fit
- [The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/the-ordinary/alpha-arbutin-2-ha/for/dark-spots) — Superior fit — [€10.99 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.ie/dp/B0H2YD2YTK?tag=lovi-care-web-product02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/the-ordinary/retinal-0-2-emulsion/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — High fit — [€14.57 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.ie/dp/B0CZ5VG3L1?tag=lovi-care-web-product02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/kate-somerville/exfolikate-intensive-exfoliating-treatment/for/mature-skin) — Superior fit
- [Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/dr-dennis-gross/alpha-beta-universal-daily-peel/for/acne-prone-skin) — Superior fit — [€163.32 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.ie/dp/B09NYNVGNG?tag=lovi-care-web-product02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/the-ordinary/lactic-acid-5-ha/for/dry-skin) — Superior fit
- [Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/p/good-molecules/overnight-exfoliating-treatment/for/oily-skin) — Superior fit — [€18.50 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.ie/dp/B08TMDRF1L?tag=lovi-care-web-product02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

## Questions and answers

### Can you use tretinoin and lactic acid together?

No, you should keep [tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin) and [lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid) apart because combining them may cause irritation or barrier disruption. Instead, use lactic acid in the morning or on alternate evenings and tretinoin on your other nights.

### Which goes first, tretinoin or lactic acid?

Keep tretinoin and lactic acid apart by using them on alternate evenings to help avoid irritation and barrier disruption.

### Are tretinoin and lactic acid good for sensitive skin?

Tretinoin and lactic acid are not recommended for direct overlap on sensitive skin because combining them may cause irritation or barrier disruption. Instead, alternate their use by applying lactic acid in the morning or on separate evenings from tretinoin.

## Research on tretinoin and lactic acid

- [Restoration of collagen formation in photodamaged human skin by tretinoin (retinoic acid)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8336752/) Tretinoin · The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993
- [Lactate triggers KAT8-mediated LTBP1 lactylation at lysine 752 to promote skin rejuvenation by inducing collagen synthesis in fibroblasts](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39102921/) Lactic acid · International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
- [Clinical Assessment of New Topical Cream Containing Two Essential Oils Combined with Tretinoin in the Treatment of Acne](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32210603/) Tretinoin · Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020
- [Poly-L-Lactic acid increases collagen gene expression and synthesis in cultured dermal fibroblast (Hs68) through the TGF-β/Smad pathway](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36575891/) Lactic acid · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
- [Efficacy assessments of tretinoin-loaded nano lipid carriers in acne vulgaris: a double blind, split-face randomized clinical study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34146120/) Tretinoin · Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022
- [Topical tretinoin for treating photoaging: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35620028/) Tretinoin · International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022
- [Do urea/ammonium lactate combinations achieve better skin protection and hydration than either component alone?](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11803256/) Lactic acid · Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002

## Other combinations

- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Retinol and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/retinol-and-lactic-acid)
- Depends on the strength: [Niacinamide and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/niacinamide-and-lactic-acid)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and sodium lactate](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-sodium-lactate)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and tromethamine](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-tromethamine)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and acetyl hexapeptide-3](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-acetyl-hexapeptide-3)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and bio-placenta peptides](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-bio-placenta-peptides)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and collagen peptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-collagen-peptide)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and copper peptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-copper-peptide)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and hexapeptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-hexapeptide)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and hexapeptide-9](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-hexapeptide-9)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-palmitoyl-pentapeptide-4)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and palmitoyl tripeptide-1](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-palmitoyl-tripeptide-1)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and peptide-rich plasma](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-peptide-rich-plasma)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and triple peptide blend](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-triple-peptide-blend)
- Depends on the strength: [Niacinamide and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/niacinamide-and-tretinoin)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and betaine](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-betaine)
- Work well together: [Glycerin and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/glycerin-and-lactic-acid)
- Depends on the strength: [Lactic acid and hyaluronic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-hyaluronic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-3](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-acetyl-hexapeptide-3)
- Keep them apart: [Bio-placenta peptides and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/bio-placenta-peptides-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Carnosine and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/carnosine-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and collagen peptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-collagen-peptide)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and copper peptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-copper-peptide)
- Keep them apart: [Hexapeptide and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/hexapeptide-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and hexapeptide-9](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-hexapeptide-9)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-palmitoyl-pentapeptide-4)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and palmitoyl tripeptide-1](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-palmitoyl-tripeptide-1)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and peptide-rich plasma](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-peptide-rich-plasma)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and triple peptide blend](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-triple-peptide-blend)
- Keep them apart: [AHA blend glycolic and citric acids and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/aha-blend-glycolic-and-citric-acids-and-tretinoin)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and citric acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-citric-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Glycolic acid and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/glycolic-acid-and-tretinoin)
- Keep them apart: [Adapalene and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/adapalene-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and granactive retinoid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-granactive-retinoid)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and hydroxypinacolone retinoate](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-hydroxypinacolone-retinoate)
- Keep them apart: [Pro-retinol and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/pro-retinol-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Retinal and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/retinal-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and retinoid blend](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-retinoid-blend)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and mandelic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-mandelic-acid)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and gluconolactone](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-gluconolactone)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and lactobionic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-lactobionic-acid)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and cholesterol](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-cholesterol)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and lauric acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-lauric-acid)
- Work well together: [Linoleic acid and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/linoleic-acid-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Lactic acid and tri-ceramide complex](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-tri-ceramide-complex)
- Work well together: [Arginine and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/arginine-and-lactic-acid)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and GABA](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-gaba)
- Work well together: [Silk amino acids and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/silk-amino-acids-and-lactic-acid)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and taurine](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-taurine)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and theanine](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-theanine)
- Keep them apart: [Salicylic acid and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/salicylic-acid-and-tretinoin)
- Keep them apart: [Vitamin C and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/vitamin-c-and-tretinoin)
- Work well together: [Ferulic acid and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/ferulic-acid-and-lactic-acid)
- Work well together: [Vitamin E and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/vitamin-e-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Azelaic acid and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/azelaic-acid-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Salicylic acid and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/salicylic-acid-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-tretinoin)
- Work well together: [Allantoin and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/allantoin-and-lactic-acid)
- Work well together: [Lactic acid and bisabolol](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/lactic-acid-and-bisabolol)
- Work well together: [Panthenol and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/panthenol-and-lactic-acid)

## About the Lovi Fit

Lovi: Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes.

Lovi checks every pairing with brand-independent rules its dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update. Levels from best to worst: Superior, High, Average, Low, Caution, Warning.

Behind this pairing advice: Nadia Kapleva, MS (Co-founder, Medical Director); Alexey Shagraev, PhD (Co-founder, CEO and CTO); Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc (Medical Board); Aishani Shah, MD (Medical Board); Asya Zubkova, MS (Medical Board); Hanna Kurets, MD (Medical Board, Medical Advisor); Elina Nazarenko, MD (Medical Board); Victoria Derkova, MS (Medical Board).

Page built Nov 8, 2026.

More from Lovi: https://lovi.care/skincare/llms.txt

## This page in other countries

- United States: https://lovi.care/skincare/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- United Kingdom: https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- Ireland: https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid (this page)
- Germany: https://lovi.care/skincare/de/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- France: https://lovi.care/skincare/fr/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- Italy: https://lovi.care/skincare/it/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- Netherlands: https://lovi.care/skincare/nl/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- Spain: https://lovi.care/skincare/es/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- Canada: https://lovi.care/skincare/ca/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- Australia: https://lovi.care/skincare/au/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- Singapore: https://lovi.care/skincare/sg/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- Saudi Arabia: https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid
- United Arab Emirates: https://lovi.care/skincare/ae/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid