Can I use retinol daily?

How do I build up to nightly use?

Choose the least intense retinol formula you can find and begin slowly. Once your skin tolerates the starting schedule, apply it more often rather than jumping straight to nightly use. Daily use is an option, not a membership tier you have to reach.23

Dryness, redness, itching, burning and peeling are possible, especially when you first start. If your skin becomes excessively irritated, do not increase the frequency. Applying retinol every day from the beginning can cause excessive redness and dryness before your skin has developed tolerance.12

How should I apply retinol?

1. 1Test a little on a small area first. Wait a couple of days; if the area is very red or itchy, do not proceed with a full face application.
2. 2At bedtime, wash with a gentle cleanser and pat your skin dry. Avoid scrubbing.
3. 3If your skin is sensitive, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly or hydrating moisturizer under your eyes and at the corners of your nose and mouth before retinol.
4. 4Follow the package directions. General guidance is a pea sized amount spread in a thin layer across your face, keeping it out of your eyes, nose and mouth.
5. 5Finish with a facial moisturizer labelled noncomedogenic, meaning formulated not to clog pores.

If retinol is irritating, a thin layer of moisturizer over your face before retinol can provide a buffer while allowing retinol to work. A retinol serum does not need a matching retinol cream, even if the bottles look very pleased together.5

Use retinol at night because retinoids can increase sensitivity to sunlight. During the day, use sunscreen with at least SPF 30, seek shade and wear protective clothing. For sensitive skin, a mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide is an option.35

How long before I see results?

Retinol starts working in skin cells right away, but visible changes take several weeks. Expect about three months of regular use to start seeing improvements; changes in wrinkles or pigmentation can take several months. Acne can initially look worse, with pimples continuing during the first couple of months.15

Who should be careful?

Retinol can help uneven tone, texture and mild fine lines, but daily use is not suitable for everyone. Skin allergies, dryness or substantial redness and inflammation are reasons to discuss alternatives with a dermatologist. On darker skin, irritation can trigger dark marks called hyperpigmentation, making a slow introduction and moisturizer particularly useful.3

Do not use retinol or other retinoids during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, discuss retinol with your healthcare provider before using it.13

If you use prescription tretinoin, follow your prescribed schedule rather than this starter routine. Do not add other topical medicines, including benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, without your doctor's direction. Contact your doctor if tretinoin causes severe or persistent side effects, and immediately for hives, rash or pain at the treated area.4

For acne, see a doctor if self treatment is not helping, spots are deep or painful, acne is causing scars, or it is affecting your mental health. Increasing retinol frequency is not a substitute for treating more severe acne.6