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.
The Ordinary suggest starting your retinol regimen with their 0,2% concentration and gradually move onto 0,5% and 1% to give your skin the chance to build tolerance. Side effects if you don't may contain redness, peeling and a burning sensation. Especially around the eyes and mouth, things can get truly flakey.
Shamban suggests patients with sensitive skin start with a very low retinol concentration. “I recommend using a retinol with a concentration of 0.25% to 1%," she said. "If you have sensitive skin, the lower concentration the better."
For beginners, most dermatologists recommend a retinol with a concentration of 0.25 percent to one percent to see results. If your skin is not sensitive, you can usually tolerate something right in the middle; Dr.
With its 1% concentration of Retinol, the CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment is considered a high-strength Retinol cream. It's not for beginners, as I was the first time I used it in 2016. It's for advanced users, people whose skin is accustomed to Retinol.
For beginners, it's best to start using retinol once every other day or even just a couple of times a week. As your skin builds tolerance, you can increase the frequency to once a day. Some people with resilient skin can tolerate using retinol twice a day, but this isn't necessary for everyone.
Excessive Peeling: When your skin starts peeling off like a bad sunburn, it's definitely auditioning for a reptilian role. This kind of peeling indicates that the retinol is too strong and your skin cells are being sloughed off faster than they can regenerate.
For its skin aging benefits, you can start to use it in your 20s as a preventive step. If you're using it for mild acne, you can use it even younger. Keep in mind that while OTC retinol can help mild acne, many people with breakouts will need a prescription-strength retinoid cream.
“If your skin is dry, use the moisturizer prior to applying the retinol. If your skin is normal to oily, apply it after the retinol,” says Greenfield. She adds, “The order does not change if the retinol is serum versus cream, but you may need to add more hydration if using a retinol serum.”
The 0.3% night cream is ideal for those trying retinol for the first time and are a little nervous at how their skin will react. Retinol should be applied sparingly in the evening only to limit sensitivity and photosensitivity, and only used once or twice a week to begin with- allowing your skin time to adjust.
Retinol is well known for worsening the condition of the skin before improving it. Most people who introduce retinol to their skin, experience severe breakouts, dryness, itchiness, and redness. The immediate side effects of retinol treatment can take the form of a surge in acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and rashes.
As always, it takes time to see the results. 84% of people said that their skin texture improved after 4 weeks on retinol. However, it can take up to 12 weeks to start to see change to acne scarring. Significant scarring might take six months to heal.
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.
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.
If you're a new retinol user, we recommend beginning with Intelligent Retinol 3TR as it contains 0.3% retinol and you can work your way up the different strengths for progressive visible results. For those who prefer an all-in-one night cream, use Intelligent Retinol Smoothing Night Cream (0.2% retinol).
After applying your retinol product, it's best to wait roughly 10 minutes before moving on to the next step in your routine.
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.
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.
Caution: Retinol can cause irritation, redness, and peeling, especially around the eyes and mouth, in the early stages of use while skin builds tolerance.
On the “late” side
The good news is that it is never too late to start incorporating retinol into your skin care routine.
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.
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.
This was driven by concerns over skin irritation and systemic absorption. These could pose health risks, particularly in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. The ban reflects a broader precautionary approach by the EU.
Hyaluronic acid and other moisturizers – hyaluronic acid, peptides, ceramides, and other moisturizing and skin hydrating ingredients pair well with retinol and help to minimize adverse effects like skin drying.