I've tried new Kheils retinol - help!

[notanicepersonapparently]

I'm a first time user of Retinol and my face is all red and flakey. I tried to new Kheils microdosing formula which says it's suitable for daily use from the start. I've used it three nights in a row and used an Avene factor 30 sunscreen. My skin is now very red and is flakey. Just like bad sun burn. I've only been outdoors for a little over an hour in that time.
I'm 57 with no specific skin concerns such as Acne. I've let my beauty routine slide since COVID as I've not been going out much but thought I'd take better care of myself and now I'm regretting it.
Any one got any advice as to whether I'm likely to get any benefits continuing with this?

What does it state on the packaging? I wouldn't continue with something that caused that reaction unless it stated on the instructions that this was normal and should stop after x days and it did.

I just picked up a sample to try before I spent any money. The packet says if irritation occurs reduce frequency, so I didn't use it last night.

Whatever the level, I’d give your skin a complete break for a fortnight and then try using it once a week. If that’s ok you can move it to twice a week.

Normal for retinol but back off it
I use tret and I started twice a week, then three times and built it up
You can also buffer it with applying a moisturiser before

Actually, scrap that. I took sunburn to = pain. Does it hurt? If there is any soreness then stop. If there is just redness and peeling without the pain, it may just be the product working.

Retinol can cause soreness and peeling. Even though they say you can use it daily it’s best to introduce very gradually. Starting with about every 3 or 4 days.

Anyway - for now you need to repair your skin. You have basically damaged your skin barrier.

Treat it extremely gently for a few weeks. When I did similar someone recommended a barrier repair serum from a brand called Apothaka. It’s a small brand and it was a really nice product. Also La Roche Posay Cicaplast repairing balm. In fact their Toleraine range would be good too while you are repairing your skin. Or Boots do a starter set of a brand called Curel which is also very gentle.

So I would cleanse very gently twice a day and load up on repairing and hydrating products.

And use separate SPF every day. Very important when you use retinol.

Thanks for all the great advice. It's been very useful. The poster that asked if my skin was sore - no, it's just stings a bit when I put moisturiser on.

You need to give it time for your skin to get used to it for sure. Stop using it, start up again when the skin has settled then reintroduce gradually and buffer with moisturiser if you want to be extra cautious especially round the eyes.

It's odd because if you look at the ingredients, retinol is way way down so it's probably not a strong %. I can't find anywhere what the % is.
That said, no matter what the company says, I'd not use a retinol every night. I'm into my second year of retinol and still do it on alternate nights.

I wish I'd asked this question in my first post, but in case any retinol users are reading, what improvements did it make to your skin. I'm wondering whether to give it another try once my skin has recovered or whether to forget it.

If it stings then I’d give it a break and then reintroduce it slowly.

Retinol and vitamin c (not at the same time - vitamin c morning and retinol night) have made my skin seem more ‘alive’. My skin wasn’t dry but it was very matt and any base make up seemed to just sit on the surface and make it look worse. I was too old for exfoliating scrubs (they made me look like an angry beetroot) and my skin doesn’t get on with glycolic acid. I tried serums and better moisturisers but nothing seemed to help with the dullness and richer moisturisers gave me spots.

With retinol and vitamin c my skin seems smoother and more ‘alive’. When I use makeup it blends well. It’s also encouraged me to use a facial sunblock every day which can’t hurt.

I think it’s like getting someone in to sand down and repolish an old wooden floor. You’ve still got all the deep grooves but you get a more even texture, remove minor blemishes and it really shines again.

@Ncwinc
Thanks for taking the time to reply. It's good to hear from someone who found the retinol worked for them. I need to do some reading up about skin care. I'm still using the regime that worked for me years ago, and not sticking to that very well either! Basically I use a makeup remover (used to use a rinse off cleanser too) and a moisturiser with SPF followed by foundation with SPF (and stopped with the foundation over lock down too). So I think my knowledge is pretty out of date, and the brands I did use in my 30s and 40s (Clarins or Clinique) aren't that explicit about what they contain. The Clarins aimed at older women is quite expensive anyway, so that put me off upgrading from the ones I was using.

You need to start using it once per week and you can use good moisturizer as base to reduce skin reaction.
Avoid areas around eyes and mouth for some time before your skin adjusts.
Retinoids and retinols are tricky. I tried to use Tretinoin but my skin was peeling after each use and I decided to use it as a peel rather than regular night cream.

If you want to read up on skin care I recommend Caroline Hirons. She has a blog and also a book.

Many thanks Peridot1. I will have a good read of her blog.

I would advise caution with Caroline Hirons. Her Cheat sheets for a basic skincare routine are very good but in past years she recommends so many products ( all suspiciously very expensive) that she's basically become an influencer for hire.

I’m glad you said it . I was thinking it. The advice might be good but I don’t put any value on her product recommendations. You can get results for ££ you don’t need £££.

I’m not saying she’s paid to push products, just that I think she recommends some very pricy stuff without mentioning really good more affordable products.

I think she knows her skincare back to front but I gave up on her when everything was Sunday Riley or Tata Harper. The samples of those brands I’ve had from beauty advent calendars etc just weren’t anything special - good but not great.

@Ncwinc

I’m not saying she’s paid to push products, just that I think she recommends some very pricy stuff without mentioning really good more affordable products.

I think she knows her skincare back to front but I gave up on her when everything was Sunday Riley or Tata Harper. The samples of those brands I’ve had from beauty advent calendars etc just weren’t anything special - good but not great.

Agreed. Her original schtick was that she used all the stuff she recommended. It's impossible for her to do the same now as every week is a different serum, so I can only assume she's going where the money is. Fair play to her, but it doesn't sit right with me any more.

I think I jumped ship at the same time as you - Tata Harper, Sunday Riley and then Drunk Eleohant. I was finding just as good results with products at a fraction of the price elsewhere so I just gave up

This happened to me when I first started my retinol with the ordinary, I did a lot of research, and lots of people said the ordinary retinol is to weak to do much, so I used it every other night to start with, well my chest didn't like it, I had to go to the chemist to get some cream it was red raw, flaky and very itchy, the lady said that I shouldn't use it again till it had cleared up. And then use it only once or twice a week at first.

Very normal with retinol. Avoid your eye area and start with once a week and then gradually up it. I found slathering my face in vaseline every night helped with the side effects

I know Caroline Hirons isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But she is very knowledgeable. Her book is pretty good I think. And yes her Cheat sheets on her blog are excellent.

Also agree that you don’t have to spend a fortune. She does recommend some more budget ranges. Curel for instance.

I agree that CH knows her stuff (she used to come onto the fantastic skincare threads in their early days and was great) but I agree she's gone a bit "buy this" over the years (and her FB group gets very weird)
I prefer Nadine Baggott who recommends only 5 products and always gives price points from The Ordinary and Superdrug at a fiver each to Skinceuticals at £££££

I agree with Geamhradh, its like kat from domybumlook40 she's great with fashion, but now promoting makeup, code 8, Bareminerals, chanel, now a cream thats £70, when I ask which is her favourite, she can't say, obviously she doesn't want to upset the others, she should stick with fashion.