When it comes to skin care, whether you apply your favorite products to damp or dry skin can actually make a difference in how they work on your skin. Some active ingredients are most effective when applied to damp, freshly washed skin, while others do their best job when applied to clean skin that’s had the chance to dry. Knowing which is which can help you make the most of your skin care routine and feel confident that you’re getting the maximum effectiveness out of each one of the products you’re using. Ready to learn more? We’ll break down how to apply skin care products with four common ingredients:

• Should you apply vitamin C serum on dry or damp skin?

• Should you apply niacinamide on dry or damp skin?

• Should you apply retinol on dry or damp skin?

• Should you apply hyaluronic acid on dry or damp skin?

Should you apply vitamin C serum on dry or damp skin?

You’ll want to apply your vitamin C serum to clean, dry skin. “As far as active ingredients go, vitamin C is quite unstable, and it’s easily affected by outside elements such as air, light and moisture,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “This is why you’ll see vitamin C serums packaged in dark brown glass bottles, rather than clear, to preserve its potency from being degraded by light.”

By the same token, applying your vitamin C serum to wet or damp skin can dilute the product and even change the pH, which can affect the serum’s effectiveness.

Try: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Antioxidant Serum, LovelySkin top seller that helps improve skin’s firmness and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone and texture. This formula combines 15% L-ascorbic acid, the most potent form of vitamin C and 1% alpha tocopherol, a pure form of vitamin E. The key sidekick ingredient is 0.5% ferulic acid, which provides antioxidant benefits on its own and also helps stabilize vitamins C and E, so they can make the most impact on your skin.

Should you apply retinol on dry or damp skin?

Retinol is another active ingredient that you may want to apply to dry skin. “Applying a retinol product to wet or damp skin can potentially be more irritating,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “This may not always be the case for everyone, but if your skin tends to be reactive or you just want to play it safe and reduce the potential for irritation, applying retinol to dry skin is the way to go.”

Try: SkinCeuticals Retinol Refining & Anti-Aging Night Creams, which come in three different concentrations: 0.3%, 0.5% and 1% retinol. SkinCeuticals retinol night creams are formulated to help target visible signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and rough texture. “If you’re new to retinol, I recommend starting with the lowest concentration once or twice a week and working your way up to daily use,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “Once your skin is tolerating that well, you can increase your concentration and work your way up from there.”

Should you apply niacinamide on dry or damp skin?

Niacinamide is an active ingredient that has many benefits, including treating acne, reducing redness and fine lines, improving skin tone and hydrating parched skin. Because of its multitasking powers, it’s found in a wide variety of skin care products, from cleansers to serums to day and night creams. “You can safely apply niacinamide products to either dry or damp skin,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “If you’re using a moisturizer with niacinamide, though, you may get the most benefit by applying it while your skin is still damp.” Because the main function of a moisturizer is to help your skin maintain moisture, applying it to damp skin can help maximize those hydrating benefits.

Try: SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3 Lotion, a moisturizing face cream that you can use in your morning and evening skin care routines. This formula contains 5% niacinamide along with hydrating glycerin and a tri-peptide concentrate. Together, this lotion works to help reduce the appearance of signs of photoaging, including fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and loss of firmness and elasticity.

Should you apply hyaluronic acid on dry or damp skin?

“When it comes to hyaluronic acid serums or creams, I recommend applying them to damp skin,” Dr. Schlessinger. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most popular hydrating ingredients in skin care, and applying it to skin while it’s still damp after cleansing, bathing or showering can help maximize its effectiveness.

Try: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Hydrating Serum, a daily facial serum that helps improve your skin’s moisture level for more plump and firm-looking skin. This formula contains 1.3% hyaluronic acid along with 10% Proxylane and 2% licorice root, two ingredients that help support and preserve the level of hyaluronic acid in your skin for maximum benefits.

Are you looking to add a new face cream to your skin care routine? You can find out which SkinCeuticals face cream, A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced or Triple Lipid Restore, is the right match for you on the LovelySkin Blog.