What should I put on my face before using retinol?

Mix your retinol with your moisturizer, or apply your moisturizer first and then your retinol. Always use sunscreen the morning after you apply retinol. Your skin will be especially sensitive to sunlight, so it's important to protect it.

What to apply before applying retinol?

In general, here are the steps you take: Clean your skin with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry. Don't scrub your skin while using retinol products. Apply retinol in a thin layer to your entire face (be careful not to get it in your mouth, nose and eyes).

How do I prepare my face for retinol?

Is it better to apply retinol before or after moisturizer?

You should always apply retinol at night, after cleansing, and before your nighttime moisturizer. Five minutes is enough to wait for your retinol to sink in before applying moisturizer; you want to layer them, not mix them.

What should be applied before retinol serum?

Begin with applying retinol at night

“In the morning, make sure you follow up your skincare routine with a face wash, vitamin C serum, under eye cream, moisturiser and then a sunscreen,” advises Dr. Mittal Gupta.

How to Use a Retinoid like a Dermatologist

What should you not use before retinol?

"It is best to avoid other drying agents when using retinoids such as toners, astringents, and medicated cleansers. These products cause further irritation," mentioned Dr. Lipner. Instead, consider piling on rich, creamy moisturizers to counteract any dryness that may occur.

What stage of skincare should I use with retinol?

Keep reading to learn the exact skin care routine steps for applying retinol, but in most skin regimens, serums will be step 3 at night, moisturizers are step 4 and retinol goes after the serum and the moisturizer.

Should I apply vitamin C or retinol first?

If you're determined to use vitamin C and retinol together in the same routine, you'll need to make sure to put enough time between them. It's also essential to apply your vitamin C first because it has the lower pH of the two ingredients.

How do you use retinol for beginners?

Use retinol once or twice a week at first to see how your skin reacts, and gradually work up to every other day or three times a week. Another key tip for using retinol is to incorporate it into your nighttime skincare routine only, as it makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Do and don'ts with retinol?

Use Retinol Only at Night and Wear SPF Every Day

"Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays and sunlight decreases the efficacy of the product," explains Bowe, who instructs patients to only use retinoids at night and be diligent about applying a daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher during the day.

When should I apply retinol to my routine?

At night, apply a pea-sized amount of your retinol product ideally 30 minutes after you've washed your face. "Start three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) as dryness and peeling can be expected for four to six weeks," suggests Dr. Marchbein.

How long should I wait to apply retinol after moisturizer?

“It is important to leave a 10-20 minute wait time before applying the next product. Retinols are powerful antioxidants and it is important to allow it to fully absorb if you want to avoid your skin becoming sensitive,” says Dr Liakas.

Should I use hyaluronic acid before retinol?

How to Get the Best Results. To max out your benefits, “I often recommend that patients use a hydrating serum like hyaluronic acid before they apply their retinol cream,” says Hartman.

Can you apply moisturizer immediately after retinol?

After applying your retinol product, it's best to wait roughly 10 minutes before moving on to the next step in your routine. When you apply a moisturizer directly after a treatment product like retinol, you dilute the active ingredients.

Can beginners use 1% retinol?

For beginners, most dermatologists recommend a retinol with a concentration of 0.25 percent to one percent to see results.

Can I use vitamin C and retinol same night?

The truth: You can use vitamin C with retinol and retinoids. Get them as separate products so you can tailor the concentration of each and use them at the right time of day. Although vitamin C can be used day or night, it is ideal for daytime use, while retinol and retinoids should be applied at night.

Is it OK to use retinol and vitamin C together?

There's no problem with using both retinol and vitamin C as part of your skincare routine, dermatologists say. In fact, Shirazi calls this combo a "power couple" when it comes to aging well.

What happens if I use vitamin C and retinol together?

Additionally, combining vitamin C and retinol in your skin care routine improves the skin barrier, protecting the skin from the harmful environmental factors that cause skin damage and premature skin aging. Consistent and proper use of Retinol and vitamin C can benefit your skin by: Brightening skin. Evening skin tone.

Which is best for night retinol or hyaluronic acid?

While retinol should be used at night, phased into your skincare routine and worked up to higher strengths (more on that in a minute), hyaluronic acid is gentle enough to be used daily as it's a substance that your body produces naturally.

Can I put moisturizer first before retinol?

If you're starting out using retinoids or have sensitive skin, it's probably best if you start by moisturizing first. This will help soothe any potential dryness and irritation from using this ingredient for the first time.

What happens if you start using retinol everyday?

So if you start using retinol every day out of the gate, you can end up with some painful inflammation and a damaged skin barrier, negating any potential positives. One way to avoid that irritation is to start slow, explains Ranella Hirsch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boston.

What should I apply before and after retinol?

Mix your retinol with your moisturizer, or apply your moisturizer first and then your retinol. Always use sunscreen the morning after you apply retinol. Your skin will be especially sensitive to sunlight, so it's important to protect it.

What goes well with retinol at night?

Mix With Peptides

Dr. Mariwalla says it's a great idea to use both a retinoid- and peptide-based night cream at bedtime. "You get the collagen-building effects of the retinoid, but it also works to improve the penetration of the peptide cream, which can help improve skin's firmness," she explains.