For a while, I’ve wanted to add retinol to my skincare routine because everywhere I looked, people were talking about how it can make the face more plumper, firmer, smoother, and brighter.
Every ticktock review or blog post had the same thing to say about retinol. So naturally, I was sold and I got my first retinol.
But there was something they weren’t saying at all or enough, and that is;
Retinol isn’t like every other skincare product.
You need extreme caution in every step of using retinol. From your before to your after. If not, you might end up just frying your face on your first time.
That is why, this article aims to teach you everything you MUST know about how to use retinol for the first time.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is an active ingredient found in many products that are applied to the skin. They’re made from vitamin A, which is one of the fat-soluble vitamins essential for cell growth.
Being a fat-soluble vitamin means that retinol can dissolve in fat (oil), and since our skin is constantly secreting fat in the form of sebum, it makes retinol an effective skincare product to add to your routine because it can dissolve and penetrate easily into your skin.
When retinol penetrates into your skin, it goes deep into the mid-layer to increase collagen production.
Collagen is a protein your body produces naturally to make your skin tight and firm. As you age, the rate of production reduces, but with retinol, more collagen is produced so that the fine lines and wrinkles on your skin become less visible.
Also, retinol acts as an exfoliant. That is, it unclogs your pores and cleanses the oil and dirt gathering there that are causing the acne, blackheads, and pimples you probably have.
You don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get retinol. In fact, you can buy one from your nearby cosmetic store. They come in various forms. Either as a cream, serum, gel or lotion.
Steps to Using Retinol for The First Time
All these great things retinol can do just makes you want to start using it already.
But hold your horses.
If you don’t use retinol correctly, you will be doing your skin a lot of harm. Since it’s your first time using retinol, you should know first that retinol is a nighttime-only treatment.
Now, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use retinol correctly:
- Do a Patch Test
A general rule for using any skincare product is to do a patch test first to know if the product reacts negatively or positively to your skin. If you’ve not been keeping to this rule with your other products, I tell you, retinol is not the product to be carefree with.
So for your first time, before applying retinol directly to your face, apply a small amount to your neck and allow it to sit for 24 hours.
During this period, take note of any irritation or burning sensation. The skin on your neck is only slightly thicker than the skin on your face, so if you get a negative reaction from the patch test, then you definitely shouldn’t use that retinol. Look for something milder, like the Beauty Formula Retinol Serum.
- Wash and Tone Your Face
A clean base is always a good place to start. Washing your face with a mild face soap prepares it for treatment.
Washing the face makes the skin to become more sensitive because washing takes off the oil and dirt that have created another layer on top of your facial skin. So after washing, gently pat your face to completely dry and let it cool off for about 5-10 minutes. You can tone your face at this point.
- Apply Retinol
Never apply retinol on damp skin or you might just cause unnecessary irritation to your face.
There are two ways you can apply retinol:
– Buffer method: where you mix your retinol with your moisturizer, and then apply it to your face.
– Sandwich method: where you first apply your moisturizer, then retinol, and finally another layer of moisturizer.
These methods will reduce any tendency of retinol causing irritation, but don’t worry, they’re both effective.
- Layer with Hydrating Products
Depending on your nighttime routine, if you still have more steps after moisturizing, then go on with them, so long as the products you’ll be using are hydrating products, like eye cream or a hydrating serum.
Rules You Must Follow When Using Retinol for The First Time
Even now that you know the steps to follow when using retinol, there are things that, if you don’t pay attention to, your face could suffer for them.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, you need to be extremely cautious when using retinol, so here are some precautionary tips to improve your experience using retinol for the first time:
- Only apply retinol at night and make sure to use sunscreen at daytime because retinol makes your skin too sensitive and exposes it heavily to UV ray.
- Don’t use retinol after exfoliating or face steaming. Wait at least 24 hours, when your skin is no longer sensitive to these procedures.
- Since it’s your first time using retinol, start small. A day a week, and slowly build up from there till your skin becomes used to it.
- Watch out for your under-eye and lip areas when using retinol. These areas tend to have lighter skin and are prone to more irritation than other parts.
- Don’t mix retinol with products containing strong active ingredients like Vitamin C. Individually, both ingredients are great, but together they become too harsh for your face, and cause more irritation. So use Vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night.
- You only need a pea-sized amount of retinol for your whole face. Anything more can cause irritation.
Finally…
Knowing that my skin could look better than before if I started using retinol made me rush to add it to my routine, without learning more about it. And though I was lucky and it did no harm to my skin, you may not be as lucky as I was.
So instead of leaving the fate of your face to luck, it’s wiser and safer to know how to use retinol and the rules that apply to using it before adding it to your routine, especially if this is your first time. Following the steps and rules mentioned in this article will ensure the safety of your face.
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