What can you use to improve your skin while you’re waiting for retinol to work?
We love retinol, and it does exactly what it promises. The downside: Even though it’s effective, it can significantly worsen your skin’s condition for a short time before it improves.
If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, this is a common side effect that occurs when you first start using retinol in your routine.
Your skin becomes dry, red, flaky, and feels tight, itchy, and uncomfortable.
This happens to everyone who uses retinol for the first time, but I know you want to avoid it. That’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about in today’s blog post.
So if you want to learn more about what you can use to improve your skin while you’re waiting for retinol to work, stay tuned.
If you want to learn more about retinol and how it works, you can find tons of blog posts about retinol here on The Beauty Insiders. How can I make retinol more effective?
The best way to make retinol more effective is to use it correctly. Many people think they need to use retinol more often to get quick results. The problem is that retinol can’t be applied quickly.
In order to reap the benefits of this powerful ingredient, you should slowly incorporate it into your daily skincare routine.
If you are using retinol for the first time and have not yet incorporated it into your daily regimen, here is an example of how to use it most effectively in your routine.
Initially, use retinol once a week.
Once your skin has developed some tolerance, you can increase usage to twice a week and then up to three times a week.
Always use retinol products at night, as sun exposure can reduce their effectiveness.
After using retinol, apply a serum or moisturizer that contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to counteract the drying effects of retinol.
Admittedly, using retinol optimally requires a lot of patience and time, but if you follow my tips, you will be amazed at the results.
How do I prepare my skin to receive retinol?
As mentioned earlier, the way you use retinol affects its effects on the skin. Now I will show you the best way to incorporate retinol into your daily skincare routine.
This is just an example: everyone’s skin is different. If you’re concerned about using retinol in your daily routine, consult a doctor or dermatologist to avoid severe irritation and reactions.
Step 1: Cleanse your skin thoroughly to remove any residue from makeup or other skincare products.
Step 2: Wait until your skin is completely dry before applying your retinol product. This is important because retinol can penetrate too deeply on wet skin, which can increase irritation.
Step 3: Apply a pea-sized amount of retinol to your face and work it in circular motions.
Step 4: Once the retinol is absorbed, apply a moisturizer with hydrating ingredients.
Step 5: Always apply a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 in the morning to protect your skin from the sun. Do this every day, even if it’s cloudy and rainy.
How long does it take for your skin to adjust to retinol?
It takes about three weeks for your skin to adjust to retinol. You’ll notice that during this time, you’ve developed a tolerance to the retinoic acid.
When you first start using retinol, you may experience irritation, redness, peeling, and flaking.
These side effects are often referred to as retinol side effects (more on this later!) and usually last no longer than three to four weeks.
If this persists for a longer period of time, it is recommended to switch to a formula with a lower retinol content.
However, if the side effects persist, you should stop using retinol products and consult a doctor.
Should hyaluronic acid be used before retinol?
Yes, it is possible.
It makes sense to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and protect the skin from free radicals such as UV rays, pollution, and other environmental influences that can cause long-term damage to the skin.
Hyaluronic acid also has humectant properties, which can draw water to the surface of the skin and bind it, thus counteracting the drying effects of retinol.
If you want to learn more about the combination of hyaluronic acid and retinol, you will find a special blog post that describes the combination of these active ingredients in more detail.
Can serums be used in addition to retinol?
Yes, absolutely. However, keep in mind that serums with ingredients that cause skin irritation should be avoided. Avoid serums with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or other chemical exfoliants.
I mentioned this basic rule in a previous blog post, but it’s something you should keep in mind in your skincare routine.
To get the most out of the active ingredients in different formulas, apply the products in order of thinnest to thickest consistency.
This prevents a barrier from forming on the skin and prevents the active ingredients from penetrating the different skin layers.
What is Retinol Ugly?
Retinol side effects are common side effects that occur when first using retinol in your skincare routine. These symptoms vary and include redness, peeling, rashes, itchy and scaly skin.
Every retinol user will experience these side effects to some extent, and they usually only last three to four weeks at most.
Here’s more information on how to improve your skin while you’re waiting for your retinol to work. If you have any more questions about skincare, feel free to follow us on Instagram.
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