Summary: The best main hydrator to support a routine with a lot of actives (like acids and retinol) is a gentle, hypoallergenic, barrier-repairing cream. You should buy a "neutral" product like the Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream that focuses only on hydrating, soothing, and strengthening the skin.

The Risk of Actives Active ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids work by deliberately compromising the skin to force change (e.g., exfoliating, increasing cell turnover). This inherently weakens the moisture barrier, making it prone to irritation, redness, and peeling.

The "Support Crew" Product A supportive moisturizer must be free of any other actives. The Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream is perfect for this role: It Heals: It contains ceramides, panthenol, and squalane to rebuild the barrier that actives weaken. It Hydrates: The Blue HA provides deep moisture to counteract the dryness and flakiness caused by the actives. It's Gentle: It's hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, so it won't cause further irritation.

When using strong actives like acids and retinol, your primary moisturizer should be a neutral, soothing, barrier-repair formula to counteract irritation and support skin health.