Being consistent with a skincare routine is the first step to having great skin. Next is identifying the best active ingredients that will help target your own specific skin concerns. Retinol is one of the most effective skincare ingredients available, but knowing the right way and frequency of using it can be confusing. When I first started a skin care routine with retinol, there was definitely a bit of a learning curve. Recommendations vary across products and skin types. Using it incorrectly often leads to dryness, redness, and irritation, but using it correctly delivers long term improvements in fine lines, acne, texture, and discoloration. Today’s post is going to be a guide on how often to use retinol based on experience level, skin tolerance, and product strength.
How Often To Use Retinol
Retinol works best when it becomes a sustainable part of your skin care routine. Getting the frequency right is one of the most important parts of using retinol successfully. It’s also important to pay attention to how your skin feels while using retinol. Making gradual adjustments and supporting your skin barrier with moisturizer and daily sunscreen will help you get the most from incorporating retinol into your routine. It’s also worth noting that you do not have to only use a prescription strength retinol to see great results. There are so many great over the counter formulas to try at all price points.
What Is Retinol
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that helps improve skin. Topical retinoids are available both as a prescription from a dermatologist (usually in the form of retinoic acid) or in over the counter formulations that anyone can purchase.
How Does Retinol Work
Retinol has become increasingly popular because of it’s efficacy at targeting many anti-aging concerns. Retinol speeds up skin cell turnover, encourages new collagen production, and helps prevent pores from becoming clogged. These changes happen gradually as the skin renews itself over time.
What Does Retinol Do
Softening fine lines and wrinkles
By helping to boost collagen production in the skin, the skin will appear more plump. Fine lines and wrinkles are often less noticeable.
Improving skin texture
By speeding up the cellular turnover process, new cells are being produced on the skin giving it a more youthful and smooth appearance.
Boosting collagen production
Retinol can penetrate the epidermis in order to boost collagen and elastin production.
Reducing acne and clogged pores
Retinol can help exfoliate the surface of the skin helping to prevent dead skin cells from clogging your pores. Many people use retinol not only as an anti-aging product but as a product to help treat acne.
Fading post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation
By helping the skin shed those pigmented and damaged cells, it can break up dark spots and areas of hyperpigmentation.
Brightening uneven skin tone
By speeding up cellular turnover, pigmented skin is diminished leading to a more even tone complexion.
Smoothing the overall appearance of the skin
By targeting so many different concerns, retinol can help the overall look of your skin appear smoother and more even.
How Often Should You Use Retinol
While there is no wrong or right answer to this question on how often to apply retinol, it’s more important to listen to your skin rather than follow a rigid schedule. It’s always best to start small using retinol only one night a week to see how your skin tolerates it. As your skin becomes used to it, you can increase frequency to every other night or even every night if you feel that works with your skincare needs. Personally, I use my retinol products 5 nights a week at this point because my skin tolerates it well so I can use it more frequently now.
How To Safely Use Retinol
Cleanse with a gentle cleanser.
Ensure you are properly washing your face each night which should include double cleansing if you are wearing makeup or sunscreen. A nourishing cleansing balm is a great first step and be sure to follow it up with a gentle face wash tailored to your skin type.
Here are a few of my favorite cleansing balms: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm (discount code: MAREE20), Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm (discount code: MAREE10) and Remedy Derm Dissolve Cleansing Balm.
I rotate between all of these gel cleansers which give a deep cleanse without stripping the skin: OneSkin Prep Facial Cleanser (discount code: MAREE15), Experiment Beauty Plasma Wash (discount code: MAREE15) and Dieux Baptism Gel Cleanser.
Let skin dry completely.
It’s best to apply retinol on dry skin. Applying it on damp skin can increase the possibility of irritation.
Apply a pea-sized amount of retinol.
A small pea-sized amount is all you need to cover your entire face. Less is more when it comes to using retinol products. Using too much can lead to skin sensitivity or damage to the skin barrier.
Follow with moisturizer.
It’s vital that you moisturize when using retinol because of it’s propensity to cause dryness. Make sure you use something nourishing that will help to support the skin barrier. Look for products with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and squalane.
My personal favorite moisturizers that are great for intensely moisturizing: Dieux Instant Angel Skin Restoring Moisturizer, Experiment Beauty Molecular Mesh (discount code: MAREE15) and INNBEAUTY Extreme Cream.
Wear sunscreen every morning.
Retinol can make the skin more sensitive to the sun so it is a non-negotiable that you wear sunscreen during the day if regularly using retinol and retinoids. No matter what time of year it is or what the weather is outside, you should always have sun protection on the face. Sun damage even on cloudy days can occur. In order to protect all the hard work you are doing with your skincare routine, be sure to wear a sunscreen every single day.
Here are my favorite SPF formulas that I love to wear alone or under makeup: Versed Good Defense SPF Daily Sunscreen SPF 50, OneSkin OS-O1 Face SPF Protect + Repair SPF 30 (discount code: MAREE15) and Tatcha The Milky Sunscreen SPF 50.
I have a few body sunscreens that I like to use both for everyday and also when I go to the beach and/or pool. Since I use retinol products on my body as well, it’s important that I use SPF every day. Here are some of my current favorites: OneSkin Triple Power OS-01 Body SPF 30 (discount code: MAREE15), Supergoop PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50, Emma Lewisham Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Body Cream and La Roche Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Body and Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 100.
My Favorite Retinol Products
Face
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
The Medik8 crystal retinal formula uses retinaldehyde which works faster than traditional (over the counter) retinol. There are various strengths depending on what your skin can tolerate and you can work up to the stronger levels over time or stick with what works for you. If you really want to target anti-aging concerns such as wrinkles, uneven skin tone and firmness, retinol products are a must have for your skincare routine.
Mother Science Retinol Synergist (discount code: MAREESYE)
The Mother Science Retinol Synergist helps to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, smooths texture and firms the skin. It will also help to reduce the appearance of pore size. In addition to retinol which targets fine lines and wrinkles, the Retinol Synergist serum contains Malassezin which reduces free radical damage, supports and calms the skin barrier. Lipid concentrate enhances moisturization and plumps skin and trehalose soothes the skin and retains moisture. This is one of the gentlest yet most effective retinol serums that I love and use regularly.
Body
Saltair Retinol Revive Overnight Body Lotion
As I’ve gotten older, retinol is one of the most important ingredients in my skincare routine. Cellular turnover slows down as we age so it’s important to use a retinol product to help speed up this process. Only using products that hydrate or add moisture into the skin won’t do much for the appearance, texture and tone of the skin on your body. Adding in those products containing targeted anti-aging ingredients will really help to improve the skin’s overall look and feel. I don’t use this body lotion every day but try to add it into my routine 1-2x/week. It’s important to use SPF daily while using a retinol product, so be sure to apply a daily sunscreen to the body or any areas that are exposed to the sun.
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