What can you do to improve your skin while you’re waiting for retinol to work?
We love retinol, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. The downside: Even though it’s effective, it can make your skin look worse for a short period of time before it gets better.
If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, this is a common side effect that occurs when you first incorporate retinol into your routine. Skin looks 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, and that’s what we’re talking about in today’s blog post. So if you want to learn more about what you can apply to improve your skin while you’re waiting for retinol to work, stay tuned.
Don’t forget: If you want to learn more about retinol and how it works, you can find a series of retinol blog posts here at The Beauty Insiders.
How do I make retinol more effective?
The best way to increase the effectiveness of retinol is to apply it properly to your skin. Many people often feel like 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 product, you need to slowly introduce it into your daily routine. If you are new to retinol and have not yet incorporated it into your daily routine,
Here are examples of the most effective ways to incorporate it into your daily routine.
Start by applying retinol to your skin once a week. Once your skin has developed tolerance, you can increase the frequency of use to twice a week and then up to three times a week. Be sure to use retinol products at night, as sun exposure can reduce their effectiveness.
After using retinol products, use a serum or moisturizer rich in hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to counteract the drying effects of retinol.
Granted, using retinol most effectively requires a lot of patience and time, but if you follow my advice, you will be amazed at the results.
How do I prepare my skin for retinol?
As mentioned earlier, the way you use retinol affects its effects on your skin. I will now explain to you the best practices for incorporating retinol into your daily skincare routine.
Here’s an example: Everyone’s skin is different. Therefore, if you have any questions about incorporating retinol into your daily routine, you should consult your doctor or dermatologist to avoid serious irritation and reactions.
Step 1: Make sure your skin is clean and free of makeup or other skincare products.
Step 2: Wait until your skin is completely dry before applying a retinol product. This is important because applying retinol to wet skin can cause it to penetrate too deeply and lead to increased irritation.
Step 3: Apply a pea-sized amount of retinol to your face and work it into your skin using circular motions.
Step 4: Once the retinol has been absorbed, apply a moisturizer with hydrating ingredients.
Step 5: Always apply an SPF 30+ sunscreen in the morning to protect your skin from the sun. This should be done daily, even if it looks cloudy or raining.
How long does it take for your skin to adjust to retinol?
You can expect your skin to take about three weeks to adjust to retinol. You’ll also notice that she’s also developing a certain tolerance to the retinoic acid during this time. During the initial stages of using retinol, you will
experience some degree of irritation, redness, peeling, and flaking.
These side effects are often referred to as “ugly retinol” (more on that later!), and they don’t usually last more than three to four weeks. If you notice they last longer, you may need to switch to a formula with a lower
percentage to retinol. However, if the side effects persist, you must stop using the retinol product and consult a doctor or healthcare professional.
Should hyaluronic acid be used before retinol?
Yes, it is possible. It’s considered a good idea to keep the skin’s protective barrier strong and protect it from free radicals (like UV rays, pollution, and other environmental factors that cause long-term damage to the skin).
You’ll also find that hyaluronic acid acts as a humectant, attracting water to the surface of the skin and keeping it there, counteracting the drying effects of retinol.
If you want to learn more about using hyaluronic acid and retinol together, you can read a dedicated blog post that goes into more detail about how to use these powerful substances together.
Can serums be applied over retinol?
Of course you can, but keep in mind that it’s best to avoid serums with ingredients that can increase skin irritation. Avoid serums that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or other chemical peels. I mentioned this basic skin rule in a previous blog post, but it’s important to remember when going about your skincare routine.
To get the benefits of the active ingredients in different formulas, you should apply products in a consistency that works from thinnest to thickest.
This prevents a physical barrier from forming on the skin and prevents the active ingredients from penetrating the different layers of the skin. What’s ugly about retinol? “Retinol ugly” refers to a common side effect that
occurs when you first introduce retinol into your skincare routine. These symptoms include skin redness, flaking, rash, itching, and flaking, among others. Every retinol user will experience these side effects to some degree, and
they usually last up to three to four weeks.
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.
