The most important thing to remember when you start incorporating retinol into your skincare routine? Start slow. A good rule of thumb is massaging a pea-sized dot across your entire face one night for the first week, then two nights the second week, then three nights a week indefinitely. It'll give your skin a chance to get acclimated without potential irritation or inflammation. If your skin starts to burn, flake, peel, or itch, take a beat for a few days and focus on moisturizing and soothing.
We're big fans of the skin cycling approach, where the first night you'll exfoliate (usually with a chemical exfoliant, like lactic acid or mandelic acid, both of which are great for sensitive skin), the second night you'll apply retinol, and the third and fourth nights you'll moisturize. “Many people struggle with irritation when using retinol, so introducing the ingredient in this controlled way is a game-changer—especially for anyone with sensitive or reactive skin," dermatologist Whitney Bowe, MD, who coined "skin cycling" on TikTok, previously explained to Cosmo.
Want even more hydration to help offset dryness? Try the retinol sandwich method. "Start by applying a moisturizer, then retinol, and then another layer of moisturizer on top," says Dr. Cheung. Essentially, this can help decrease some irritation, as it creates a barrier between your skin and the retinol, limiting its absorption a little bit, she explains. But don't worry, this doesn't majorly cut down on efficacy, so long as you're using it consistently.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLvSpqapp5yewaK6jZympmejqcatsYybnJqtpK58o7HArquyZ5dohnWAkWlvcGeSmsC1edGeq6Kmn6F6p7vRZqqepqOewarCxGaqpKGeZA%3D%3D