Well, the skincare industry spent an eternity trying to help the skin rejuvenate and return to its even and incredibly radiant look.
On the hunt to find the perfect solution, they landed on Retinol. Even though Retinol made an entry into the market quite a long time ago, it was only recently that Retinol earned the status of the magic potion it is.
Let’s first understand what Retinol is, and then we’ll further go through the retinol do’s and don’ts.
Retinol, in layman’s terms, is Vitamin A. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin in the A family, usually found in food and prescribed as a dietary supplement. Beauty enthusiasts highly recommend opting for brands that use Retinol as their ingredient, one such example is Zo Skin Health.
And therefore, Retinol has been in the industry as an ingredient for creams, serums, oils, ointments, and lotions.
Retinol has anti-aging properties and also helps you get clear skin without any signs of acne owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. Retinol helps boost skin cell production, which is usually called Proliferation. Retinol helps unclog all the dirt and pollution out of your pores.
It massively helps exfoliate the skin and increase the production of collagen, which helps to eliminate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles alongside blemishes, returning the absolute baby-like radiance and glow to your skin.
Initially, Retinol was only provided with a prescription in hand. However, over time, retinol is now offered over the counter, while more potent retinoids still need a medical professional’s approval.
Retinol Do’s and Don’ts | Your Pathway to Radiance
Retinol does a lot for your skin; not only would it act as a catalyst for your skin rejuvenation, but it will also work to clear your skin of acne and fine lines and pose as aging support. It is a form of retinoid that is enriched with vitamin A.
Regarding retinol, the slightly lighter ones are available without prescriptions. However, if you want to start using more potent retinoids like Retin-A can only be made available for you based on your prescription.
Retinol has various effects on your skin.
Retinol is a must for acne, a significant pollution problem these days. It clears up the pores of all the dead skin cells and blocks the pathways that cause inflammation. It not only prevents breakouts but also prevents any redness or irritation around it.
Your skin grows mature and naturally turns over; this momentum, however, decreases over time. When that happens, your complexion starts appearing darker, and your skin looks dull.
Retinol is loaded with collagens that help overturn this and bring the skin back to its natural momentum of rejuvenation. Your skin looks brighter, radiant, and strikingly nourished.
Because Retinol is enriched with all these benefits, you also realize that retinol protects your skin against fundamental issues such as hyperpigmentation and other environmental damages, besides helping with fine lines, acne scars, and blemishes.
However, you must be aware of a specific set of Do’s and Don’ts whenever you use a new product. These rules ensure that you reap the maximum benefits of a product without any drawbacks. Let’s walk through what we are supposed to do and what we are supposed to avoid.
Do’s
Less is More!
Whenever working with any beauty or skincare product, users usually work under the assumption that the more the product, the better results they’ll get. However, this is entirely a gross misconception.
Whatever you’re working with, whether it’s an emulsion, a serum, an oil, or any other product, go through the quantity of a product you should apply in one go. When it comes to retinol, ensure it has a low concentration of infused retinol, especially if you’re a first-time user.
Give the skin a while to get used to it without causing any redness or irritation in case you discontinue the product.
Gradually Ease Into The Product
Usually, we start using a particular product when we find a peculiar problem with our skin. We search for what could be done, eventually landing on a specific product. However, desperate times may mean that you instantly start applying too much of a particular product.
You need to understand that your skin is new to the properties of this product, and it may adversely react when there’s a sudden addition to your skincare routine. It’s always essential to ease the skin into using the product, here being retinol.
Try applying it only once a day alongside your skincare, eventually twice, and maybe three times a day for better results. You can start with diluted retinol, perhaps an infused moisturizer or serum.
Moisturise and Hydrate
Whenever we talk about retinol, we come across all the good things that retinol can provide your skin. All of this is true; no questions asked. However, every product, no matter how good for the skin, has its drawbacks.
Similarly, retinol has the potential to dry out your skin. Your skin usually demands some moisturizing, but once you begin using retinol in your skincare, double it up. Attempt to include as many moisturizing and hydrating agents in your skincare as possible.
Ensure that you have plenty of moisturizing in your routine and avoid your skin from drying out.
Use Only At Nights
Retinol has its benefits, yes. But with its positive effects on your skin, retinol also has many concerning drawbacks.
Not the kind that can’t be resolved, though. You have to take sincere precautions to ensure your skin only benefits by adding retinol to your routine and isn’t showing any signs of worsening.
Remember that retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, so preferably apply retinol during the night. Once you have to get going for the day, lather a lot of SPF to make sure your skin stays protected from any UV damage that may be caused otherwise.
Be Consistent
Realize that skin care is a gradual process.
Whenever you attempt skincare, don’t expect immediately visible results. It won’t happen overnight, and you’ll lose out on patience.
However, it will work over a specific time. Similarly, when you introduce retinol to your regular skincare regime, your skin will take a while to get used to its effect on your skin.
Have faith in the properties of the product and keep going. Don’t skip days or switch between products just because you don’t see changes with the current one. Keep the consistency going, and you’ll soon start noticing a difference.
Don’ts
Do Not Mix Retinol with Other Ingredients
Whenever you use certain products infused with potent ingredients, try not to mix them with any ingredients with the same strength. This may damage your skin. Likewise, Retinol does not blend well with ingredients like AHA and BHA.
The reason being Retinol has the potential to dry your skin out due to its exfoliating properties. Your skin would only dry out further if you use it alongside products with AHA and BHA, which also have exfoliating properties.
Also, ingredients tend to cancel each other out; in this case, Benzoyl Peroxide cancels out the effects of retinol. Vitamin C serum is better used separately than retinol because it protects the skin against environmental aggressors.
Don’t apply too much product
When using products, you have to remember that overuse of any product may not help the effect show faster but cause adverse effects on your skin. When we talk about the positives of retinol, we also need to remember that it has the potential to dry out your skin.
While exfoliating your clogged pores is essential, stripping your skin of its moisture would make your sebaceous glands act faster, releasing oil and eventually causing acne and breakouts.
Not only this, but a high dosage of retinol has also caused skin thinning, peeling, discoloration, swelling, and flare-ups. So it is always recommended to use a particular product according to its directed usage.
Don’t skip the SPF
Your skin should always be protected from sunlight and UV rays, whether you are stepping out of the house or not. Sunblock or any SPF product should be a non-negotiable item in your skin regime. Especially so when you start using retinol.
Retinol tends to thin your skin and make it widely photosensitive, even if you use it at night. These lasting effects can worsen the possibility of pigmentation if not appropriately protected.
To shield your skin against probable sun damage, ensure you use sunblock or any SPF product in generous amounts. You can benefit entirely from retinol’s advantages if you take the necessary precautions.
Not to be used during pregnancy
Pregnancy can be a phase where you are concerned about the aftermath of birthing, which is entirely normal. The stretch marks, the addition of wrinkles and cellulite, and the scars can all be devastatingly scary.
Due to the possibility of skin cell regeneration and the reduction of dead skin cells, users tend to go a little heavy-handed on retinol.
However, it is not recommended to be used during pregnancy. There is always a strong possibility that topical ointments and products enriched with vitamin A may interfere with the development of your fetus.
It can also cause fetal retinoid syndrome, which means that there is a pattern of congenital physical and mental disabilities related to retinoids.
Don’t use it during the day
Whichever product you use, there’s a specific time throughout the day that ensures that your product thoroughly benefits your skin. Similarly, Retinol is best when used during the night.
The reason is that you risk inactivating the product before reaping the benefits due to its exposure to sunlight. Also, understand that you use Vitamin C during the day, which does not pair well with retinol.
So the best solution is to avoid using it during the daylight. Instead, use it before you hit the bed alongside your moisturizer to soak in all the retinol goodness while maintaining the hydration and moisture in your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Retinol every night?
You should use retinol in pea-sized quantities every other night for two weeks. If you don’t observe any side effects from using this product, you can consider switching to two nights of application and one night without.
When should I stop using Retinol?
Usually, retinol doesn’t need to be discontinued, but if you use too much of the product to rip your skin off moisture, you may want to consider stopping it. If there are any signs of redness or irritation, kindly contact your physician for guidance and reassess your skin type to find an alternative to serve a similar purpose.
How do I know Retinol is working?
Based on an immediate observation, you may notice little to no change. However, if you’re regular with the routine, you may start observing clearer and brighter skin by the end of your two-week trial period.
Can I suddenly stop using retinol?
Well, whenever you add a product to your skincare routine, you make your skin’s job easier. Similarly, if you suddenly discontinue retinol from your routine, your skin has to reintroduce itself to making collagen and regulate itself properly again.
If you suddenly discontinue retinol, you may experience a breakout, or your skin may become highly dry.
Final Words
Whenever you try any new product, retinol or not, make sure you follow all the instructions provided on the label or your physician’s directions. It is essential to note that retinol is a potent ingredient and can be just as harmful as it is effective.
You must remember all the dos and don’ts for the best experience with retinol. Ensure that the product is suitable for your skin by doing a little swatch test on a small portion of the skin. Once you are through that, enjoy all the beautiful effects this magic elixir has to offer!