How to Use Retinol Properly
So you've heard all about the wonderous effects of retinol already. (And if you haven't yet, here's our blog post about what retinol does for your skin.) But as potent as the ingredient is, if it's not used as recommended, it can cause some irritating symptoms as well. So let's dive right into how to use retinol properly on your skin, in order to achieve your most desired effects.
1. Dosage Matters
If this is your first time using retinol, it is generally recommended that you start gradually from a lower dosage (such as 0.1%) and increasing the percentage only once your skin gets used to the lower dosed retinol products. Diving right into a higher-concentrated retinol product can give you stinging, burning sensations which can scare you off of retinol in general, which would be a shame because it can do so much good for your skin if used in the right way.
If you want to begin using retinol and want a perfect beginner product, we recommend the Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum by SOME BY MI. Our curatorial editors at Kaya KoCo absolutely adore this mild serum with 0.1% retinol. As this product is also blended with bakuchiol, an ingredient that is praised as the natural alternative to retinol, it gives noticeable results even at a lower retinol dosage while keeping the product still mild for the skin.
2. Frequency Matters Too
It is recommended that you use it three times a week when you're a beginner to retinol, and every other day once you're used to it. However, different manufacturers have different recommendations on how often to use their retinol product depending on the dosage. Some of the milder products like the Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum by SOME BY MI is advertised to be able to be used in the daily evening routine, whereas stronger products like The Retinol 0.5 Oil is recommended to be used only 3-4 times a week by COSRX, the manufacturing brand.
If you're unsure what the recommended frequency of the retinol product that you bought is, we recommend starting from every other night and seeing whether more or less frequent application is suitable for your own skin.
3. Pair it with a Moisturizer
Retinol has a slightly drying tendency, so it is recommended that you always apply moisturizer when using retinol products. One way to do this is to first apply retinol right after washing your face, and then applying moisturizer.
Another method is the so-called "sandwich method", where you first apply moisturizer, and letting it absorb while brushing your teeth. Afterwards, apply your retinol product, and immediately afterwards, add another layer of the moisturizer.
Whether to use the first or the second option depends on the potency of your retinol product and how strong your moisturizer is. If you feel like your moisturizer is strong enough, and you're pairing it with a mild retinol product, maybe one layer of moisturizer is enough. But if you are using a higher percentage retinol product, and you're experiencing some drying tendency, maybe the sandwich method is better suited for you.
If you're wondering which moisturizer would be suitable for the sandwich method, we highly recommend the ISOI Moisture Dr. Cream. This moisturizer is specialized in building a strong skin barrier with tea tree ceramide, so that it would protect your skin against the drying effect of most retinol products.
4. Avoid Sensitive Areas
As retinol is a pretty strong product, it can be especially irritating to sensitive areas of your skin. We would recommend especially avoiding the area around the eyes and the lips, as well as around the crease of your nose, as the skin is a lot thinner in these area, so you might experience stinging sensations later.