I did the research so you don’t have to.
I like to consider myself a skincare enthusiast. From moisturizers and masks to treatments and tools, I am constantly researching and testing new formulas, watching reviews, and spending way too much time stalking my favorite ‘skinfluencers’ to find a new product obsession.
Retinol is one of those obsessions; yet, it has always intimidated me. I’ve become pretty astute at knowing what types of products work for my skin, so introducing something new — with uncertain results — made me wary to try. As a result, I kept pushing retinol to the side, but what I’ve seen others achieve through its use finally nudged me to take the plunge.
Lauded as the cure for basically all your skin concerns, retinoids (a derivative of Vitamin A) can minimize the appearance of wrinkles, while improving texture, pigmentation, and even minimizing pores and blemishes. It’s even said that, if you use retinol in your mid-twenties to early thirties, you might prevent visible signs of aging, so...retinol sounds like the secret weapon of skincare.
To be completely transparent, retinol is one of those “it gets worse before it gets better” kind of ingredients. It speeds up the cell turnover in your skin, with common side effects including flakiness, irritation and dryness. It can also “purge” your skin, bringing underlying breakouts to the surface. But, that quick cell turnover (creation of new skin cells) also sweeps away dead skin cells, clogged pores, and dull skin, eventually leaving behind a youthful-looking, fine line-free complexion.
With products spanning from overnight oils and dermatologist-prescribed creams, to targeted treatments for the under eyes and even patches, there seems to be some version of a retinol product that could work for everyone. So once I weighed the pros and cons, and decided I could trade a few bad skin days for many future good ones, I was finally ready to actually put retinol to the test.
Retinol has a few rules (and I’ll fill you in on them!) but this was the one I kept seeing over and over: start slow. Experts recommend beginning your regimen with a low concentration of retinol — like any new relationship, it’s best not to move too fast. You should slowly introduce the product into your routine by using it just one or two times a week, and as your skin adjusts and grows accustomed to retinol, you can start to increase to nightly use.
Personally, I chose a serum formula that sounded gentle yet effective. I started slooow. I’m talking once a week for the first couple of weeks — my skin was definitely dry and flaky. Honestly, I was molting after I got out of the shower. I combatted this by being super gentle with my skin the rest of the week, layering a hydrating toner, hyaluronic acid and moisturizer (and SPF during the day!) so I wouldn’t irritate that fresh, sensitive skin.
Retinol is one of those obsessions; yet, it has always intimidated me. I’ve become pretty astute at knowing what types of products work for my skin, so introducing something new — with uncertain results — made me wary to try. As a result, I kept pushing retinol to the side, but what I’ve seen others achieve through its use finally nudged me to take the plunge.
Lauded as the cure for basically all your skin concerns, retinoids (a derivative of Vitamin A) can minimize the appearance of wrinkles, while improving texture, pigmentation, and even minimizing pores and blemishes. It’s even said that, if you use retinol in your mid-twenties to early thirties, you might prevent visible signs of aging, so...retinol sounds like the secret weapon of skincare.
To be completely transparent, retinol is one of those “it gets worse before it gets better” kind of ingredients. It speeds up the cell turnover in your skin, with common side effects including flakiness, irritation and dryness. It can also “purge” your skin, bringing underlying breakouts to the surface. But, that quick cell turnover (creation of new skin cells) also sweeps away dead skin cells, clogged pores, and dull skin, eventually leaving behind a youthful-looking, fine line-free complexion.
With products spanning from overnight oils and dermatologist-prescribed creams, to targeted treatments for the under eyes and even patches, there seems to be some version of a retinol product that could work for everyone. So once I weighed the pros and cons, and decided I could trade a few bad skin days for many future good ones, I was finally ready to actually put retinol to the test.
Retinol has a few rules (and I’ll fill you in on them!) but this was the one I kept seeing over and over: start slow. Experts recommend beginning your regimen with a low concentration of retinol — like any new relationship, it’s best not to move too fast. You should slowly introduce the product into your routine by using it just one or two times a week, and as your skin adjusts and grows accustomed to retinol, you can start to increase to nightly use.
Personally, I chose a serum formula that sounded gentle yet effective. I started slooow. I’m talking once a week for the first couple of weeks — my skin was definitely dry and flaky. Honestly, I was molting after I got out of the shower. I combatted this by being super gentle with my skin the rest of the week, layering a hydrating toner, hyaluronic acid and moisturizer (and SPF during the day!) so I wouldn’t irritate that fresh, sensitive skin.
After those first two weeks of dry patches and rogue blemishes purging from my clogged pores, I started to notice a difference. My skin felt softer and smoother, and my pores seemed smaller and less congested (which is my biggest skin concern). I was finally starting to understand the hype.
Of course, one of the rules of retinol is to stick with it – the longer you use it, the more benefits you’ll reap in the long run.
They say it can take up to six months to experience the full benefits of retinol’s skin-improving power, and now that I’m over a month into my journey, shedding skin a thing of the past, my complexion is already leaps and bounds from where I started. My pores truly look so much clearer and my skin hasn’t felt so soft and untextured in years.
As I continue my retinol routine, I’m looking forward to its other promised benefits – like helping with redness and discoloration and softening fine lines. And I’m excited to try new retinol products as my skin adjusts to the formula. But If there’s one piece of advice I can give to you – remember the rules, of which there are a few. But let me break down the most important ones for you:
THE RETINOL RULES
1. Only use retinol products at night.
2. ALWAYS use SPF during the day, as retinol may increase sun sensitivity.
3. Don’t use retinol after exfoliating (physically or chemically!).
4. Make sure to pair with a very hydrating moisturizer.
5. Don’t mix retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, or AHA/BHA acids.
6. Avoid retinol if you’re pregnant or nursing.
For any product you’re applying to your face or body, the more you know, the better. Retinol may not be for everyone – maybe you have incredibly sensitive skin or easily irritated rosacea or eczema. Luckily, there are other products like AHAs and BHAs -- chemically exfoliating acids that work to resurface the skin – that may be a better fit for your complexion.
But for me, I think I may have just entered into a life-long relationship with retinol, and I’m excited to make the commitment.
Of course, one of the rules of retinol is to stick with it – the longer you use it, the more benefits you’ll reap in the long run.
They say it can take up to six months to experience the full benefits of retinol’s skin-improving power, and now that I’m over a month into my journey, shedding skin a thing of the past, my complexion is already leaps and bounds from where I started. My pores truly look so much clearer and my skin hasn’t felt so soft and untextured in years.
As I continue my retinol routine, I’m looking forward to its other promised benefits – like helping with redness and discoloration and softening fine lines. And I’m excited to try new retinol products as my skin adjusts to the formula. But If there’s one piece of advice I can give to you – remember the rules, of which there are a few. But let me break down the most important ones for you:
THE RETINOL RULES
1. Only use retinol products at night.
2. ALWAYS use SPF during the day, as retinol may increase sun sensitivity.
3. Don’t use retinol after exfoliating (physically or chemically!).
4. Make sure to pair with a very hydrating moisturizer.
5. Don’t mix retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, or AHA/BHA acids.
6. Avoid retinol if you’re pregnant or nursing.
For any product you’re applying to your face or body, the more you know, the better. Retinol may not be for everyone – maybe you have incredibly sensitive skin or easily irritated rosacea or eczema. Luckily, there are other products like AHAs and BHAs -- chemically exfoliating acids that work to resurface the skin – that may be a better fit for your complexion.
But for me, I think I may have just entered into a life-long relationship with retinol, and I’m excited to make the commitment.
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