I used retinol for the first time last night

[Thinkle]

And my face is still here. I’ve read so many horror stories!

Can anyone advise why my product advises two days on two days off before building to once every other day? Is this not a version of the same thing? Same average frequency?

It can be either very drying or irritating or lead to 'purge' (lots of spots).
If you go too fast, two weeks in you'll regret it as it takes longer to calm severe after effects.
I'd actually start with once every 3 nights and build up every week/10days.
It takes time for your skin to adapt and this is strong stuff. It speeds up shedding of skin essentially- no idea what the proper terminology is. It also works underneath to build up a smoother surface. No idea how.
You'll be using it for at least another 20-60 years so try not to be impatient.

You need the two days off for your skin to recover a bit

I wouldn't do two days in a row if you're new to it, not sure why they have told you to do that. I'd suggest the same as Branster. The first day or two you will probably feel fine, but then you will probably start getting very tight skin! Step back on everything else, no acids, and make sure you are diligent with SPF. Also, when they increase the strength of your prescription, go back to once every three nights again and increase slowly. There is good information YouTube, I recommend HotandFlashy

Oh yeah I thought that and used every night and ended up with really sore skin and lots of peeling.

Even now most times I do every other night and six months in it's really showing huge improvements for my skin.

Great advice thank you all. It’s Sunday Riley A+ so not a prescription and I followed it up with the Juno oil as it advised.

When you say no acids @Purpleavocado does that mean my PHA toner? I used that this morning too…

what are you using?

If its anything of a prescription or clinical strength I would start with 3 times a week for a few weeks and see where you're at then before readjusting the frequency, as others have suggested. There aren't really any benefits to pushing it and it's such a pain to deal with when the skin barrier gets damaged.

I always think my skin is fine with the retinol, then I forget to be careful and wonder why my skin looks so dry and wrinkly. I’ve done this so many times.

Make sure you wear sunscreen!

The Sunday Riley won't be as strong as Tret, but iId still be careful the first couple of weeks. The toner sounds like it has exfoliant in it, so I'd stop using it for a while.
Dermatica and Skin and Me both offer Tretinoin which is going to do more for your skin than the very expensive Sunday Riley stuff. Personally, I'd use that up and then move on to Tret.

Oh, I've been slapping retinol on at night for ten days in a row....
My skin seems fine, I've never used it before.
So, should I go every other day then?

Definitely slow is the way especially at the start.
It all feels fine until it doesn't two weeks later.

I still don't use every day and have been applying tretinoid for a few years.

Serums and moisturisers that claim to have retinol are OK for daily use.

Anything nearing tretinoid strength I'd go with a cautious approach. Even on something relatively mild like A303.

I agree with above, no acids. Not even mild lactic acid. There's no need and it helps avoid irritation. Some acids are a mix of stronger and weaker acids. Best to be safe.

I use this one?
When you say no acids, do you mean glycolic or salycic acid? I use these too, although not with the retinol.
Could I use the retinol one day and the acids the next?
If you use retinol is that all you use at night ever then??

I've done this a few times before.
I apply every day then 3 weeks later my skin is dry and I have a break out which takes forever to heal 4 weeks and counting currently.

I'm doing every 3rd night now.

I started with skin and me but I was doing my Clinique 3 step and I think maybe thae exfoliation pet made my skin a bit dryer before I did the cream from them so I restated Monday and plan to do every three days
Not sure what I should do aside from cleanse then moisturise now though tbh

I'm using Skin & Me and it took about 5-6 days for the initial peeling to start! That stage was really quick though and I've been fine with it since, the do advice using it daily but they build you up to it from a low concentration.

@nordica

I'm using Skin & Me and it took about 5-6 days for the initial peeling to start! That stage was really quick though and I've been fine with it since, the do advice using it daily but they build you up to it from a low concentration.

I'm about to try Dermatica, after being given a referral code, so that's interesting.

I wondered what the Skin & Me and Dermatica advice would be. It must be quite a low starting dose indeed if they're advising daily use.

Has anyone tried the vastly expensive Medik 8 retinoate product in black bottle ( approx £200). It comes highly recommended but I’m wondering what you get for your £££ compared to much less costly subscription based Skin and Me or Dermatica prescribed by dermatologists .

@nordica thank you I will keep on with it

.

I really highly recommend skin+me. I've been using Skin and me for over a year now and they're been amazing. The dose did start low, I can't remember which it was but I'm now on the strongest strength they do and have been for a few months. My skin did peel a little each time the percentage of tretinoin was upped but only for a couple of days. In the last week or it's started peeling again, so I contacted them and they were amazing. They said to take a break from all skincare apart from a gentle moisturiser for about a week and then they've sent me a free month's supply of a slightly lower dose of the tretinoin to start when I'm ready. I highly recommend them. You are also able to delay deliveries and stop or start really easily. I've found that my doser often lasts longer than a month and I'm able to put my next month's on hold for a few weeks.
If you want the trial offer you can use my code:
LAURENS5YP3

So now I understand why I found the instructions so confusing, two different parts of the packaging contradict each other. I’ve decided to use it every 3rd day for a couple of weeks and see how I go.

And thank you to all those who said to wear sunscreen, luckily I already do this but it is good to be reminded of the importance.