It’s not just what you use. It’s HOW you use it.
Take retinol. It’s the gold standard for anti aging. It boosts collagen production, reduces wrinkles and even treats acne! You’d be mad not to use it.
But if you use it WRONG, it won’t work as well. Worse, it may turn your face into a flaky red mess.
So how to you use it RIGHT? Here are 8 scientifically proven tricks to make the most out of retinol (and all other forms of Vitamin A):
PS: they work even if you have sensitive skin.
1. Keep It Hidden
We humans crave sunshine and fresh hair. Retinol hates them. Whenever it’s exposed to light and air, it slowly loses a bit of its effectiveness. Within a few short weeks, it becomes useless. That’s why you should opt for opaque and air-tight tubes and bottles that keep it hidden from its enemies. They’ll keep it effective until you’ve reached the last drop.
Related: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Retinol Products Packaged In Jars
2. Freeze It
No more storing your precious retinol serums in the bathroom, girls. Heat makes retinol go bad faster too. If you want it to last (and I guess you do), keep your bottles somewhere dark and fresh, like your air-conditioned bedroom. Or the refrigerators. Yep, that works too.
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
3. Use It At Night
Remember when I said retinol and light don’t get along well? You can get around this by wearing sunscreen. But if you’re not religious with reapplication, save yourself the hassle and use it at night.
Related: What Ingredients Are Best Used At Night?
4. Start Small
When you take up running, you don’t start with a marathon. You run for a mile, then two, then three. You work your way up to give your body time to get used to the bigger workload. It’s the same with retinol. When you first use it, it can be pretty harsh and leave your skin red and flaky. The best way to avoid the irritation is to start with a small concentration once or twice a week and increase both dose and frequency gradually.
Related: Which Strength Of Retinol Should You Use?
5. A Pea Is Enough
I know you want to get rid of those wrinkles fast, but don’t get carried away. A pea-size amount for the face is enough. Really. With retinol, less is more.
Related: How Much Of Each Skincare Product Should You Use?
6. Avoid Other Powerful Or Irritating Ingredients
All the best skincare superstars – you know, vitamin C and glycolic acid – can be harsh and irritating too. If you’ve got pretty resistant skin, you may be able to use them together.
If you’ve got sensitive skin or are a retinol newbie, you need to give your skin time to adjust to the extra load. That means using them on alternate nights.
If even that is too much, you may want to consider taking one superstar out of your skincare routine for a while. You can always bring it back once your skin has gotten used to the new regime.
Related: 5 Antiaging Superstars You Should Include In Your Skincare Routine
7. Tweak Your Skincare Routine
Even if you follow all the tips above, retinol can still cause some trouble. It may dry out your skin or irritate it. Not as much as it would if you started with a huge dose every day but if your skin’s on the sensitive side, the risk is there.
That’s why it pays to be prepared. Follow up your retinol with a rich moisturizer full of soothing agents that’ll neutralise both its drying and irritating effects.
Best picks:
- CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($15.99): available at Dermstore, Feel Unique, and Ulta
- Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream ($60.00): available at Cult Beauty, Sephora, and SpaceNK
- Paula’s Choice Clinical Ultra-Rich Moisturiser ($31.00): available at Dermstore and Paula’s Choice
8. Choose Time-Released Products
If you have sensitive skin, your best bet is to go for a time-released retinol product. Time-released means retinol is delivered into your skin slowly over a period of several hours rather than all at once.
Best picks:
- Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM ($65.00): available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty and Sephora
- Philosophy Help Me Retinol Night Treatment ($49.00): available at Sephora and Ulta
- The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion (ÂŁ8.00): available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty and Feel Unique
The Bottom Line
You can make the most of retinol and reduce those pesky wrinkles – even if you have sensitive skin. The trick is to start small, use products that are gentle, and take good care of your serums so they don’t go bad before their time.
I’ve started using retinol on my chest and hands as well, since those areas are exposed to the sun. For the sun damage on my face, it’s made a big difference — that and Vitamin C serum!
For irritation, I’ve found that niacinamide really helps soothe the skin after retinol. Most of the moisturizers from Olay have it in a good amount.
Laurie, it’s incredible how well they work, isn’t it? I adore niacinamide too. I think it’s a very underrated ingredient more people should know about. Although, from what I’ve read, this year more brands will start to incorporate it into their products. It’s one of the big skincare trends for 2016, apparently.
I’ve used retinol before but I don’t currently use any retinol specific product. These are great tips.
I do use PC’s super antioxidant serum which has some small amount of retinol in it.
Janessa, you’re still so young, a small amount is all you need, really. 🙂
How do you like that LRP product? I am using/loving the eye cream from that range, so would love to hear your thoughts/review on this one..
Marina, I like it. It’s a pretty basic cream, and doesn’t contain as many antioxidants as I’d like, but it does what it says, reduce wrinkles. But I’d definitely use it together with an antioxidant-rich serum, otherwise your skin will miss out on so many other beneficial ingredients.
Thanks for your feedback.
My pleasure.
I love my Glycolic Acids from Peter Thomas Roth and Alpha H. I also have a retinol product from Peter Thomas Roth but I don’t know when to use it – a few days after using Liquid Gold or before? Help!
Annette, if your skin can tolerate it, you can use them on alternate days. 🙂
I am thinking of using la Roche posay Retinol.
Never used it before not sure if I have left it to late, in my fifties.
My skin is sensitive so was thinking to use just at night, can you suggest what is best and do I use moisturiser over Retinol at night.
What is best to use in the day?
Hope you can help
Junie
Junie, it’s never too late to start using retinol. It may not be able to undo all the damage, but it will definitely help your skin to look its best.
Using it only at night is a great idea. I’d also recommend to just apply it two or three times a week, until your skin has got used to it. Then, you can slowly start increasing frequency. Follow up with a moisturizer, preferably one that has soothing ingredients like oats or allantoin.
During the day, using a serum with vitamin c or glycolic acid. Again, you want to use them sparingly at first to give your skin time to get used to them.
Hope this helps,
Thanks for your help, can you suggest any brands I can get, there are so many and it is very confusing, I am in the Uk,
Would love a list of products to get so I can get started.
Thanks so much
Junie
Hi Junie, if you don’t mind buying online, I recommend Paula’s Choice. You can’t go wrong with their products.
Other good retinol products are Murad Time Release Retinol Concentrate For Deep Wrinkles and ZO Skin Health Ossential Advanced Radical Night Repair. The Olay Regenerist line is also good.
Hope this helps.
Can you but zo skin advanced night on my chest as well as my face? My chest is wrinkly
Eileen, yes you can.
Hi Gio
I was thinking of la Roche posay,
I tried Olay moisturiser some time ago and came out in a rash, is la Roche good??
Thanks for your time, you are very helpful
Junie
Hi Junie,
oops, sorry. Yeah, La Roche Posay is good, but fairly basic. Unlike the products I mentioned, which are full of antioxidants, La Roche moisturizers contain retinol and little else. If you want to go with them, try Redermic R Anti-Wrinkle Treatment. It’s basic but effective.
Oh just as I thought I have so much to learn about the products, Would rather have the antioxidants , will see what I can find in the Uk.
Thanks for all your help
Junie
Junie, my pleasure. Let me know if you need any more help.
If your using a retinol cream, do you need an eye cream as well?
Leah, that depends on how well you eye area can tolerate the retinol cream. If it doesn’t get irritated or flake, then you can just use the retinol cream.
Thanks for the tips, just one question, do you need to wait at least 20 minutes before you apply other products onto your skin? A couple of websites suggested it.
Kate, it does depend on what actives you use. For example, it’s recommended you apply makeup 20 minutes after putting on sunscreen. Some people also like to wait a few minutes between application of vitamin C, retinol etc just to get them the time to penetrate the skin better. But you don’t have to do it for every product and it doesn’t have to be 20 minutes exact every time.
Hello! I use Retin A from Curology. and my blend includes niacinamide and azelaic acid. I always follow with ceramides. It seems to keep me from burning & peeling. Also, I see you commented on using Vitamin C in the same routine. Can you? I use Ascorbic Acid in the morning, but I’d like to add it at night, too. (My skin is tolerant of L-Ascorbic) I always put my Vitamin C on first – should I do that at night, too?
Kathleen, if you’re using it in the morning, you don’t need it at night as well.