How To Use Retinol In Your Acne Routine
Retinol is a retinoid, which is a common blanket term for a number of compounds all of which are derived from vitamin A. Retinol promotes skin renewal, reduces breakout and blemishes, improve skin tone and texture and combats signs of ageing. It’s no wonder the popularity of this skin ingredient has sky-rocketed in recent years. Having said this, retinol was first patented as an acne treatment by dermatologists back in 1967, meaning it has played an important role in the skincare development for over 50 years. You can find out more about the skincare benefits of retinol over on our website.
Adding retinol to your skincare routine will help combat many skin concerns, especially if you find yourself suffering from frequent breakouts and acne. Let’s find out more about how to use routine in your acne routine.
How do you use retinol in a skincare routine?
When it comes to using retinol in your skincare routine, always remember that slow and steady wins the race! Your skin needs to build a tolerance towards the potent ingredient to avoid any reactions such as rashes, flakiness and other irritations. Here are the main key points to remember when using retinol in your daily routine;
Start with the lowest percentage to avoid skin irritation
Apply retinol once a week to begin with to build the skin’s tolerance
Always apply retinol in your evening routine as UV exposure evaporates the ingredient’s potency
Avoid the mouth, eyes and neck when using retinol as these areas have thinner skin and are more likely to be sensitive
If you have a very sensitive skin type you must ask for advice from a doctor to ensure you are safe to use retinol
Always ensure you apply an SPF to the skin the following morning, even on overcast and cloudy days
If you are finding the strength of your over the counter product is not having much effect, seek the help from a professional for a prescription concentrate
If you are feeling unsure or nervous about introducing retinol into your skincare routine consult a dermatologist for more advice
If you are wanting to know more about the various percentages of retinol available you can find out more about which strength of retinol would work best for you.
How do you use retinol for acne?
Retinol and other retinoids are a key ingredient to combating acne. Unlike other blemish-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide that work at killing spot causing bacteria and exfoliating away dead skin cells, retinol works from the inside out. Retinol penetrates deeply into the lowers of the skin and combines to the nuclear receptors, which are in charge of all functionality of the skin, from cell turnover to collagen production. This results in retinol having the ability to help treat all forms of blemishes and acne, especially if you team it with a skincare routine enriched in high quality ingredients. We have shared with you some advice on the best skin ingredients to use to treat acne in a dedicated blog post.
The following are the key benefits of using retinol for acne;
Retinol work further down the skin compared to other blemish-fighting ingredients
Retinol is able to slough away the build-up of dead skin cells making the skin appear brighter and more glowing
Retinol can unclog pores of any build of bacteria, excess sebum and debris that can develop into active spots
Retinol tightens pores resulting in an even looking complexion and preventing any future breakouts
Retinol boost collagen production giving the skin an even texture and acne scarring visibly reduced
Retinol is packed with antioxidants allowing the skin to protect itself from any environmental aggressors such as UV exposure and pollution
There you have the key benefits of treating the skin and addressing any blemishes. The powerhouse status of retinol and its ability to benefit the skin in many ways makes it one of the most effective skin ingredients allowing you to give your regime a boost in improving your skin’s health and appearance.
Can you put retinol on open acne?
Though this may sting a little, applying retinol to open acne should not have any negative effects on the skin. That is taking into consideration that you have previously used retinol and your skin has become used to the percentage of the product. It may not provide overnight miracle results you were hoping for, you will find any active spots will be significantly reduced in size and redness.
Do you put retinol on before or after moisturiser?
This really depends on the product and the formulation containing the retinol. For example, is it is a treatment serum it is best to apply it before a moisturiser as it allows the serum to seep into the skin. The easiest way to remember which product should be applied first is on the thickness of the formula, starting with lightweight gels to heavier creams as this won’t overload the skin and allow the products and the ingredients to target the correct areas of the skin.
How long does it take for retinol to clear acne?
Depending on the level of concentrate of retinol you are using, you can expect to see the beginning of the results after 6 weeks and an overall improvement after 10 weeks. This is reliant of the continuous application of the retinol, for example if you apply retinol 2-3 times a week you will see a difference quicker than using it once a week. As previously mentioned introducing retinol into your routine takes some time and should be applied correctly to the skin to avoid any irritation and other skin reactions to occur.
Does retinol make acne worse before it gets better?
Retinol is a highly potent and effective skincare ingredient that started as an acne treatment, this means it should not cause any acne or blemish concerns to get worse. If you are finding your skin has not had any improvement or find you are suffering from more breakouts than it may be a case of taking a look at the formula of the product. Over the counter products generally have a lower percentage of vitamin A in them compared to medical grade level products. If you are wanting to up the ante at clearing the skin from spots then consulting a dermatologist for a prescription product would be the next step to take when using retinol in your acne skincare routine.
I hope this has helped clear up a few questions you have about using retinol in your daily routine, don’t forget to get in touch with us on our Instagram if you have any further questions!
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.
