When it comes to establishing a beauty routine, there are more and more aesthetic treatments or products whose benefits add up and adapt to the specific needs of our skin and our age. If organic silicon has become the best ally to combat the terrible blue light and coenzyme, our best friend to keep facial ageing at bay, it’s time to enter the universe of retinol.
Recently arrived in the world of cosmetics, retinol is the most innovative ingredient of recent times, but it is convenient to follow a series of tips to start using it in your beauty routine and enjoy all its benefits. Below are some tips on using this miracle ingredient:-
- Products with retinoids (retinoic acid, retinol, or others) must be applied at night since ultraviolet light inactivates them.
- Apply the product to clean and dry skin. To do this, first cleanse the skin with a lotion or gel (eg La Roche Posey facial cleanser or Bioderma Micellar Water ), wash with lukewarm water several times, and pat dry very gently with a towel (do not rub and do not use exfoliants). To prevent irritation, you can wait about 30 minutes before using the retinoid product.
- Apply a thin layer of the retinoic acid or retinol product to clean, dry skin (do not overdo it).
- Avoid contact with eyes, nasal mucosa, mouth, and open wounds, and prevent accumulation in the corners of the nose. The area under the eyes, around the mouth and the nose is most sensitive, avoid these areas if there is irritation.
- OPTIONAL: A simple moisturiser can be used before or after using the retinoic acid product or retinol serum to prevent irritation and maintain skin hydration. Be careful that the moisturiser does not contain acids or a large number of ingredients that could react with the retinoid.
- In the case of using a preparation with retinoic acid (tretinoin), apply an amount no larger than the size of a pea to the face.
Things to keep in mind after using Retinoids
- The next day in the morning: cleanse the face with a cleansing milk or gel (e.g. La Roche Posey facial cleanser or Bioderma Micellar Water ), rinse with water, and gently pat dry.
- Apply a serum or cream with vitamin C (which protects against photoaging), or simply apply a moisturising cream.
- Apply SPF30 or SPF50 sun protection, because all retinoids increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Mineral (physical) sun creams sunscreens cause less allergy or irritation than sunscreens with chemical filters. If the moisturiser we used in the previous step contains sun protection, skip this step.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
