What to Avoid When Using Retinol

What is Retinol?

First, let's break down what retinol is. Retinol is a fat-soluble form of vitamin A and is a key ingredient in anti-aging and anti-acne skincare products. While you are browsing online for your next skincare investment, you're bound to find moisturizers, serums, eye creams, and just about every other type of product containing retinol (sometimes called retinoids, retinaldehyde, Retin-A).

How Does Retinol Work?

The most significant aspect of what gives retinol such great results is its ability to increase skin cell turnover. As we age, our skin cell turnover slows down, leading to signs of aging. Retinol speeds up this process, bringing the younger, healthier, damage-free skin cells to the surface much faster. This can improve many aspects of the skin's appearance, including fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and age spots, and skin tone and texture.

What Can Retinol do For Your Skin?

So, here is the good stuff! Retinol is known to have far better results when it comes to transforming the skin than other ingredients out there, and the results come much faster than with other skincare actives. Here is a reminder of skin concerns and conditions that retinol could help with:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Pigmentation and age spots
• Acne
• Skin tone
• Skin texture
• Large pores

What to Avoid When Using Retinol

So, it is clear that retinol is an incredible ingredient. But it does come with some caution. Firstly, not everyone's skin can tolerate retinol. If you have sensitive skin or suffer from rosacea, retinol might not be for you. If you are going to give retinol a try, here are some important things to avoid during the process.

Sun Exposure

Retinol will make your skin much more vulnerable to damaging UV rays. Firstly, apply your retinol product at night, and secondly, make sure you use SPF protection (minimum of 30) during the day to protect your skin.

Don't Mix With Certain Ingredients

While it's fine to mix retinol with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, retinol should not be mixed with AHA's/BHA's, vitamin C, or benzoyl peroxide. AHA's and BHA's both exfoliate the skin, so using them with retinol could increase irritation and dryness. If you are using vitamin C, it's best to use that in the morning and your retinol at night. Finally, if you use benzoyl peroxide to treat acne, don't mix it with retinol, as these two ingredients cancel each other out.

Don't Forget Your Neck

A common mistake many of us make when it comes to skincare, in general, is stopping at the face. Our neck is one of the first places to show the signs of aging, so make sure to apply your retinol product to the neck and even the decollete. The neck is also quite a sensitive area, so be careful here and use it liberally.

Potential Side-Effects

If you're using retinol for the first time, you can expect some possible side effects. Side effects can include flaky skin, sensitivity and dryness. These side effects are normal, and your skin needs time to adjust to the new active ingredient. Incorporate retinol into your skincare routine slowly so your skin can build up its tolerance. If you find the side effects too much, stay on the safe side and discontinue use. Skin Ceuticals Retinol 1 Night Cream SkinCeuticals 1% Retinol Cream is created with the highest dose of retinol available. This powerful night cream is formulated with the latest stabilization techniques that release the retinol evenly and steadily for maximum results. Perfect if you want fast, dramatic results, but probably not the best for first-timers. Perfect for: Experienced retinol users Key Ingredients: Retinol 1%, Caffeine, Citric Acid Top Overnight Repair Kit Encapsulated Retinol This incredible kit from The Organic Pharmacy contains a corrective serum and mask that effectively fight the signs of aging. The treatment duo helps to boost collagen production, minimise lines and wrinkles and reduce pigmentation. The mask and serum are made with encapsulated retinol, which allows the active ingredients to travel to the deeper layers of the skin before it activates. Perfect for: First-time and regular retinol users Key Ingredients: Encapsulated Retinol, Grapefruit, Witch Hazel, Seaweed Extract The Grey Face Cream This 3-in-1 face cream from the Grey is perfect for all skin types. The active ingredient combination of retinol, peptides, and antioxidants softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and deeply hydrates the skin. The beautifully rich texture will renew the skin leaving it looking firmer with a healthy glow. Perfect for: All skin types Key Ingredients: Retinol, Peptides, Antioxidants, Blue Sea Kale, Brown Algae La Roche Posay Sl0105 Redermic R Eyes Cream 15Ml When choosing our skincare products, it's important not to forget about the eyes. After all, they are the first area to show signs of aging. La Roche Posay's Redermic R Eyes cream contains retinol to minimize fine lines and crowfeet around the eye area. It also has a dose of caffeine to help reduce the appearance of dark circles. Perfect for: All skin types Key Ingredients: Retinol, Caffeine, Hyaluronic Acid, Citric Acid