"It's a four-night cycling schedule: exfoliation night, retinoid night, recovery night, recovery night, repeat.” says Dr. Bowe, “You will get the most out of the active ingredients in your skin-care products while minimizing irritation by building in those needed recovery nights.” Allure Beauty Box | January 2023 | Dr.
Skin cycling can help prevent the potential side effects of ingredients like exfoliants and retinoids because having rest days gives your skin a chance to repair itself, says Wattenberg.
We recommend following the 1-2-3 rule: apply retinol once a week for one week, twice a week for two weeks, three times for three weeks, then move towards every second night if there are no side effects happening. If you do experience flaking, redness or sensitivity, simply move back to a lower frequency for a week.
Apply retinol at night
Hence, always apply it at night. “In the morning, make sure you follow up your skincare routine with a face wash, vitamin C serum, moisturiser and then a sunscreen,” advises Dr Mittal Gupta.
Home How to phase in
Start by using it twice a week for the first 2 weeks, then every other night for the next two weeks, and then nightly. Once your skin has adjusted and built tolerance, you can move on to a higher strength vitamin A, making your way up our unique ladder of progressive strengths.
"It's a four-night cycling schedule: exfoliation night, retinoid night, recovery night, recovery night, repeat.” says Dr. Bowe, “You will get the most out of the active ingredients in your skin-care products while minimizing irritation by building in those needed recovery nights.”
The retinol uglies can last anywhere from 4–8 weeks. The exact length of a retinoid purge depends very much on your skin type and sensitivity. The amount and strength of your retinoid product can also play a part. Some people experience a purge flare-up for only a few days, and others don't get it at all.
When can you expect to see changes in your skin? It takes at minimum around four weeks, and at maximum up to three months to start reaping benefits from retinol, as dermatologists say skin turnover benefits closely align with the timeline of collagen production.
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.
Is 1% Retinol Too Much for Beginners? If you're a new retinol user, starting at 1% retinol may cause your skin to become irritated and sensitive. For new vitamin A users, we always recommend that you start on the lowest strength (0.01%) and gradually work your way up from there.
HA provides hydration, which can counteract the potential drying effects of retinoids. Since Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a water-based serum, it would be applied first and then after, you would apply retinoids, such as Retinol 1% in Squalane, as it's an anhydrous formulation.
If you have been using retinol or a retinoid cream, which is a prescription medication, without the prescription of a dermatologist or if you've started it on your own, there is a high chance that you would have overdosed on the retinol and it is causing a lot of dryness or flaking on your skin.
Skin Cycling is a 3 to 4 day nighttime routine, where you “cycle” your skin through exfoliation, then retinol, followed by rest/hydration. The cadence of the days means that the active ingredients in your routine get spaced out, giving skin's barrier time to adjust and recover from potential irritation.
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.
It depends. In many cases, combining retinol and exfoliants can provide faster and better results, especially if you have very specific goals, like reducing breakouts faster or targeting discoloration. However, for simple skin maintenance and age prevention, using a retinoid alone can be more than enough.
Can retinol damage your skin? If you use retinol, you'll sunburn more easily, which can damage your skin. Using high doses of retinol may also be associated with the development of skin cancer. Be sure to wear sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight (with clothing and hats) while you use retinol products.
Using antioxidant serums can help. Vitamin c is the most popular serum but if you cannot tolerate it , you can use something with resveratrol and ferulic acid . Sunscreen is a must.
In general, a retinol purge is a one-time deal that takes about four weeks to complete, although the amount of time varies by skin type. (Speaking of, retinol isn't a good idea for those with eczema, severe rosacea, or extremely sensitive skin.)
At six months
Skin tone and texture will appear more even, smoother, and generally brighter. Which should bring about a noticeable difference to any pigmentation in the skin too.
If you want to target wrinkles, uneven texture, or acne, retinol is your best bet. If you're looking for brighter skin and protection from environmental damage, vitamin C is the way to go.
If you're wondering whether you can put retinol under your eyes, the answer is yes! While the skin under your eyes is delicate and requires extra attention, using the correct retinol-infused eye care products under your eyes is a great way to tackle eye bags, wrinkles and dark circles.
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.