7 rules for the correct application of retinol according to a plastic surgeon
The secret to a good start retinolThe reason for this is that your skin needs time to get used to the side effects of retinol. Although side effects are common, they're not inevitable. So here are 7 rules for using retinol retinol like a pro!
First rule: apply retinol to thoroughly dry skin
The first rule is to apply retinol to very dry skin, as it will penetrate too deeply into the skin on damp skin and cause irritation.
Second rule: start retinol gradually
The second rule is to start retinol gradually, i.e. every other day or every third day at first, to see how your skin reacts and adapt the frequency of retinol application accordingly. If you don't tolerate retinol well, switch to every fourth day, but if your skin reacts well, you can switch to every other day. Once the tolerance phase is over, after a few weeks you can apply retinol every day.
But you don't have to use retinol every night: it's still very effective even if you apply it one day on, provided you use it for a long time.
Third rule: use a small amount of retinol
The third rule is to use a pea-sized amount of retinol for the whole face. Applying too much retinol at first will increase the risk of irritation.
Fourth rule: keep your skin well moisturized
The fourth rule is to moisturize your skin when using retinol.
The classic technique is to use a retinol serum and then apply a moisturizing cream on top.
But if you have sensitive skin, you can use the sandwich technique. This second technique involves first applying a thin layer of light moisturizer, then waiting 10 minutes before applying retinol to reduce irritation. And of course, reapply a moisturizer after the retinol.
Moisturizing your skin properly when you're new to retinol isn't just a question of technique. It often means choosing a richer moisturizing cream than you would normally use, as retinol tends to dry out your skin.
For example, if you have normal to oily skin, I recommend you choose a cream for normal skin, or if you have normal to dry skin, I recommend you choose a cream for dry skin.
My fairly specific recommendations concerning moisturizing creams
Fifth rule: Avoid bad associations
The fifth rule is that retinol should not be combined with other irritating active ingredients such as exfoliating acids or vitamin C during the tolerance period, i.e. until you are perfectly tolerant to retinol. Once the retinol tolerance period is over, you can use exfoliating lotions again.
But that's not all: stop using sunscreens containing alcohol, or any other cosmetics containing potentially irritating ingredients such as essential oils or known allergens.
Sixth rule: Sunscreen every day
The sixth rule is to use a sun protection SPF 50 every morning, as retinoids will make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Seventh rule: apply retinol evenly
The seventh rule is toapply retinol evenly over the face. A classic mistake is to mix retinol with moisturizer too quickly and without mixing well, which can lead to poor distribution of retinol on the skin.
