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Retinol is a truly transformative skin product when used correctly. It works to resurface and smooth your skin by increasing skin cell turnover. This process has many anti-aging benefits such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It can also even out your skin tone by reducing sun spots, reducing hyperpigmentation, and targeting melasma. When used over a long period of time, it’ll smooth your skin’s surface and clear blemishes, making it a great ingredient to add to your skin care routine if you have acne. Regardless of your skin’s needs, here’s exactly how to maximize the effects of retinol to transform your skin and easily achieve a clearer complexion.
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#1 CHOOSE A RETINOL CONCENTRATION
The first step to maximize the effects of retinol to transform your skin is to choose the right retinol concentration. There are several concentrations to choose from.
The higher the concentration of retinol you choose, the greater the effects. That said, higher concentrations are more likely to cause irritation and redness which can be a difficult adjustment. Because of this, highly concentrated retinol is not suited for everyone.
Retinol strengths range from 0.01%-1%. When first starting, choose a lower strength retinol from 0.01%-0.3%. As your skin gets used to the new product you can increase the strength of retinol you use to a moderate strength of 0.03%-0.3% or a high strength dose of 0.3%-1%.
Retinol can be difficult to get used to, but remember you don’t need an extremely high-strength product to see results. Using a lower-strength retinol will still grant results, it may just take a bit longer to transform your complexion.
A general rule though, start with a lower concentration of retinol to reduce irritation and allow your skin to adjust. If your skin reacts well, you can choose to up the concentration.
#2 DECIDE ON A RETINOL SERUM VERSUS A CREAM
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The next step to maximize the effects of retinol to achieve a clearer complexion is to decide on a serum or a cream. Retinol comes in both forms.
Both forms of retinol work to resurface the skin effectively. It simply comes down to personal preference and what product fits best into your current skin care routine.
Serums tend to be better at penetrating the skin and can enhance results. On the other hand, creams tend to be gentler on the skin and may be a good choice if you have sensitive skin and are prone to irritation.
Use these links to explore three different high quality retinol serums…
- Dermologica’s Dynamic Retinol Serum
- La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum
- The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalene
Use these links to explore my two favorite retinol creams…
#3 HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD YOU APPLY RETINOL?
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If you want to get the best results when using retinol, you need to know how frequently to apply it. When first starting to use retinol, it’s important to start slow. This is because retinol penetrates the skin and works to increase cell turnover which can cause irritation.
To avoid increased skin sensitivity when using retinol, start by applying it once a week. After a couple of weeks, you can increase to using it two times a week.
Assess how your skin reacts after another couple of weeks. Note any redness, increased irritation, or dryness and adjust your skin care regimen accordingly.
If you notice your skin becomes much more sensitive or you experience a lot of irritation once you’ve given your skin adequate time to adjust, consider sticking with it twice a week or only once a week.
However, if your skin reacts well you can begin to use your retinol every other day. Just make sure to work your way up to this point to reduce any side effects.
#4 HOW SHOULD YOU APPLY IT?
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When using retinol you don’t need much of it. Use it sparingly. You only need to apply a pea-sized amount to your whole face.
Make sure to rub it in well and allow it about 10 minutes to soak into your skin before applying moisturizer on top of it. You should also avoid your eye area as the skin on your eyes is very delicate.
Using retinol on your eyelids and under eye areas can be highly irritating and cause dryness, redness, or flaking skin.
If you want to target your eye areas, choose a cream specially for this area. These products will target wrinkles for anti-aging, yet won’t cause as much irritation as your retinol face cream or serum.
Click these links to purchase high quality eye creams to help prevent fine lines around the eyes…
- Paula’s Choice Resist Anti-Aging Eye Gel
- Dermalogica’s Age Reversal Eye Complex
- Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Eye Treatment For Women
#5 WHEN SHOULD YOU APPLY RETINOL?
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When should you apply retinol? Where does it fit into your skin care routine? To maximize the effects of retinol, apply it after you’ve cleansed and dried your skin.
Retinol can penetrate the skin best when you apply it before your moisturizer. However, if you have sensitive skin and are prone to irritation, you can apply retinol after your moisturizer. If you choose this option, it may not penetrate the skin barrier to its fullest effect, but you’ll still see great results.
If you use a hyaluronic acid serum you can apply it to your damp skin after you cleanse. Wait about 10 minutes for your face to fully dry then apply your retinol before moisturizing.
You’ll also want to apply retinol primarily at night rather than in the morning since it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. To reduce the chances of sun damage on your skin, skip retinol in the morning and always wear a quality SPF moisturizer during the day.
#6 WHAT TO DO AFTER APPLYING RETINOL?
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After applying retinol you should always use a moisturizer.
Using a hydrating moisturizer at night can help lock in moisture and maximize the effects of retinol to transform your skin.
Since retinol can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, make sure to always apply a moisturizer with SPF in the morning. An SPF moisturizer will deeply hydrate your skin and protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Click these links to explore and purchase some effective SPF moisturizers for your morning skincare routine…
- Murad Anti-Aging SPF Moisturizer
- Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer
- Dermologica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 Face Moisturizer
Use these links to explore some high quality evening moisturizers to hydrate your skin after applying retinol…
- Juice Beauty’s Age Defy Moisturizer
- Dermologica’s Intensive Moisture Balance
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Soothing Repair Face Moisturizer
#7 DEALING WITH THE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD
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Everyone talks about the infamous adjustment period when using retinol. And yes, it’s true. Your skin will likely go through a bit of an adjustment when you first start using retinol.
You may experience a bit of dryness, irritation, or increased sensitivity. These side effects are all normal when introducing a product that works to resurface your skin, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and smooth your skin’s surface.
Expect that your skin will take some time to get used to the new product. Building up a tolerance to retinol can take as long as one to two months. If you use a higher-strength retinol, expect a longer adjustment period.
You may even experience some skin purging in the initial stages of using retinol if you’re using it to diminish blemishes and treat acne. This means your skin could potentially get worse before it gets better.
Don’t be afraid though, this simply means the retinol is doing its job to resurface your skin and get rid of dead skin cells and impurities clogging your pores.
When using retinol for the first time, expect an adjustment period. Give it time and trust the process. If you do this, you’ll maximize the effects of retinol and experience all of its lovely benefits of skin transformation.
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