When to use Retinol in Skincare RoutineAre you in your mid-twenties and want one solution for your skin problems? You are at the right place. We have one for you. First, stop experimenting with primitive hecks on your skin; try to use a tiny amount of retinol in your skincare routine. Soon you will see a vast difference.

In this blog post, you will get the answers to all your concerns regarding when to use retinol in skincare routine.

Let’s dive into it.

Appropriate Time to Use Retinol

1. Retinol Before or After Washing Your Face

Always use retinol in skincare routine after thirty minutes of thoroughly cleansing your face. Never apply retinol before washing the face, as the skin is already covered with sebum and dirt. Hence to use retinol, you need clean and dry skin.

2. Retinol in Morning or Night

It is always suggested to use retinol in skincare routine at night. Since retinol makes the skin sensitive to UV rays, it is advisable to diligently apply a daily broad-spectrum SPF-30 or higher during the daytime.

3. Retinol Before or After Moisturizer

Moisturizers always come before retinoids in the skincare routine, as retinol has properties to make the skin extremely dry. Hence one needs to layer the skin with moisturizer to prevent the skin from excessive drying.

4. Retinol Before or After Serum

Serums mostly go on top of retinol. They soothe and hydrate the skin. Moreover, they lock the retinol and moisture in the skin.

5. How Often to Use Retinol in Your Skincare Routine?

The amount of retinol that should be used in the skincare routine varies from individual’s age to age and skin to skin. Generally, it’s preferable to use retinol in skincare routine twice or thrice a week.

Benefits of Incorporating Retinol in Your Skincare Routine

If you want one solution for most skin problems, it would be nothing but retinol. Let’s discuss the significant benefits of using retinol in your skincare routine.

Treats the Acne

One of the best treatments to treat active acne and acne scar is retinol. It unclogs pores through which the other anti-acne medication can work well. This reduces more breakouts by keeping dead cells away from clogging pores.

Cures Hyperpigmentation

Retinol if used consistently and correctly, it works in fading hyperpigmentation through increasing epidermal cell turnover.

Contains Anti-Aging properties

Skin aging has become a very, very real concern these days. Many people in their early twenties start seeing smile lines and light wrinkles. As a consequence, the skin starts looking bad. Retinoid is something that can help your skin in reducing wrinkles and fine lines by producing collagen. Collagen is a protein, which is responsible for the elasticity of the skin.

Production of collagen

Retinol stimulates the production of collagen and other elastic fibers that eventually give a youthful appearance to your skin.

Lightens the skin tone

It begins the generation of new blood vessels that improves your skin tone. It thickens the skin, which makes your skin tone brighten up.

Minimizes pores and even out skin texture

Retinol has the property of shrinking the pores and making them look smaller and tighter in appearance. Moreover, retinol is good for reducing black and whiteheads; therefore, it eventually works to make your skin texture feel much smoother.

Regeneration of the skin

It supports healthy cell turnover through slow regeneration of the skin. When it penetrates the skin, it paces up the cell turnover process. As a consequence, the body starts to pump out new, fresh and healthy skin.

Decreases the oil production

As retinol has the property of drying out the skin. Hence, it decreases the sebum production, which reduces acne breakouts.

Softens the rough patches

Retinol has exfoliating properties. Therefore it acts as an agent to soften rough patches that your skin might develop due to sun burn.

Steps of Using Retinol in Skincare Routine

While using retinol, you need to be careful. If the application goes wrong, it can cause you a severe chemical burn. Follow the steps below to keep your skin safe.

 

Step 1: Cleanse your face with a mild cleanser.

Step 2: Put some toner on a cotton pad and dab it on the face. Let the face dry for a minute.

Step 3: Then apply eye serum. The eye serum will help in protecting the delicate skin around your eyes from retinol.

Step 4: Wait a few minutes until the eye serum gets soaked in the skin.

Step 5: Apply a good amount of moisturizer

Step 6: Give twenty to thirty minutes, so the moisturizer gets nicely absorbed, and your skin dries completely.

Step 7: Now, take a pea-size amount of retinol and get this evenly on your fingers.

Step 8:Start applying from the outside of your face.

Step 9: Apply up on the forehead.

Step 10:Then apply on the jawline.

Step 11:Come down on the bridge of your nose.

Step 12: Apply the remaining retinol on your finger onto the brow bone, near the corner of your eyes and mouth. Do apply on your neck and ear lobes as well. (This step is only for those who have been using retinol for a while now, but not for beginners)

Step 13: Finish by applying your favorite facial oil. It will help in plumping up and soothing your skin.

Step 14: Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF-30 or more in the morning as retinol makes skin extremely sensitive to the sun.

Things to Remember when Using Retinol in Skincare Routine

  • If your skin is damp, even a little bit of it, the retinol will be able to penetrate far more deeply into the skin and might irritate. You can apply moisturizers and serums, but never retinol, to slightly damp skin.
  • Combine retinol with moisturizer.
  • Whenever using retinol, always wear sunscreen as the skin is susceptible to ultraviolet rays at that time.
  • Give it time to work. You might not see results immediately. It will take around twelve weeks for a visible difference to appear.
  • Use retinol in your night-time skincare routine.
  • Start using retinol in smaller amounts first. If you are a newbie to retinol, don’t use it more than twice a week.
  • Don’t rub your face with any scrub throughout the period you use retinol.
  • Consult a dermatologist before you use retinol in skincare routine.
  • Use retinol in combination with niacinamide. This combination will help in reducing the risk of irritation.
  • Use retinol in combination with Hyaluronic acid. It will prevent your skin from drying excessively.
  • Use retinol with Vitamn C. It will help fade away the dark spots, improve the sagging of the skin, and brighten up the complexion. If you have dry and sensitive skin, don’t use this combination it can cause excessive exfoliation, which might damage your skin.

Final Verdict

Incorporating any product into skincare routine is easy, but the results could be damaging. Before deciding to apply anything to your skin, do research.

Retinol is a tricky formula. We have already mentioned the tips and tricks to use retinol in skincare routine.

If it is used in the suggested ways, it will surely benefit you, and you will see promising results.