Retinol and Immortelle: How to Combine Retinol Products With Nina Natural Skincare

Retinol is one of the best-known ingredients in facial skincare. Many people use it, but almost everyone eventually runs into the same problem: the skin becomes dry, tight, and sometimes even starts to peel. That is why we are often asked whether Nina Natural immortelle products can be used alongside retinol.

The answer is yes, with a few important rules. Below, we have reviewed the ingredients in each of our products and explained what can be used with retinol without concern and what requires a little more attention.

If you are interested in a similar topic, we have also written about how to combine peptides with immortelle skincare.

What Is Retinol and Why Does Skin Need More Care While Using It?

Retinol is a form of vitamin A and belongs to the retinoid family. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains that retinol is available over the counter, while stronger retinoids, such as tretinoin, require a prescription.

Retinol speeds up skin cell turnover, which is why it is associated with smoother skin texture and a reduced appearance of fine lines.

That same increase in cell turnover is also what can cause discomfort. When you first start using retinol, the skin often becomes dry, sensitive, and prone to peeling. The AAD recommends starting with the mildest formulation and introducing it gradually, and notes that moisturizing skincare can help reduce irritation.

This is where Nina Natural products fit in well. They do not contain additional active ingredients that could place even more stress on the skin, while they are rich in oils that nourish and soothe it. We have written more about why a healthy skin barrier is the foundation of every skincare routine in our article Skin Barrier First: A Skincare Trend.

What We Checked in Our Product Formulas

We reviewed the ingredient lists of all four products: Immortelle Eye Cream, Immortelle Day Face Cream, Immortelle Night Face Cream, and Immortelle Serum for the Face, Neck, and Décolletage.

Ingredients That Pair Well With Retinol

Immortelle extract (Helichrysum Italicum Flower Extract) is the base of all our products. It is known for its antioxidant and soothing properties and does not react with retinol. You can learn more about the plant itself in our article The Secrets of Immortelle.

Plant oils (almond, olive, sunflower, calendula, apricot kernel, grape seed, and wheat germ oils) provide the skin with fatty acids. These are precisely what the skin often needs most while it is adjusting to retinol. We have written about their antioxidant properties in our article Natural Oils as Antioxidants in Skincare.

Beeswax (Cera Alba), petrolatum, and lanolin form a protective layer that helps reduce moisture loss. Dryness is one of the most common concerns associated with retinol, so these ingredients can be useful as the final layer of a skincare routine.

Aloe vera (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice) and sodium hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid, help bind moisture in the skin.

Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) is an antioxidant that pairs well with retinol.

Preservatives (potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, benzoic acid, and sorbitan caprylate) are present in small amounts and help keep the product safe to use. Although benzoic acid contains the word “acid” in its name, its role here is as a preservative and it does not act as an exfoliant.

It is also important to note what our products do not contain. The immortelle line does not contain exfoliating acids (AHAs or BHAs) or benzoyl peroxide. These are among the ingredients experts most commonly identify as potentially problematic when used with retinol because the combination may cause excessive irritation (GoodRx). If you would like to learn more about how exfoliation affects the skin, read What Is a Facial Exfoliant and How Is It Used?.

Carrot Extract: A Common Source of Confusion

The Day and Night Creams contain carrot extract (Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract). It is a source of beta-carotene, which is referred to as provitamin A.

Because of this, you may sometimes hear carrot described as “natural retinol.” That is not accurate. Beta-carotene is only a precursor to vitamin A, and the body must first convert it into vitamin A. This process is different from the way retinol acts on the skin (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements). For this reason, there is no risk of getting a “double dose” of vitamin A simply because you use our creams alongside retinol.

Likewise, carrot extract does not provide sun protection. This is a common myth that can be dangerous, especially for people who use retinol. We have written more about this in our article Natural Sun Protection for the Skin.

Three Things to Pay Attention To

1. The Immortelle Serum Contains Vitamin C

Our Serum for the Face, Neck, and Décolletage contains ascorbic acid, or vitamin C.

A common recommendation among dermatology professionals is not to apply vitamin C and retinol in the same step because using them together may be more likely to cause irritation. Vitamin C is generally recommended in the morning and retinol in the evening (GoodRx).

The solution is simple and easy to remember:

• Use the Immortelle Serum in the morning.
• Use retinol in the evening.

This allows both products to remain part of your routine, simply at different times of day. We explain how to apply serum properly in our article How to Use a Face Serum.

2. The Day Cream Contains Fragrance, While the Night Cream Contains Lavandin Essential Oil

The Day Cream contains fragrance, while the Night Cream contains lavandin essential oil (Lavandula Hybrida Oil).

Lavandin oil has a pleasant scent and has traditionally been used in skincare, but it contains the compounds linalool and linalyl acetate, which may cause irritation in sensitive individuals (Cell Proliferation, 2004). Over time, oxidation can make these compounds more potent allergens, which is why products containing essential oils should not be used after their expiration date (Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2016).

Skin that is adjusting to retinol is temporarily more sensitive than usual, so fragranced ingredients may bother it more than they normally would. We have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of essential oils in nighttime skincare in our article Night Cream With Essential Oils: Pros and Cons.

If your skin is sensitive or you have just started using retinol, we recommend that you:

• apply the cream to a small area of skin first and wait to see how your skin reacts,
• use Immortelle Anti-Wrinkle Cream during the first few weeks of retinol use, as it contains neither fragrance nor essential oil.

If you have previously experienced a reaction to fragranced ingredients or essential oils, avoid using these creams alongside retinol and consult a dermatologist.

3. The Day Cream Is Not Sunscreen

This is the most important section of this article.

Retinol makes the skin more sensitive to the sun, which is why it is used in the evening and why sun protection is essential during the day (AAD). Experts recommend daily use of broad-spectrum sun protection with SPF 30 or higher (Monash University).

Our Immortelle Day Cream does not contain SPF. It is a moisturizing skincare product and does not replace sunscreen. If you use retinol, always apply a separate sun protection product as the final step of your morning routine, such as our SPF 45 Sunscreen Milk with UVA/UVB Protection. We explain how to apply it properly in our article How to Use Sunscreen Milk.

Quick Guide: A Routine With Retinol and Immortelle

The basic rule: retinol goes on in the evening, while sun protection is used in the morning. Apply products from the lightest to the richest texture.

Morning Routine

1. Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser. You can also use Immortelle Facial Cleansing Toner.
2. Immortelle Serum for the Face, Neck, and Décolletage. Vitamin C and antioxidants are useful in the morning, and using the serum at this time also helps you avoid combining vitamin C with retinol.
3. Immortelle Day Face Cream as a moisturizing layer.
4. Sun protection (SPF 30 or higher). This is an essential step while you are using retinol.

Evening Routine

1. Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser. If you have been wearing makeup, double cleanse.
2. Wait until your skin is completely dry. Retinol applied to damp skin is often more irritating.
3. Apply retinol according to the amount and frequency recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Wait approximately ten minutes for the retinol to absorb.
5. Immortelle Night Face Cream as a nourishing layer.
6. Apply Immortelle Eye Cream as needed, gently patting it onto areas with fine lines or onto parts of the skin that feel particularly dry. We explain exactly how to use it in our article What Is Eye Cream and How Is It Used?.

In this routine, the Immortelle Serum remains part of your morning skincare because it contains vitamin C.

If Your Skin Is Very Sensitive

Many dermatologists recommend a technique known as buffering, in which moisturizer is applied before retinol. The moisturizer slows the absorption of retinol, which can make it easier for the skin to tolerate.

In that case, the order is: cleanse, apply Immortelle Night Cream, wait a few minutes, and then apply retinol.

Choose either moisturizer before retinol or moisturizer after retinol, rather than applying it both before and after. Research presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting found that applying moisturizer either before or after a retinoid preserved its activity, while applying moisturizer both before and after — the so-called sandwich method — noticeably reduced it (Dermatology Times).

How to Introduce Retinol Into Your Routine

If you are just starting out, the AAD recommends beginning with the mildest formulation and applying it every other evening, then gradually increasing the frequency if your skin tolerates it well. Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the retinol product you are using.

Some people like to incorporate retinol into a practice known as skin cycling, a routine in which active ingredients alternate with skin recovery days. We have written more about this in our article Skin Cycling: A Skincare Routine.

While your skin is adjusting, Nina Natural products can help nourish and soothe it. If irritation does occur, you can also find helpful advice in our article Skin Damaged by Exfoliation: How to Soothe Irritation and Help the Skin Recover.

When to Consult a Professional

Retinol is not suitable for everyone. We recommend consulting a doctor or dermatologist:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, because the AAD recommends avoiding retinoids during pregnancy,
• if you use prescription retinoids,
• if you have eczema, rosacea, or another skin condition, because the AAD notes that people with dry and sensitive skin are often not good candidates for retinoids,
• if skin irritation does not improve or becomes worse.

A Note About Ingredients and Allergies

Whenever you introduce a new product, test it on a small area of skin first and wait to see how your skin reacts.

Our products contain ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction in some people, including almond oil, wheat germ oil, lanolin, beeswax, calendula, and immortelle, as well as fragrance and lavandin essential oil. Always read the full ingredient list on the packaging before use.

With the right routine, retinol and immortelle can complement each other well. Retinol does its job in the evening, while immortelle products help nourish and soothe the skin as it adjusts. Be patient, give your skin time, and do not forget sun protection.

If you are just putting together your routine, take a look at our Age Defense Set or explore our full range of immortelle skincare.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have questions about your skin, consult a doctor or dermatologist.