KNOW YOUR RETINOL RULES
S
peak to any skin care expert or dermatol-
ogist and they will be united in their ap-
preciation for Retinol and all it can do for
the skin. Speak to users of Retinol and they
will more often than not describe their experi-
ence with the ingredient as a bit of a love/hate
relationship. The things they love? The amazing
texture-smoothing, dark spot-lightening and
fine line-plumping benefits that come with
consistent application. The things they are less
keen on? The uncomfortable skin sensitivity,
the redness, the peeling and flaky skin, and the
fact that consistency is key.
If you are new to Retinol or want to give it
another shot, these are the golden rules you
need to live by.
Rule #1: Pick the Right One
It sounds obvious, but most people underes-
timate Retinol on their first try, so they pay
less attention to the details of the product.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all version of
Retinol, so make sure you read the product
description and check the ingredients list to
find out what the product is focused on (is it
better at clearing up breakouts or plumping
wrinkles?) and what type of Retinol it uses, as
some brands create their own derivatives and
some encapsulate the ingredient to make it
less irritating. Trust us, it’s worth the extra
couple of minutes.
Rule #2: Start Small and Slow
This is probably the most flouted rule in the
Retinol Handbook. Using a Retinol product
that is too strong for your skin or using it too
frequently is the quickest route to red, angry
and itchy skin, which is why most people give
ISSUE #06 | 2018 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 6
Retinol is the only ingredient that requires a training manual and a testing initiation
period before providing you with results, but the complexions of those who stick with it
are always the best in the room.