A question for Retinol users...

[Wishuponaleprechaun]

My Paula’s choice 1% Retinol arrived today. I would like to start using it tonight. One of the main reasons I want to start using Retinol is that I’ve developed slight crows feet now.

The bottle says to avoid the eye area, however I was wondering whether anyone goes as far as the side of the eye/ the crows feet area? I feel that I’ve bought it now so would be a bit disappointed to not try and treat my most problematic area!

Eye area generally means whatever is inside the orbital bone, the majority of crow's feat would probably fall just outside that.

Admittedly do not use in the eye area can be the 'dry clean only' instruction of the skincare world. If a company wants to say something is safe to use in the eye area they need to do additional costly testing which they're more likely to do for an extra eye specific product they can sell to you.

However, I would caution with retinol around the eye area especially since you're a first time user and the Paula's Choice gets some particularly strong reactions even with experienced retinol users. Proceed with caution, start slowly by introducing it gradually, generally it's advised to apply an (eye) cream as a barrier before applying retinol to avoid irritation in that area as the skin is much thinner. Once you've adjusted to retinol use then you can slowly take it up around the eyes. Also, just because you're not placing the retinol directly on the eye area, it will migrate there to a point, so you should see some benefit from it regardless.

Also, just in case no one drummed it into you, retinol use comes with daily sunscreen use and topping up every two hours with prolonged outdoor exposure. Stand alone sunscreen (not a make up or moisturiser) SPF 30 minimum, SPF 50 is preferred.

You'll absolutely love it & I second everything @botemp has said! A lot of emphasis on the sunscreen, this is really important!!!!

I used it on that area from the very beginning and it was fine but it depends how sensitive your skin is. I started with once a week and built up to 3 times. It works just fine.

Thanks guys.

Roughly how long does it usually take before you start noticing results?

Depends what you consider results and what your starting point is. Retinol can make your skin look worse for a brief period and then looks better, people often mistake this brief up and down as 'results'. Prescription tretinoin (what retinol converts into in much lower concentrations, about a 100x less) has measurable results from 6 months of consecutive use, retinol has a similar timeframe but results are not as drastic in the same time period but within six weeks you should be able to see an overall improvement in skin tone and managing congestion.

would retinol work for chest&neck?
my face is ok thanks to moisturisers with spf but neck and chest are getting a bit crinkled.

Red, the neck area is especially sensitive and becomes more so with age so it's really individual, some people simply can't tolerate it there. If you also have pigmentation in that area laser is a good option.

@botemp I want you to be my friend so we can discuss A LOT of skincare. Will you be my friend?

I'm over on the Fantastic Skincare threads on here all the time, all we do is discuss skincare. Feel free to join us reading

I% is a very strong formula for your first dabble into retinol! Definitely go very easy- perhaps starting with 1 or twice a week and building up to every other day and then daily- you'll likely get some dryness or irritation from retinol of that strength. And deifiniteley not on the eyelids!

I have the Paula's choice clinical eye cream which has only has 0.01% retinol for comparison- considerably less- in fact 100 times less! I still a difference in my fine lines though! This is safe for use in the eye area!

I use rhada beauty moisturiser just of a night, and I do use it around my eyes. It's apparently 2.5 per cent retinol. How true that is, I don't know, but i love it. I've used it for a couple of years now and I have good skin. I used pure coconut oil in the mornings so it may be a combination of both that is the answer!

@botemp 😱 I had no idea about those threads, coming over to spam with my amazing autumn routine thanks!

@botemp I feel a bit dumb, can't find them using the search button. Help, please! OP, sorry for hijacking your thread, I really love skincare

2.5% is almost certainly marketing gobley gook. Retinol is capped at 1%, even lower in a lot of countries. In all likelihood it will say 2.5% retinol, followed by a whole list of other good sounding ingredients and collectively all those ingredients will make up 2.5% of the formula but most people will just read it as 2.5% retinol but 0.025% is probably closer to the truth.

We're here reading:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3607276--Fantastic-Skincare-Shitting-About-All-Day-Discussing-Co-Dictionary