6 Situations When We Recommend You Stop Using Retina
When it comes to skincare ingredients, Retina is undoubtedly one of the most popular. But with that popularity often comes a lot of misinformation. So it can be hard to know when you’re getting the right results, when to stick with it, and when to stop.
Here are five situations when we recommend you stop using Retina. Just for a short time.
You have irritation.
Introducing Retina into your daily routine often comes with a host of side effects for your skin. Maybe it’s detoxification. (More on that here.) But it’s stinging, burning, and severe irritation that are really cause for concern.
You may be using too much and too often. So stop using and reduce usage to once a week. Or not. When your skin really says, “Don’t bother me.”
If you regularly incorporate Retina into your nightly regimen once a week, your skin will still be very radiant. As you build up a greater tolerance to the powerful active ingredient, you can start to gradually increase usage.
If you know you have a sensitive skin type or want to be extra safe, try the sandwich method: apply a nourishing moisturizer before and after a Retinal application to soothe your skin.
You have a sunburn.
Assumed, right? Because you wear sunscreen every day. (No matter what the weather app says.)
Great. We’re glad we fixed that.
In the rare event that you look a little tanned at the end of the day, we recommend avoiding Retinal until your skin has had a chance to heal and your skin barrier is no longer compromised. Applying Retinal to your sunburn will only exacerbate the heat and redness and delay the regeneration of your skin barrier.
Instead, focus on super soothing, soothing, and hydrating ingredients. Don’t reintroduce Retinal into your routine until you’ve spent some time in the repair shop (at least a week). Wait until any redness or flaking has completely disappeared.
You’ve booked a facial.
To avoid discomfort during your facial, it’s best to avoid a Retinal treatment a week before your appointment. Protect your skin from unnecessary post-facial inflammation.
If you’ve recently used retinal, let your aesthetician know so they can reconsider any waxing, peeling, or chemical peeling that may be included in your treatment. It will likely focus on deep hydration and replenishing the skin. (Since you’ve already done the job of removing dead cells at home. There’s no point in using more active ingredients.)
You’ve made an appointment for brow/lip hair removal or laser treatment.
Retinal works. We know that. But while the ingredient helps remove dead skin cells, the new/fresh/glowing skin cells that replace them are more susceptible to irritation from treatments like waxing and lasers.
Using retinal aggressively before a wax or laser appointment can sometimes lead to skin irritation (best case scenario) and cracking (worst case scenario). Using retinal aggressively after a wax or laser appointment may cause a mild burning sensation due to broken skin or opened hair follicles. We don’t want that.
It’s best to suspend the use of the product for a few days before and after a pampering treatment.
You’ve just had skin needling.
In general, after any skin needling treatment, there may be some redness and slight swelling around the treated area, and your face may feel warm. After three to five days, you’ll notice your skin becoming dry and flaky. A completely normal part of the regeneration process.
But! If you start using Retinol again right away, your skin will remain in a highly sensitive state for much longer than planned. Your skin barrier can only withstand so much, so it’s best to avoid using active ingredients (of any kind) until your skin has healed. Your dermatologist will give you stricter guidelines.
You’ve got a baby in your oven.
Retinaldehyde (or more precisely all retinoids) is an ingredient you must avoid during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Vitamin A plays a vital role in fetal development, which means that using large amounts of Retinol can affect early growth.
We recommend that you consult your doctor to determine the individual needs of you, your skin, and your little one during this time. (Hey! Congratulations, by the way.)
We love Retinol. You know it. It just comes with a lot of ifs and buts. We strongly recommend that you stick with it.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
