Can someone please explain how to use retinol?

[Frumpypigskin]

Hello, I have watched the Caroline Hirons retinol videos and I am currently using skinceuticals 0.3%.
The instructions say to work up to applying every other day - I've done that but my skin is really sore so have stopped using it so often. I'll go back to every 3rd day which I seem to tolerate better.
Am I supposed to just use at a level that my skin can tolerate without a reaction?
How long do I use it for? Do you just build it into your skincare routine or it a 6 week process that you do once or twice a year?

Thank you!

I'm interested to know too! I bought The Ordinary retinol a while ago but have been too scared to use it. An unfortunate Lactic Acid over exfoliating incident left me with a giant tomato face so I really want to avoid that.

OP - it can make your skin sore initially and quite dry. There are milder retinols out there which have a gentle buffer. This particular product may just not work with your skin.

I use Murad, very good and tends not to irritate my skin too much. I use every Other night.

Retinol/retinoid products should be used as often as tolerated but only once you’ve built up to using them regularly. For example I use approx 5 nights a week with an acid on the remaining 2 nights so maybe retinoid 3 nights in a row then acid 1 night, back to retinoid for another 2-3 nights and so on.

The reason to use them regularly is it’s a long term investment and commitment for your skin. It can take months to see a noticeable change. Using it a couple of times a year is pointless and potentially very irritating for your skin as you’ll have lost your tolerance to them.

You could try buffering it with a moisturiser so essentially mixing some with your moisturiser or apply moisturiser, wait half an hour, apply retinol, then more moisturiser over the top. The best moisturiser to use with any type of retinol is one containing niacinamide and ceramides-both help the barrier function of your skin and help you tolerate the retinol. A good one and easily available is Cerave.

Yes, I was also going to say you can use it over moisturiser while your skin builds tolerance.

Thank you all that's really helpful. So it becomes part of normal skincare routine rather than a course of 'treatment'.

I shall persevere. It seems to work for me every 3rd night rather than every other night. I'll carry on until this tube is finished and then perhaps try another product if I feel it's not suitable.

I shall look for cerave as currently just using a Boots no.7 night cream afterwards and it stings a bit..