How to use vitamin retinol serum

How to apply retinol serum

1. 1Test a small area first. Apply a little serum and wait a couple of days. If the area becomes very red or itchy, do not proceed to your whole face.
2. 2Wash with a gentle cleanser and pat your skin dry. Avoid scrubbing.
3. 3Follow the bottle's directions for the amount. General retinol guidance is a pea sized amount spread in a thin layer over the whole face, keeping it out of your eyes, mouth and nose.
4. 4Finish with facial moisturizer. If you are prone to acne, choose one labeled noncomedogenic, meaning formulated not to clog pores.

How often should you use it?

Begin with the lowest strength you can find rather than the strongest bottle available. Use retinol every other night for the first couple of weeks, or once every few days if needed. Increase gradually only as your skin tolerates it. Nightly use is something to build toward, not a starting requirement. Some cosmetic products do not disclose their retinol percentage, so check the application directions as well as the name, which is a lot of mystery for something sold with a label.12

Where does retinol fit in your routine?

The usual order is cleanser, retinol, moisturizer, which leaves little room for a supporting cast of serums. If retinol irritates your skin, try a thin layer of moisturizer before the serum instead. If you also use vitamin C, put it in your morning routine and leave retinol for the evening. Avoid doubling up with a separate retinol face cream. The evening routine can stay short, even if the bathroom shelf has ambitions of becoming a department store.4

During the day, use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, seek shade and wear protective clothing. Retinoids increase sun sensitivity. If you have sensitive skin, consider a mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Sunscreen is still part of the routine on days when you did not apply retinol the night before.245

How long does retinol take to work?

Visible changes take several weeks, and improvements with regular cosmetic retinol use commonly start around three months. Fine lines and wrinkles take months rather than days. Dryness, peeling, redness, itching or burning can occur while your skin adjusts. Do not keep increasing the frequency while your skin is irritated.124

Who should be careful?

Do not use retinoids during pregnancy. Ask a dermatologist before starting if you have skin allergies, substantial dryness, redness or inflammation. Retinoids can worsen eczema through their drying effect. On darker skin, irritation can trigger dark marks, so starting slowly and moisturizing matter. Pause an irritating cosmetic serum rather than pushing through. For a prescribed retinoid, ask your dermatologist before changing the amount, frequency or layering.256

Can you use vitamin retinol serum for acne?

Yes, retinol helps prevent clogged pores and can help mild acne. Breakouts can continue during the first couple of months. For an acne treatment specifically, adapalene is a retinoid available without a prescription; tretinoin and several others require one. Acne treatment generally takes at least 6 to 8 weeks before fewer breakouts appear, and topical retinoids can take 12 weeks or longer.1256

See a doctor if spots are deep, painful, causing scars or not improving with self treatment. Also seek help if acne affects your mental health or skin becomes hot, swollen and red. Severe acne needs more than a retinol serum alone. Avoid squeezing spots or scrubbing, because both can make matters worse.67