5 Must Know Retinol Tips For Success!
Retinol is such a powerhouse tool in your skin care journey. However it is a daunting one at times, especially when you don't know where to start. That's why I put this simple guide together to ensure you start off the right way.
BEAUTY AND WELLNESS
Melissa Swanson
When you hear the word retinol, what comes to mind first? Daunting, not for me, only for "old" people, ultimate skincare tool, or even must have in my regimen.... all of these are valid thoughts!
I have spoken with so many people of all ages about retinol and decided to compose a quick guide to help you understand it and also get the most out of using it.
One of the biggest things to remember when starting retinol is to start slowly and build up to the product. Start with once a week and then you can add in another day or two per week as needed and as tolerated. Retinol can make your skin dry, red, flaky and RAW feeling if you aren't careful. To avoid that I suggest when first starting out that you use the layer technique with your moisturizer so that it's not as potent. mixing it with your moisturizer the first few uses or even weeks, the slowly start applying first. Another thing I suggest is to find a very good quality hyaluronic acid serum to apply first to really lay on the hydration (I definitely have a favorite and would love to share it!)
Secondly when you are using retinol it makes your skin more susceptible to the sun. Always layer on a quality SPF, bonus points if it has active skincare ingredients in it!
The next tip is very important so lean in close. If you are going to have any waxing done on your face, stop using retinol at least 5-7 days beforehand and wait a couple days after so your skin stays safe. No-one wants their face peeling off!!
a key on retinol is timing. I encourage you to use retinol at night, and to be sure to wash it off in the morning and then layer on hydrating serum and a hydrating moisturizer, followed with SPF.
lastly if you are looking for the ultimate results exfoliating a day or two prior will give you top results! I recommend an enzyme exfoliant that will gently remove those dead skin cells and polish without being too harsh. It's all about not feeling like you're rubbing sandpaper on your face (if you know, you know!)
I hope these tips help you in your skincare journey! Just remember to own your glow!