“You can use other products afterwards but leave a good gap to make sure your vitamin A has been given a chance to absorb. 20+ minutes is fine (unless stipulated otherwise),” she wrote on her blog.
For those using retinol as the last step in your current regimen, you’re in the clear. But for those using retinol serums or capsules, and then following immediately with a night cream, you may have been sabotaging your efforts by not leaving a lengthy gap.
When it comes to the rest of our skincare products, most experts agree that a minute or so is all that’s needed in-between steps.
According to the experts at Paula’s Choice, “if you're using gentle, well-formulated skincare products (and you should be), then in most circumstances, waiting is more about personal preference than necessity.”