In the skincare field, retinol is renowned as the “fountain of youth” because of its ability to battle indications of aging and enhance skin texture.
However, to gain the benefits of retinol without experiencing discomfort or unwanted effects, correct understanding and practice are required.
In this article, we’ll show you how to correctly apply retinol to your face for the best results.
How To Put Retinol On Face?
1. Get 0.2% retinol cream to start at a low concentration.
Retinol is quite potent, but larger quantities can cause skin irritation if you’re not acclimated to it.
Choose a retinol cream with the lowest concentration the first time you incorporate it into your skincare routine to reduce the risk of irritation.
As your skin becomes accustomed to retinol, you can experiment with a larger dose.
Retinol creams are also available with a prescription, but only if your dermatologist advises them because they can cause additional irritation.
2. Apply Retinol At Night
Because sunlight reduces the effectiveness of vitamin A in retinol, applying it before bedtime allows you to reap the full benefits of the cream.
Because you don’t have to wash the retinol off after applying it, you can let it seep into your skin while you sleep.
Create a nighttime skincare routine to avoid forgetting to use retinol.
3. Wash Your Face And Wait 30 Minutes For Your Skin To Dry
To have a clean face, use a light facial soap and warm water to remove any grime and oil. Pat your face dry with a towel before allowing your skin to air-dry entirely.
When you have damp skin, avoid using retinol because it may create greater skin irritation.
Instead of retinol, treat under-eye wrinkles with eye cream because your skin is more sensitive there, and retinol may irritate it.
4. Rub A Pea-Sized Amount Of Retinol Into Your Skin
Squeeze the retinol onto your fingertip and lightly dab it around your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin.
After that, massage the retinol cream into your skin. Keep the cream away from the corners of your eyes and the corners of your mouth, where it might accumulate and create discomfort.
Avoid applying more retinol than necessary, as this may cause your skin to become inflamed and red.
Retinol does not need to be washed off after application.
5. Follow Up With A Moisturizer After About 20 Minutes
As soon as the retinol has been absorbed, apply a fingertip-sized amount of moisturizer to your skin and rub it in.
Because vitamin A causes dry skin, a moisturizer will keep it covered and nourished while the retinol works its magic.
6 . Use Retinol Every 2 Or 3 Days When You First Add It To Your Routine
Because retinol promotes collagen formation and cell turnover as it seeps into your skin, it may cause some peeling.
Allow yourself a few days to assess how your skin reacts to the retinol, and don’t use it again until there is no redness or irritation.
If you have sensitive skin, you should wait a week before using retinol products again.
7. Work Up To Daily Use Over The Next Few Weeks
As your skin becomes accustomed to retinol, you will experience less irritation and flaking. Rather than waiting a few days between applications, try retinol every other day and see how your skin reacts. If there are no signs of irritation, you can continue to apply retinol every night.
Retinol may take several weeks or months to produce apparent benefits. Just be persistent and keep using it if it’s not irritating you.
You can control acne and shrink your pores as long as you use retinol effectively. Continue using retinol even after you have cleared up your acne to prevent future breakouts.
Managing Adverse Effects
1. Protect Your Skin From The Sun During The Day
Because retinol makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays from the sun, you’ll become sunburned much faster when you’re outside.
To avoid sunburn, stay in the shade, apply SPF 30 sunscreen, wear long sleeves and pants, or wear a large, wide-brimmed hat.
For added protection, try a sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide if you have sensitive skin.
Even if you’re not going outside, apply sunscreen lotion to protect your skin against future dark spots and sun damage.
2. Cut Back On Using Retinol If You Have Red Or Irritated Skin
It’s common for retinol to make your skin red and flaky for the first few days while new skin cells form.
Too much retinol, on the other hand, can dry up your skin and make it feel raw to the touch.
If you begin taking retinol more frequently, minimize your usage during the week until your skin heals. If you’re still experiencing irritation, try using a lower concentration.
If you’re already utilizing the lowest-concentration retinol you can find and still experiencing irritation, discontinue use and consult a doctor or dermatologist for alternative alternatives.
3. Try Applying 1% Hydrocortisone Over Irritated Skin For Instant Relief
Apply a bead-sized dollop of hydrocortisone cream to your skin and gently rub it in. Use hydrocortisone twice a day to relieve itchy or red skin produced by retinol.
Stop using hydrocortisone as soon as your skin recovers, as continuing to use it can cause your skin to thin.
4. Avoid Using Retinol With Other Acids Or Exfoliants To Prevent Redness
If you’re using retinol, avoid utilizing alpha or beta hydroxy acids, as well as salicylic and glycolic acids, in your skincare routine.
Because retinol is already quite potent, exfoliating treatments such as vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and scrubs will simply make your skin redder or irritated before it has a chance to recover.
When performing a chemical peel, avoid using retinol because it will dry up your skin as it attempts to repair.
What Are The Advantages Of Retinol Use?
Many regard retinol to be the crown jewel of anti-aging chemicals. Retinol, like other retinoids (such as retinoic acid, adapalene, retinaldehyde, and retinyl palmitate), is a fat-soluble vitamin found in foods such as eggs, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
Retinol is available in both prescription-strength and over-the-counter formulations. Prescription retinoids will, of course, be more potent.
However, there are some genuinely wonderful (and effective) anti-aging serums and night creams available at Sephora and Nordstrom that provide all of the same advantages without the need for a trip to the dermatologist.
In brief, the active elements in retinol promote collagen formation by increasing cell turnover.
Retinol Can Help With:
- Accelerating skin renewal
- Minimizing the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles
- Lowering the appearance of age spots, sun spots, and hyperpigmentation
- Reducing breakouts and oily skin
- Achieving a more even-toned, fuller, and radiant skin tone
Incorporating retinol into your skincare routine can result in dramatic improvements in your skin’s texture and appearance. You can harness the full potential of retinol while ensuring the health and vitality of your skin by following this step-by-step guidance, selecting the proper product, and being patient.
Thanks for reading. I hope you find it helpful.
