If the skincare benefits of retinol haven’t impressed you already, IDK what will. The active ingredient has got every skincare aficionado hooked and none of us are giving it up, ever. On the offside retinol also has earned a slightly bad rep amongst those who find it to be irritating on the skin. But, the fact is that you need to understand how it works and use it correctly to avoid any associated skin woes. You also have to train your skin to be compatible with retinol products in order to get a piece of that skincare magic everyone is going gaga about. So, how do you reap the benefits of retinol and avoid the side effects? We answer that question. Here’s a guide on adding retinol to your skincare routine in order to attain nothing but gorgeous skin.
A Beginner’s Guide To Using Retinol The Right Way
Nocturnal Magic
Retinol can make your skin photosensitive when in the sun. Therefore, it is recommended that you reserve it only for night care use, especially when it is in serum form as it happens to be highly concentrated. As retinol serums or creams with a higher percentage of retinol can be drying on the skin, it is important to apply a layer of moisturiser right after your retinoid formulas have been absorbed into the skin. This will prevent any itchiness, redness, or dryness and will help retinol do its job deep within and on the surface of your skin.
Training Period
Even though it is suitable for all skin types, not every skin type will immediately agree with it as some will face dryness, redness, and irritation, but that shouldn’t scare you off. Your skin needs to be eased into using retinol and that’s why it is best to start with a cream or serum that has a lower content of the ingredient, and you can bump it up once your skin has built a tolerance. If you instantly start with a higher concentration of it, minor side effects on the skin are common, but as soon as your skin gets accustomed to it, you start seeing signs of improvement in skin texture and the side effects vanish without a trace. It is also ideal to start slowly and use retinol only once or twice a week. And, when your skin can handle it, you can switch to a regular everyday schedule.
Extend It
When using retinol creams or serums, don’t just reserve it on your face. Apply it to your neck as well. This will have anti-ageing benefits on your neck too and will make you look youthful. It is powerful enough to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and smoothen skin texture and that’s why even your neck should get in on its benefits. The same goes for your under-eye areas. Focus on the under eyes if you want to banish dark circles for good. Retinol is a great solution to dark circles and has visible results. It is best to begin using retinol in your mid-20s and 30s as this way there the signs of ageing can be targeted and reversed much more easily.
A Little Patience
Retinol takes a short period of time to show superb results, so wait a little. Be consistent with its usage for about 3 months and you will then note how your skin has dramatically improved. In my personal experience, it took about a month to see mild yet visible results and that is encouraging enough to continue it for more than just a couple of months. You can also boost the efficacy of retinol serums and creams by using complimentary cleansers that are infused with retinol. A retinol infused face wash will remove dead skin cells and will allow your serums to act quicker.
Unconventional Cues
If you find retinol serums and creams too tricky or overwhelming, start off with lighter products like retinol infused toners and cleansers. Since both toners and cleansers work to keep skin clean and leave only a little trace of their formula on your skin, it delivers a small dose of retinol action to your skin which will definitely not cause any form of irritation and rather slowly and gently work to improve your skin’s condition.
Keep these rules in mind when dealing with retinol and you will never again feel like retinol just isn’t for you. In fact, retinol is going to be your favourite part of your skincare routine.
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