Should I start using retinol?

[AnaTK]

Hi, I'm 27 and have had a very stressful few years. As a result, I have a static fine line across my forehead that won't go away. I've read that retinol is good to reduce fine lines but I worry that I'm too young to start using it and/or that it may actually damage my skin. Does anyone have any advice on what I can start using to reduce it, prevent it getting worse and avoid further fine lines?

I have just started... but also added suncream spf 50! It's just as important

It’s not going to damage your skin if you use it correctly. You’re too young to be using prescription tret or a high percentage retinol.

Have a look at the Jordan Samuel Skin retinol oil. It’s lovely and gentle. If that’s not your price range try The Ordinary. Start slow, once or twice a week and build up when you feel your skin can tolerate it.

Don’t use any acid when you put it on. Just retinol on a clean dry face then apply a simple moisturiser after 20 minutes if you feel the need to.

Use SPF all day every day. It makes you more sensitive to the sun.

Thank you so much! I'd been reading online that you should use a low percentage retinol to begin with.

I worry slightly about suncream because so many of them aren't formulated for the face and are oily/likely to cause a breakout . Any specific face ones I've seen are super expensive (>£50 for a small tube!). Do you know any that aren't too expensive?

Biore Watery Essence is really light, no white residue and not expensive. I pay to have it posted from Japan.

Start to introduce it slowly to your skin. I would maybe apply a small amount every 3 days to start then build up.

Hi @anatk please try Clinique supercity block spf40. It's £20 and specially formulated for the face. I swear by it x

City block is a good shout. La Roche Posay do some great ones too. I use their Anthelios (less than £20 from Boots). I’m really oily and using it doesn’t make me worse. It helps keep me matte a little.

This is a helpful thread; I’m about to turn 30 and having the same thought re retinol. Thinking of trying The Ordinary range and I’ve got that Clinique recommendation in my Boots basket now. I’ve got two DC and don’t get anywhere near enough sleep so want to manage what I can and take my skincare more seriously. No recommendations but watching with interest!

I love "MISSHA All-Around Safe Block Essence Sun SPF45 PA+++"

And

"COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++"

I'm acne prone and they are perfect. Also both less than £20. In fact the COSRX is only £11.50 on Beauty and Seoul. They also sell the Missha one I recommended above but that's sold out.

As for Retinol I don't know too much about that!

I’d also recommend Biore Watery essence as a sunscreen. It’s light and doesn’t flake under makeup or leave a residue. Someone recommended it to me on here and I am very grateful to them!

Going to jump in here quickly. If you use SPF every day, especially if you are dark skinned, might be a good idea to take vitamin D (probably good to take vit d anyway :)

Yes to Biore Watery Essence. I just bought Anthelios for lockdown sunning and I HATE IT. So thick and white. Biore is lush.

I love the Biore sunscreens - they work perfectly under makeup, no white cast, and they don’t melt and run into your eyes. I had the ‘melting’ problem with Anthelios

Thank you all so much! I bought Anthelios yesterday but now I've seen mixed reviews...hoping it works for me. I will let people know otherwise I will definitely try one from Biore

I bought Biore Watery Essence after recommendations on here and hated it! It makes me skin so dry and I'm sure it breaks me out as well. I started using it again a couple of weeks ago because I hate waste and the same thing happened, my skin went to shit!

Back to my trusty Boots Soltan Factor 50 face lotion! In fact, I'm tempted to try just normal sun cream on my face when I finish it, I have a feeling that specific face sunscreen is a bit of a swizz, especially as most of them are really quite expensive (although not the Biore!)

I did some more research and they don't advise using retinol when breastfeeding. I'm generally very relaxed about advice like that, but have decided to stick with a toner that supposedly contains retinol rather than the more potent options (although from the info on The Ordinary's website I doubt it'll be in any way dangerous anyway).

And I've treated myself to the Clinique sunscreen!

Why do you have to build up a tolerance to retinol? Does this not suggest it’s not good for your skin? I am curious about using it but burnt my face badly with a prescription acne acid once so am very nervous about it.

I’m early 30s and have just ordered la roche posay retinol b3 serum. Is this one of the ones you have to start slowly with?

I've said this before but I can't help thinking that in the future we will look back in horror on women buying prescription strength retinoids from overseas online pharmacies and putting them on their face!

You’re not too young for retinol at all!, the ordinary do a great range and quality of skincare, I’d suggest a Hyaluronic acid if you haven’t tried that, the granactive retinol works great for me- whatever retinol you decide to try always start from the lowest strength-especially if you’ve not used it- matrixyl is good too for lines, they also do sunscreen too, I’ve just ordered some haven’t tried it but hearing good things though

I have never had a problem finding sunblock for the face and I’ve been applying it 21 years.

I’m currently using Superdrug solait spf 30 mixed with 3/4 scoop of the ordinary vit c powder.