# Benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin

Page: https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-tretinoin

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

Keep them apart

Use them at different times of day, applying [benzoyl peroxide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide) in the morning and [tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin) at night, because they cancel each other out. Combining them in the same routine causes the benzoyl peroxide to oxidize and deactivate the tretinoin, which stops them from working properly. You can change your routine by using a gentler strength, or by putting more time between the two products.

[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 benzoyl peroxide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide)
- [All about tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin)

### [Benzoyl peroxide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide) products

- [Proactiv Renewing Cleanser](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/proactiv/renewing-cleanser/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — Average fit — [SAR 152.00 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B0012C7POY?tag=lovisa02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/clean-and-clear/persa-gel-10/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — Superior fit — [SAR 82.17 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B00KZ22ED4?tag=lovisa02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Differin Daily Deep Cleanser](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/differin/daily-deep-cleanser/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — Average fit — [SAR 96.99 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B09Y62PMWX?tag=lovisa02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/neutrogena/clear-pore-cleanser-mask/for/acne-prone-skin) — High fit — [SAR 103.58 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B000NSIGE6?tag=lovisa02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Proactiv Repairing Treatment](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/proactiv/repairing-treatment/for/oily-skin) — High fit
- [Paula's Choice Clear Daily Skin Clearing Treatment](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/paula-s-choice/clear-daily-skin-clearing-treatment/for/acne-prone-skin) — Average fit — [SAR 218.25 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B00L5O4Q32?tag=lovisa02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Galderma Epiduo Gel](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/galderma/epiduo-gel/for/acne-prone-skin) — High fit
- [Galderma Benzac AC 5](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/galderma/benzac-ac-5/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — High fit
- [CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/cerave/acne-foaming-cream-cleanser/for/oily-skin) — High fit
- [Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/galderma/benzac-ac-mild-strength-2-5-acne-gel/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — High fit
- [PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/panoxyl/acne-foaming-wash/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — High fit — [SAR 89.90 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B092MXQRGD?tag=lovisa02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/panoxyl/acne-creamy-wash/for/oily-acne-prone-skin) — Average fit — [SAR 44.00 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B008TY9BOK?tag=lovisa02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

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

- [Retin-A Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/retin-a/cream/for/oily-skin) — High fit
- [Tri-Luma Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/tri-luma/cream/for/dark-spots) — Average fit — [SAR 114.43 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B0B369DBWZ?tag=lovisa02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Musely The Spot Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/musely/the-spot-cream/for/mature-skin) — High fit
- [Obagi Tretinoin Cream 0.05%](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/obagi/tretinoin-cream-0-05/for/oily-skin) — High fit
- [Taro Tretinoin Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/taro/tretinoin-cream/for/combination-skin) — High fit
- [Mylan Tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/mylan/tretinoin/for/acne-prone-skin) — Average fit
- [Curology Formula](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/curology/formula/for/oily-skin) — High fit
- [Menarini A-Ret Gel](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/p/menarini/a-ret-gel/for/oily-skin) — High fit

## Questions and answers

### Can you use benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin together?

Keep [benzoyl peroxide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide) and [tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin) apart because benzoyl peroxide causes oxidation and deactivation of retinoids. Use benzoyl peroxide in the morning and tretinoin in the evening to avoid this issue.

### Which goes first, benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin?

You should keep benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin apart in your routine because mixing them can deactivate the retinoid. Use benzoyl peroxide in the morning and tretinoin at night.

### Are benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin good for sensitive skin?

No, benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin should be kept apart in your routine because mixing them causes oxidation and deactivation of retinoids. You can use benzoyl peroxide in the morning and tretinoin in the evening to avoid irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.

## Research on benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin

- [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
- [Topical benzoyl peroxide for acne](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32175593/) Benzoyl peroxide · The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020
- [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
- [Benzoyl peroxide treatment decreases Cutibacterium acnes in shoulder surgery, from skin incision until wound closure](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33545336/) Benzoyl peroxide · Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2021
- [Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed-Dose Clindamycin Phosphate 1.2%, Benzoyl Peroxide 3.1%, and Adapalene 0.15% Gel for Moderate-to-Severe Acne: A Randomized Phase II Study of the First Triple-Combination Drug](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34674160/) Benzoyl peroxide · American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
- [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

## Other combinations

- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and aha blend glycolic and citric acids](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-aha-blend-glycolic-and-citric-acids)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and citric acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-citric-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/glycolic-acid-and-benzoyl-peroxide)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and mandelic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-mandelic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-salicylic-acid)
- Work well together: [Benzoyl peroxide and ceramide-building complex](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-ceramide-building-complex)
- Work well together: [Benzoyl peroxide and tri-ceramide complex](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-tri-ceramide-complex)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and acetyl hexapeptide-3](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-acetyl-hexapeptide-3)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and bio-placenta peptides](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-bio-placenta-peptides)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and collagen peptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-collagen-peptide)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and copper peptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-copper-peptide)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and hexapeptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-hexapeptide)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and hexapeptide-9](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-hexapeptide-9)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-palmitoyl-pentapeptide-4)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and palmitoyl tripeptide-1](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-palmitoyl-tripeptide-1)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and peptide-rich plasma](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-peptide-rich-plasma)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and triple peptide blend](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-triple-peptide-blend)
- Depends on the strength: [Niacinamide and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/niacinamide-and-tretinoin)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and vitamin C](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-vitamin-c)
- Keep them apart: [AHA blend glycolic and citric acids and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/aha-blend-glycolic-and-citric-acids-and-tretinoin)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and citric acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-citric-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Glycolic acid and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/glycolic-acid-and-tretinoin)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and lactic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-lactic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Tretinoin and mandelic acid](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/tretinoin-and-mandelic-acid)
- Keep them apart: [Salicylic acid and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/salicylic-acid-and-tretinoin)
- Keep them apart: [Vitamin C and tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/vitamin-c-and-tretinoin)
- Work well together: [Benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-niacinamide)
- Keep them apart: [Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/adapalene-and-benzoyl-peroxide)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and granactive retinoid](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-granactive-retinoid)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and hydroxypinacolone retinoate](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-hydroxypinacolone-retinoate)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and pro-retinol](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-pro-retinol)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and retinal](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-retinal)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and retinoid blend](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-retinoid-blend)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and retinol](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-retinol)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and copper peptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-copper-peptide)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and hexapeptide-9](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-hexapeptide-9)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-palmitoyl-pentapeptide-4)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and palmitoyl tripeptide-1](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-palmitoyl-tripeptide-1)
- Work well together: [Benzoyl peroxide and zinc](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-zinc)
- Work well together: [Benzoyl peroxide and zinc gluconate](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-zinc-gluconate)
- Work well together: [Benzoyl peroxide and zinc oxide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-zinc-oxide)
- Work well together: [Benzoyl peroxide and zinc sulfate](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-zinc-sulfate)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and acetyl hexapeptide-3](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-acetyl-hexapeptide-3)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and bio-placenta peptides](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-bio-placenta-peptides)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and collagen peptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-collagen-peptide)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and hexapeptide](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-hexapeptide)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and peptide-rich plasma](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-peptide-rich-plasma)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and triple peptide blend](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-triple-peptide-blend)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and isopropyl alcohol](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-isopropyl-alcohol)
- Keep them apart: [Benzoyl peroxide and sodium lauryl sulfate](https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/ingredients/benzoyl-peroxide-and-sodium-lauryl-sulfate)

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