It's important to moisturize with a high-quality moisturizer after you've let the retinol soak into your skin.
Retinol should always be used with a mild moisturizer at night, since it can make the skin dry. It is also very important to use sunscreen every day as the use of the retinol makes skin very sensitive to UV rays.
Pair retinol with moisturizer
Ask any dermatologist and they'll tell you: Incorporating a retinol into your skin-care routine without the use of moisturizer is probably a bad idea. That's because without that added layer of hydration, risk of sensitivity is higher.
While retinol has so many benefits, it takes time for your skin to get used to it, and moisturizing can help ease the transition. If you don't apply moisturizer before or after retinol (or both), you may experience: Redness. Dryness.
FAQ: Retinoids and nighttime use
A: You can, but many people begin by applying retinol every other night to avoid potential irritation. Start slowly and work your way up.
You should apply retinol before your moisturizer. Once you've applied retinol, wait about 30 minutes for it to fully absorb into your skin. Then, you can moisturize! That said, you can also intentionally dilute the retinol to minimize chances of irritation.
STEP 4: WAIT UNTIL YOUR SKIN IS DRY
It's essential to make sure to wait until your skin is dehydrated before moving on to applying your retinol. If you use it on wet or even damp skin, there is a greater likelihood that you'll experience irritation. That is because cleansing the skin opens up the pores.
Tretinoin should always be paired with a moisturizer and sunscreen with a SPF 50. In addition to these two items, you can also pair it up with Vitamin C (applied before your sunscreen in the morning) and hyaluronic acid or niacinamide 10 minutes after applying your tretinoin cream.
In short, the retinol sandwiching technique is as follows:
Apply a layer of moisturiser to damp skin. Allow this to dry completely. Apply your retinol. After giving retinol time to absorb, finish your skincare routine with a second layer of moisturiser.
If you're primarily using retinol for anti-aging purposes, using it every other night or a few times a week may suffice. However, if you're battling acne, your dermatologist may recommend daily usage or a higher concentration.
The Wrinkle Worsening Myth
Here's the tea: Retinol does NOT make your wrinkles worse. But (and it's a big but), it can sometimes make your skin look worse before it gets better. When you first start using retinol, it's literally speeding up the process of cell turnover.
You will be able to tell that Retinol is working if you start to see improvements in the texture and general appearance of your skin. Some people might be able to spot changes in their skin quite quickly, while others will have to be more patient.
We recommend using a ceramide enriched moisturiser after your retinol serum to help support your skin moisture barrier.
For those of us who do suffer from purging, it can look like: breaking out in pustules (pimples), the appearance of flaky, peeling skin, irritation and dry patches. Getting these symptoms can be demotivating, especially if you're already feeling unconfident about your skin.
As it is a very powerful ingredient, retinol can be used in the eye contour area, although with care, using only specific products for the eye contour area.
Apply Moisturizer as Needed: Depending on your skin's needs, you may need to apply moisturizer once or twice a day. It's especially important to moisturize in the evening after using retinol, as this helps counteract any potential dryness or sensitivity that may occur overnight.
Tretinoin should be applied to the entire face nightly — AFTER washing your face and in combination with a moisturizer. When you first start tretinoin, your goal is to apply a pea-sized amount to your entire face 2-3 nights a week.
Once you've massaged the Tretinoin onto your skin, you can apply your serums and/or moisturiser if you use these at night. There isn't a golden rule about how long to wait before applying these as different formulations of Tretinoin take different times to absorb. If in doubt, wait for 15-20 minutes.
Wait: Allow the retinol to absorb into your skin. Waiting 20-30 minutes can reduce the risk of irritation. Moisturize: Apply your moisturizer to lock in hydration and soothe the skin.
Yes, it is completely safe to use retinoids (vitamin A) on dry skin types, just as long as you ensure that you are using it correctly. At Medik8, we use 3 types of retinoids - retinol, retinaldehyde (retinal) and retinyl retinoate.
Retinol is naturally derived from vitamin A, while tretinoin is a synthetic form. Tretinoin is significantly stronger than retinol. Tretinoin requires a prescription, while retinol compounds are typically over the counter. Typical skin shedding during early use of retinol is less pronounced than tretinoin.
Retinol/retinoids do not need to be washed off the following morning.
The Retinol Uglies: Fact vs Myths. Retinol can benefit skin in a myriad of ways. Often implemented into routines for anti-ageing and skin clearing, its potency can sometimes cause side effects in the short term. Termed 'retinol uglies', the skin shedding function of this ingredient results in sensitivity for many users ...