How to · 8 min read
How to Stack LED Therapy With Retinol, Vitamin C, Peptides and Acids
The active-by-active layering guide.
January 23, 2025 · The Radia Atelier
LED therapy and actives are complementary — but only if you sequence them correctly. Apply the wrong serum at the wrong time and you either block the light or irritate freshly-treated skin.
The universal rule
Before LED: clean, dry skin. Nothing else. After LED: actives, then moisturiser, then occlusive.
Retinol and retinoids
Apply 15–20 minutes after the LED session. Skin is primed to absorb and the wait window prevents heat-driven irritation. If your skin is sensitive, alternate nights instead.
Vitamin C
Apply morning, not at LED time. Vitamin C is photosensitising at high concentrations. Pair it with morning SPF, leave LED for the evening routine.
Peptides
The perfect post-LED pairing. Apply right after the mask. LED triggers fibroblast activity; peptides provide additional signalling molecules.
AHAs and BHAs
Use on non-LED nights. Stacking exfoliating acids with LED in the same session can over-sensitise the skin barrier.
Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
Both are LED-friendly. Apply immediately after the session.
From the atelier
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Discover the ritual →Frequently asked
- Can I do an exfoliating peel and LED in the same week?
- Yes. Space them — peel one night, LED the next, and skip actives entirely on peel night.
- Does sunscreen interfere with LED?
- Yes, applied before. Cleanse it off first so the light reaches skin directly.
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