How to Apply Retinol for Beginners – The Ultimate Guide

So you’ve done some research into these wonder products and saved some pennies ready to take the plunge, but now that you’re ready to hit that “buy now” button it might be a good idea to take 5 and discover what you need to know about starting this product.

They truly are the Holy Grail of anti-ageing, but if you don’t get the starting of them right, there is a high chance of that little bottle being left to gather dust in the back of your cupboard. So, how to apply retinol for beginners is a very important question…..if you are that beginner!

According to the National Library of Medicine, Vitamin A, where retinoids are derived from, is among the most effective substances in slowing the ageing process.

The benefits don’t end there, however, as they also reduce inflammation, reduce scarring, unclog pores, decrease hyperpigmentation, brighten skin, and treat acne and psoriasis – that’s quite some list!

Get the all-important starting phase down correctly and all the benefits of retinol can be yours.  Read on to discover exactly how to apply retinol for beginners. Brace yourself – it’s a long one!! You probably will need that cup of tea…..

What Are Retinols?

You may have a rough idea of what retinol is and the magical powers they have on our skin, but just in case you need a recap I’ll give you a brief overview to ensure the meat and potatoes of this post make sense.

I’ll also do a bit of housekeeping to ensure we’re on the same page with the terms I will be using in this post.

What is the Difference Between Retinols and Retinoids?

This terminology is where I think a lot of people get confused with retinol.

There are many other terms involved in this market to contend with, like retinyl palmitate, retinoic acid, retinyl esters and retinaldehyde, but to simplify things for our tired old brains, I think it’s best to just understand the terms retinol and retinoid. At least it is for the purpose of this post!

If you would like a full rundown of all the forms of retinoids on the market, there is a brilliant post showing you the hierarchy of them all. Have a read of it here

With that one sorted let’s sort out these two terms:

• Retinoid: the umbrella term used to describe all forms of this anti-ageing treatment

This then can be divided further down into:

• Retinols: the term used for the anti-ageing treatment we buy Over The Counter (OTC), therefore the weaker and more gentle products.
• Retinoid: the term used for the anti-ageing treatment we can only acquire through a prescription. These are stronger products and are also used by dermatologists for the treatment of acne.

I hope that clears things up. Yes, I’m aware that the term retinoid is used twice with a slightly different meaning but I guess this is what happens when the worlds of the anti-aging market and dermatology skin treatments collide!

Now you know what’s what, the rest of this post will be using the umbrella term retinoid unless otherwise specified.

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What Are Retinoids?

Retinoids are a form of Vitamin A that was originally (and still are) used as a topical treatment for acne. Along with doing a bang-up job on acne, it was noted that it worked a treat on anti-ageing, so now most skin care companies have tapped into this market.

It works by penetrating the deeper dermis layer of our skin where it converts into retinoic acid and promotes cell turnover that encourages new cell growth. Collagen and elastin production is increased which promotes elasticity, and new blood vessels are produced.

It also inhibits tyrosinase activity, the melanin-producing enzyme, therefore reducing hyperpigmentation. The outer layer of skin (epidermis) is thickened which minimises the effects of free radicals like UV exposure and pollution.

What Do Retinols And Retinoids Do For Skin?

The collagen and elastin that are produced reduce fine lines and wrinkles and the new blood vessels improve the colour of the skin. The reduction in the melanin-producing enzyme means uneven skin tone is improved and age spots fade.

The turnover of surface cells results in dead skin cells being removed faster resulting in brighter skin, but it also prevents the dead skin cells from clogging pores thereby reducing spots, blackheads etc and improving the appearance of blemishes. 

The outer new thicker layer of skin that minimises the effects of free radicals, limits the signs of sun damage. There is now evidence that it can actually inhibit some of the processes of damage that happen to our skin when it is exposed to UV.

It really is a wonder drug and it’s not difficult to see why it’s seen as the gold standard for both anti-ageing and acne treatment alike.

Incidentally, if you’re unsure if you are the correct age for starting retinol, have a look at this post here

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How To Apply Retinol For Beginners – How To Introduce Them To Your Skin Routine

How To Prepare Your Skin

Here is a list of everything that is advised for you to do before you start off with retinoids. If you’ve got your skin prepped, you’re in for a much smoother starting transition period and are much more likely to have quicker results:

• Get your skin barrier function to its healthiest by getting a really good, nourishing skincare regime up and running. Six to eight weeks before you start is ideal if you can bear to wait that long.
  
  
• Get your skin really hydrated by applying a moisturiser morning and pm, that contains anti-inflammatory and other barrier-replenishing lipid ingredients.
  
  This study showed how improving the skin barrier function with these moisturisers before starting, and while using retinoids, helped with the early stages and improved the treatment response.
  
  
• Discontinue harsher forms of skincare treatment you may be using. Stop the gel or foam cleansers and any exfoliation, whether that be chemical or physical.
  
  
• Ensure you are using a broad-spectrum mineral-based sunscreen designed for the face EVERY single morning. Firstly this gets your skin prepared for the retinoids, but it also gets you prepared by getting you into the habit of applying it!
  
  
• If you wax your face at all, get your last session in no less than 2 weeks before you start retinoids. This gives your face time to heal.

There will be more later in this post on what you shouldn’t be doing while on retinoids and the best products you should be using.

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What Is A Good Starting Dose And Strength Of Retinol?

To know what the best starting dose and strength for you is, it would be good to understand what the strengths are. Sticking with the OTC retinol here, these are the range of strengths available:

• Retinol 0.01% – 0.03% is low strength
• Retinol 0.04% – 0.1% is moderate strength
• Retinol 0.5% – 2% is a high strength

Where to start in this range depends very much on your circumstances and what you want to achieve. The general rule of thumb is to start off on the low strength and let your skin get used to that before moving up to medium strength…….and so on. 

If you are getting ahead of the game and starting retinol to prevent signs of ageing (how I wish I had done this!), you can certainly get going with the low strength and take your time with it.

You have no rush to increase up, and studies do show that low strength over a long period of time has as much of an effect as higher strengths.

If you already have signs of ageing you may want to risk starting off on medium strength, but care will need to be taken to minimise the side effects.

If you struggle with temperamental skin, however, it’s advisable to stick with the low strength, to begin with – you can always bump yourself up as soon as your skin adjusts to the low strength. 

I would advise picking a brand that tells you what the strengths of their products are so you know exactly what you’re getting. The Ordinary and Medik8 are my favourites for this very reason and Paula’s Choice has a wide range of retinol products with a handy dandy chart that you can follow that can be found here.

In terms of dosage, low strength can sometimes be applied daily without too many problems, but that is personal to your skin type – as I said, those with sensitive skin may want to start off twice a week and build up gradually.

If you’re going for it and trying to start with medium strength, then you certainly need to start slowly twice a week and build up the frequency as and when your face can tolerate it. 

As you may have guessed it may take trial and error to work out what’s right for your skin, but the good news is you can play around with it to find what works.

If you want more on starting retinol at different ages then this post here goes through it in more detail.

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What Are The Retinol Starting Side Effects?

I’ve written a more extensive post on retinol side effects then I’ll go into in this post, which you can read here.

Essentially there are three different types of retinol side effects you can experience in the initial stages of using retinol:

• Retinol irritation
• Retinol burn
• Retinol purge

Retinol Irritation

This is when the dead skin cells are removed at a faster rate, so the new healthy cells, your new skin, are exposed before they are ready. 

This reaction is really quite normal and is to be expected, after all, it’s not necessarily irritation at all – just a sign that the retinoid is increasing skin cell turnover. This results in the temporary thinning of our skin causing redness, irritation and sensitivity.

This is something that quite often occurs when starting out on the stronger prescription strength retinoids, and can occasionally happen with the more gentle OTC retinol if you go in too strong.

Retinol Burn

This is when the redness, irritation and sensitivity we can get with irritation becomes more severe. Side effects of this include pain and peeling skin and a more intolerable amount of redness, irritation and sensitivity. 

The name and description of this sound frightening, however, it’s worth mentioning that technically the skin is not burnt – it can just feel that way. 

This is not often seen with OTC retinol and can occasionally happen with prescription-strength retinoids if not started correctly.

Retinol Purge

This is when the new, healthy skin cells go through their turnover process they push up oil and debris trapped under the surface. This debris was ultimately going to form spots, but as it all gets pushed up in one go, the breakout occurs – known as purging.

It is essentially a deep skin detox. Eventually, once the oil and debris have been “purged” for good, the skin will be left clear.

This is something seen more for those who start prescription strength retinoids for the purpose of treating acne, however, it can occur for anyone to a lesser extent if the odd spot can be a problem.

Quite often someone who experiences a purge can also experience irritation as well, and while not pleasant, still is quite normal and means the treatment is working.

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How To Apply Retinol For Beginners – Increasing Retinols

How Long Does It Take For Skin To Get Used To Retinol?

If you do experience some retinol irritation, while this is completely normal and nothing to be concerned about, it can be somewhat more of a nuisance. 

This whole period of time, known as Retinisation, is when the skin builds up a tolerance to the retinol and can take around 3-4 weeks to complete.

Of course, that is quite individual as some people can take longer than that, but that is the standard time frame and I can certainly attest to my experience of starting prescription-based retinoids taking 3 weeks to settle down.

How Do You Increase Retinol Dose And Strength?

Assuming you want to follow the normal path of gradually increasing the strength of the retinol you are using, you may be wondering when and how you can consider taking the next step of increasing what you have started on. 

You will eventually notice you are through the retinisation period once your skin feels it is back to normal. This is when you can increase things – it’s as simple as that!

There are two ways to increase the strength and dose of your retinol, but this is the order I would advise you to do it:

• 1st: Increase the dose – in other words, the number of times a week you are using your retinol. If you are using it twice a week, try it three times. If you are using it three times a week, try every other day. Keep going like this until you get to be able to use it daily. 
  
  Apart from this being more gentle on your skin, you are getting your money’s worth from what you have bought!
  
  
• 2nd: Increase the strength – this is increasing to the next stage in the strength of the retinol you are using, i.e. to a moderate strength if you are using a low-strength product.
  
  If you have been using the lower-strength retinol on a daily basis, I would certainly advise you to reduce the dose of your new strength to twice, perhaps three times a week.
  
  A word of warning: you may well feel a bit like you are going through another retinisation period with each step up of strength.
  
  Here is a post about my stepping up to Tretinoin strength and how that went in the first year
  
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What Happens If You Increase Too Quickly?

Increasing your strength or dose of retinol too quickly will produce the same effect as starting on too high a dose of them: side effects. As I previously mentioned, side effects are a normal consequence of retinol doing their job, but actually, if it is possible to avoid them….why wouldn’t you?!

There is a risk of causing retinol burn, which is always a potential result of really going gung ho with retinol. This is when you experience skin sensitivity, stinging and redness that becomes quite intolerable and can be accompanied by pain and peeling skin.

It is important to mention before it scares you right off retinol for life, that your skin is not actually “burnt” as the name would suggest! 

It’s caused by too much retinol producing too much cell division, which results in a large number of immature skin cells rising to the skin surface but without the proper bonds needed to hold them together.

With more immature skin cells at the surface without the bonds, the consequence is peeling skin, redness, stinging etc. 

If you want to know more about how to avoid the side effects, including retinol irritation, burn and purging, check out my post that gives you 17 ways to do that here.

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How To Apply Retinol For Beginners – Some Considerations

What Is The Best Time Of Year To Start Retinol?

All those brand new, immature skin cells you have on your face making you look half the age you actually are (we can dream!) are, of course, more delicate and therefore more vulnerable to the sun. You may have heard that you should slap on the SPF with retinol and that is exactly why.

The good news is, contrary to popular belief, our skin is not more photosensitive, and in fact, using retinol AND sunscreen actually reduces the burden of skin damage – Yay!! Pop over to my post here to read all about retinol and sun sensitivity.

So a sensible, and common, question is if summer is a good time of year to start retinol. I’ve got to be honest, I’ve not really come up with a definitive answer to that as there are arguments for starting in both winter and summer! See what you think:

• Winter beginning: the argument for this being the best season is based on the fact that there is less UV around during this time, therefore less risk of our vulnerable skin being damaged. There are also fewer daylight hours so less time for our skin to be exposed to daylight.
  
  
• Summer beginning: the argument for this being the best season is because of the humidity levels we get during the hot summer months helping our skin to be naturally more moisturised.
  
  We tend to get drier skin during the winter months, so using a product that is known to dry out our skin at the same time can cause a lot more irritation and flaking than we would get in the more humid months.

Difficult one, but I think I have the solution……..split the difference and just start it in Spring or Autumn!!

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Who Should Not Use Retinol?

Just about anyone and everyone can use retinol. It is pretty powerful stuff, and in relation to other skincare products it is known to be higher up on the side effect scale, but even those with sensitive skin can use it if they start it properly.

There are, however, just a few exceptions to this that I need to mention:

• Those who are pregnant. Excessive levels of vitamin A are known to increase the risk of certain birth defects due to Foetal Retinoid Syndrome and both the NHS and European Medicines Agency advise against this.
  
  I will say that there is currently no evidence to show that vitamin A derivatives in the form of topically used retinol can cause these abnormalities, however, because it is ethically wrong to test if it is okay, we are advised to avoid it (like many things pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to avoid).
  
  Certainly, I agree it is not worth the risk.
  
  
• Those who wax their face. Waxing is pretty brutal on your skin at the best of times, but when you have new and delicate skin, it can actually rip some of it off. Ouch!!
  
  
• Those with ultrasensitive skin. This is quite rare, as there are normally ways around this problem, and if this is you, please don’t keep going with the retinol unnecessarily – there is a fine line between perseverance and insanity!
  
  It’s best to stick with exfoliation and plenty of sunscreen to prevent further ageing and collagen loss.

If you are pregnant or thinking about conceiving, take a look at this post which gives you plenty of ideas for alternatives to retinol.

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How To Apply Retinol As A Beginner With Other Skincare

This is the sticking point for a lot of people and where a lot of mistakes are made. The order we use our skincare is such a minefield, mainly because we buy our products as a standalone entity and have no idea how they interact with each other.

So let’s look at how to apply retinol as a beginner in combination with other skincare products.

When To Use Retinol In Your Routine?

It is always advised to only use retinol in the evening, not because retinol causes our skin to be more sensitive to UV if we were to use it during the day, but because the UV can deactivate the retinol rendering it useless.

By using it before bed, we are also allowing the potent product to actively work as we sleep, undisturbed.

The general order is:

• Cleanse
• Toner
• Retinol
• Serums
• Moisturise

What Cleanser To Use With Retinols?

During the 1st month of retinol, your skin is a lot more sensitive than normal, so yes, you should certainly change up the type of cleanser you use.

If you think about it, retinol is the Swiss army knife of the skincare world, so you really don’t need any fancy pants cleansers to do any sort of a job, as whatever that cleanser claims to do….the retinol will do better! You just need your cleanser to clean!! Here are some other pointers on what cleansers to buy:

• Avoid any cleanser that contains Sulphates (or Sodium Lauryl Sulphate/SLS). This is used to make a product foam, but it also strips the skin of its natural oils resulting in dry, irritated skin.
  
  
• Avoid anything with solvent alcohol. The purpose of this in skincare is to increase water solubility and also for the product to evaporate quickly. Unfortunately, this causes the hydration in your skin to evaporate as well resulting in drying out the skin.
  
  
• Avoid anything with fragrance. I’m sure I don’t need to say why this is added to skincare, but I will say that the chemicals used can cause allergic reactions, especially once the skin is a lot more sensitive due to retinol.
  
  
• Avoid anything that contains exfoliants like glycolic acid or salicylic acid. This also creates a cellular turnover, and with the retinol, it will result in too much dryness and irritation.
  
  
• Look for a cleanser that has moisture-binding ingredients to support your skin’s barrier function such as glycerin.
  
  
• Look for something that is in a hydrating cream or lotion form.
  
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Which Type of Moisturiser Is Best After Retinol?

If you’ve made it this far you might have grasped the fact that hydration becomes more important than ever with retinol, so the type of moisturiser you use becomes more vital than ever. These are some of the things you could be looking for with your moisturisers:

• Hyaluronic acid and other ingredients like panthenol, glycerin or lactic acid for hydration. Apart from being the king of hydration, hyaluronic acids are known to plump and strengthen the skin, and soothe any inflammation you might experience.
  
  
• Hyaluronic acids can be used by purchasing a moisturiser that has it in the ingredients, or as a stand-alone serum. If used as a separate serum, use it just before your moisturiser to boost the level of hydration.
  
  
• Niacinamides – these also help to soothe the skin and restore the skin barrier but are great at building cells and protecting them from environmental stresses like pollution, sunlight and other toxins. 
  
  
• Look out for moisturisers with ceramides. These help to restore the skin barrier and lock in the moisture you’ve put in with the hyaluronic acid.
  
  Ceramides are the glue that holds our skin cells together and what’s missing when our skin barrier is damaged – as this can happen when starting retinol, it’s a really useful ingredient.
  
  
• Don’t use anything with fragrance. As mentioned before, this can cause irritation. It’s really not a necessary ingredient anyway.
  
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How Long To Wait Between Retinol And Moisturisers?

Fact: whatever product you apply to your skin will become diluted if you apply moisturiser with it, or straight after. This bit of knowledge is important to bear in mind with retinol, depending on how much of a newbie you are and/or how sensitive your skin is. 

If you are just starting out and your skin is fairly sensitive, you may choose to apply a moisturiser with or straight after applying the retinol. This will help to avoid those early days of irritation if that’s something you want to aim for. 

Taking this a step further, if you’re really struggling, apply a thin layer of moisturiser BEFORE the retinol as well as after. This is known as a ‘retinol sandwich’ – it does of course mean that it will take longer to see the results, but if it’s the difference between using retinol or not, it’s worth giving it a go.

The longer the time you leave between applying the retinol and moisturiser, the more time the retinol has to absorb on its own, and therefore the more potent it will be.

So, as your skin gets accustomed to the retinol, you could push the gap between the two products further apart – 10 to 20 minutes is ideal, but if you really want your money’s worth, go for 30 minutes.

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Can/Should You Exfoliate While Using Retinol?

There is a common myth that retinol is an extra strong exfoliator – understandable really as there is a chance you’ll get peeling while on it.

It is not, as it happens, exfoliation, but is in fact the retinol creating increased cell turnover resulting in the old skin cells on the surface being removed while the new skin cells are revealed.

Sounds like skincare nirvana, however, in reality, those dead skin cells are sitting on the surface of your face not looking particularly pleasant and causing foundation application a nightmare.

So how do you get it all off?

• When going through the retinisation period, your skin is already sensitive as all that new skin is very immature and delicate. The best thing you can do is to just put up with the flaking skin until you’re out of this period……it really won’t take long in the great scheme of things!
  
  
• Once you’ve turned a corner and you feel like your face has settled, you can start to introduce some form of exfoliation to get rid of that flaking skin.
  
  
• Only use once per week to see how your skin copes with it, and then increase to twice a week if it copes ok.
  
  
• Only exfoliate on a day you are not using retinol. If you’re at the stage when you are using retinol every day, then take a day off on the day or days, you want to exfoliate.
  
  
• Chemical exfoliants, AHAs and BHAs, are what you should be using – make sure you avoid any physical exfoliation or manual dermabrasion. 
  
  
• A lactic acid product is quite a gentle form of AHA, so you won’t get a particularly aggressive amount of exfoliation. Lactic acid is also a great humectant which means it will attract more hydration to your skin.
  
  
• Salicylic acid is another great one to try with retinol. It’s equally a gentle exfoliator and is particularly suited to oily/combination skin, anyone with acne-prone skin and anyone who struggles with saucer-sized open pores. 
  
  
• Whatever chemical exfoliator you choose, make sure you use a fragrance-free one, and a bonus would be to find one with anti–inflammatory antioxidants in it too. 

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What Not To Use With Retinol?

So we’ve established that we should use plenty of gentle and hydrating products, but what should we not use while on retinol?

• Benzoyl Peroxide is a product that is used for acne-prone skin. It is particularly drying for the skin, so needs to be done extremely carefully if used with retinol. The best advice is to use Benzoyl Peroxide in the morning and retinol in the evening.
  
  Another word of caution though: don’t get any product where they are formulated together – the Benzoyl Peroxide deactivates the retinol (another very good reason not to use these products at the same time!)
  
  
• Vitamin C is an active ingredient that can also cause sensitivity and irritation, so it’s a good idea to use this at the opposite end of the day to retinol in the morning.
  
  Vitamin C should be used with your morning routine anyway as it is used to protect the skin from the environment. I wouldn’t advise using Vitamin C when you’re going through the retinisation period either – I learnt that one the hard way!!
  
  
• Be extra careful with dermaplaning. Do not do it during the retinisation period, and once things have settled, wait at least 24 hours after dermaplanning before using any retinol products.
  
  
• As already mentioned, be careful with exfoliants. No physical exfoliants ever, no chemical exfoliants during retinisation and once you do start them, only use them on a non-retinol application day.
  
  
• No facial waxing, lasers, or chemical peels until your face is used to retinol, and once it is, stop using it a few days before you have the treatments.
  
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How To Apply Retinol As A Beginner: Where To Apply Retinol?

So far we’ve looked at the science of retinol, the preparation of our skin, and the combination with other products….but so far not the actual application. Let’s look at the actual process of how to apply retinol as a beginner.

Can You Put Retinol Around The Eyes?

You are bound to see information on the internet, and for that matter on the instructions of retinol products you buy, telling you not to apply retinol around the eye, but is this true?

Yes, you do indeed need to be a lot more careful with the skin around the eye due to the fact it is much thinner than the rest of your face, and therefore more sensitive. This would all make sense in relation to retinol, however, if our eyes were not on our faces, and last time I checked, they are. 

What is the point of having our face looking 10 years younger than we actually are, but our eyes, right in the middle of our face, looking 10 years older?! Not to mention the fact that the skin around our eyes tends to be the area we are most worried about showing signs of ageing first!!

If you are concerned about putting facial retinol around your eye, a lot of skincare companies have you covered, as there is a plethora of retinol products designed specifically for the eye area that have a lower concentration.

My feeling though, is if you are starting your whole face on the lowest concentrate anyway, your skin around the eyes will be able to withstand that. You can then continue to use the same product around the eyes as you increase the strength.

As it happens, studies have shown that those who use their retinol products right up to their eyes get the best results, plus with the new formulations that are being created it is now seen as perfectly safe.

The cynical side of me can’t help but think maybe a separate eye retinol product is the skincare company’s way of getting more money out of us, but obviously, if you are going into retinol late in the game and are going for a stronger concentrate from the outset, then yes, maybe you do need to consider a separate lower strength eye product.

Can You Put Retinol On Your Neck?

Absolutely! Just like I mentioned in relation to our eyes, I can’t imagine many of us want an area under our faces to look drastically older.

Our neck shows ageing too with signs like sagging and wrinkles, and retinol can deal with tightening this just like it can our face. In fact, skin experts recommend using retinol on all obvious areas of ageing on our body like our decolletage area and the backs of our hands.

Again, like the skin around our eyes, the skin on our neck and chest is more delicate and therefore more sensitive, so bear that in mind.

How To Apply Retinol As A Beginner – The Actual Application

Ok, let’s get into the nitty gritty of this!

Should You Put Retinol On A Wet Or Dry Face?

Here’s the thing about damp skin – it absorbs the product being placed onto it much more efficiently and therefore that product penetrates deeper. Think of your kitchen dishcloth…..it absorbs spilt liquids much more efficiently when it is damp.

For the most part, this is good news for our products like serums and moisturisers, but if you’re a retinol newbie…..it’s not good news. 

When starting out with retinol, applying retinol to damp/wet skin can result in it penetrating deeper and therefore give you more pronounced irritation. Therefore it is advisable to wait 10 minutes or so after cleansing your face, before applying your retinol.

Obviously, this may be exactly what you could do once your face has gotten used to retinol – applying retinol to freshly washed damp skin will allow it to penetrate deeper and therefore give you more pronounced results. 

How Do You Apply It To The Face?

• As already mentioned, as a beginner, you should apply this once your face is dry.
  
  
• You only need to use a pea-sized amount of the product……more is definitely not better when it comes to retinol. This amount will be plenty for the job it’s intended to do, and the thing about retinol is the more the product that gets on your skin, the more your cells are kicked into overdrive. 
  
  
• Start with the forehead first – it’s a less sensitive area so can take the higher amount of product that comes with the initial application.
  
  
• Use your fingers to apply it over the rest of your face working from the centre and outwards.
  
  
• Continue to smooth it down your neck if you would like.
  
  
• When applying around the eyes, use your ring fingers to dab gently under the eye, then the outer corners and then up to the eyebrows. You will naturally apply less pressure with your ring fingers which helps to avoid any tugging around this delicate area. 
  
  
• As a beginner you may want to crack on straight away with your serum/moisturisers as this will buffer the retinol somewhat, thereby helping to avoid any irritation.
  
  As your skin gets accustomed to it, lengthen the gap between the retinol and the rest of your skincare routine to allow for maximum absorption of the retinol.

Can You Put Retinol On Unwashed Skin?

Just a quick mention on this as it appears these are questions people have. I’m not entirely sure why you would want to do this, but I guess there are occasions when it could come up. 

Yes of course you could do this if really desired….. after all the skincare police actually do not exist……but it is something that is fairly pointless and could just result in a waste of your hard-earned pennies. Retinol is just more effective once your skin has been cleansed. 

Clean skin is required for proper absorption of any product, but especially retinol, as the pores are open, and your skin is bare and not occluded by SPF, pollution or makeup. 

How Long Before Retinol Works?

This is the bit we’re all excited about…..the results!

How long till you start to see the fruits of your labour and your pennies? I’m afraid the answer to this is another “it depends – and there are a few of them!

It all depends on what you want to achieve of course, but it also depends on what strength retinol you are using and the condition of your skin at starting.

If you have fairly normal skin, and start retinol at a younger age with the idea of preventing the signs of ageing, then you certainly won’t see the fruits of your labour for a good few years. Trust in the process though, as you can be proud of your youthful face once you’re in your 50s and beyond.

If you also struggle with hormonal breakouts and dull skin, then you will get the benefits sooner of retinol with clearer, brighter skin, as well as youthful-looking skin once you are older.

If you are starting retinol with the goal of reducing the signs of ageing i.e. fine lines and hyperpigmentation, then you may start to see some sort of difference at around 6 weeks, but for many, it could be up to 12 weeks.

If you are using OTC products, then yes, it certainly will be 12 weeks, if not longer if you are starting on the lowest strength. 

But that’s okay, using retinol is not a sprint….it’s a marathon, and the fruits will appear provided we are prepared to be patient with the labour. That’s an important message to take on board as they do say the full, best results can actually take as long as 6 months to 1 year. Be patient!!

Disclaimer on this timeline: because there are multiple factors that can affect this retinol timeline, everyone’s experience will be slightly different. We’ve touched on age, the starting condition of your skin and starting a skincare routine, but there are also hidden factors like our genetics.

If you are itching to see the effects, try taking a photo of your bare skin in natural light just before you start – this will give you a comparison to refer back to.

I’ve written a post about this subject right here. Have a deeper read if you’re interested.

Related posts:
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS WITH RETINOL?

Which Retinols To Buy As A Beginner?

With so many retinols out there it can be quite confusing to know what to buy. Here are my best tips for working out what’s best for you:

• First of all, you are going to have to think about where on the strength scale you want to jump in. Do you want to begin at the start of the strength scale with the lowest strength and not have to worry about any irritation?
  
  Or maybe you don’t have a choice with this as you have mega-sensitive skin? Maybe time is not on your side and you want to risk using a higher strength.
  
  
• Once you’ve made this decision, it’s really important to find a brand you can easily tell what strength you’re buying – you don’t want to make any mistakes! As mentioned earlier, The Ordinary is brilliant for this, and if you want to go more high-end Medik8 is your brand.
  
  
• Look at the small print! Don’t just rely on the name of the product to find your answers as they do like to give them scientific sounding names, which can really confuse you.
  
  Once you look deeper into the “more info” sections you’ll realise it’s a lot more straightforward than you originally thought.
  
  
• As a general rule of thumb, if the product doesn’t tell you what the strength is, assume it is weaker than the 0.01%-0.03% accepted range for low-strength retinol
  
  
• Try looking for products that are encapsulated, or have a drone or time-release technology. These cutting-edge ingredients have made OTC retinol so much easier for our skin to tolerate retinol by creating a buffer or slowly “drip feeding” the retinol in.
  
  
• If you really want to get all the benefits of retinol, and I would assume you do if you’ve read this far, then watch out for words in the deeper info like retinyl propionate or pro-retinol. These are weaker derivatives or retinol and a fair bit less effective.
  
  
• If you’re unsure whether to choose a serum or a cream formula, serum penetrates the skin quicker and more effectively so is generally suited to more established users.
  
  If you want something more soothing and hydrating as a beginner, a cream acts as a buffer and may suit you better.
  
  
• Finally, if it’s all still confusing if you see the phrase “suitable for sensitive skin” on the information, do consider that generally means a lower concentration of active ingredients.
  
  Related Posts:
  MEDIK8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3 REVIEW IN FOCUS: CRYSTAL CLEAR RESULTS

So there you have it. Everything you could possibly need to know on how to apply retinol as a beginner…..

To wrap it up, here are some key takeaways for using retinol effectively and safely. Remember, it’s crucial to apply retinol in the evening and follow the correct order of skincare products.

Don’t forget to cleanse your face gently and moisturize with a hydrating product and give some time between applying retinol and moisturizer for the best absorption.

During the retinisation phase, expect some flaking skin and avoid using benzoyl peroxide or mixing retinol with vitamin C.

When it comes to treatments like dermaplaning or chemical peels, exercise caution, especially around sensitive areas like the eyes, and lastly start with a small amount of retinol and work your way outward.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to embark on your retinol journey and experience the wonderful benefits it offers for renewing your skin.

Has this answered your questions? If you’ve any questions left (and I must say you’re a very inquisitive person if you have!) leave them in the comments below and I will get back to you. If you’re interested in retinol and want to keep up to date with it, then don’t forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter.

Remember, while retinol can work wonders for your skin, it won’t turn you into Benjamin Button. So, embrace the process and enjoy the journey to youthful-looking skin. Happy skincare adventures!