Olay Retinol eye night cream - OUCH! Do I persevere?

[BarnetTroubles]

Hi,

Just that really.

So to start with, I'm a little confused as to why you have to go slow and build up your retinol use on your face, but eye cream, where your skin is most delicate (!) doesn't appear to have the same directions. Just "apply at night" 🤔

Anyway, been doing this for about 2 weeks and my under eyes were quite sore, but not terrible, but when I went to cleanse again this afternoon (was reapplying make up) they were insanely sore! It was mainly when applying my eye cream, but ouch. Am now wondering whether I should just stop, as I'm not really seeing any difference. If anything, the area might even look a little worse.

I have a lovely combination of dark circles, puffiness and hollows 🥺😖 and I really don't want exacerbate things!

Any advice? <<<please don't say fillers are your only saviour>>>

TIA

I would buffer with normal moisturiser or vaseline but I would leave it for a few weeks and let your barrier repair. Use a very sensitive Cleanser, moisturiser and Spf

@BryceQuinlanTheFirst thank you. SPF under the eyes?

I actually thought my eye cream was pilling this afternoon, but on reflection I think it was skin 😬

Oh and when do I add the moisturiser?

Having the same problem with Boots retinol, am trying to persevere but it's making my skin so dry and flaky, and any moisturiser feels like my skin is burning. I feel your pain OP! Maybe you need to try a minute amount of retinol every few days to slowly build up a tolerance?

You need to use Spf every day, all over your face.

If I've ever damaged my skin barrier, I cleanse with Inky oat milk which is super mild then use La Roche Posay Baume and the Altruist SPF. These products are very good for sensitivity.

I also often do a layer of vaseline over my moisturiser or the ordinary squalene oil

@Skinnylegend yeah, I'm definitely going to use less. Are you using the eye or face cream?

@BryceQuinlanTheFirst I always wear one on my face, but would never put it under my eyes. Do you need a separate one?

I don't use eye creams of any sort I think they are just overpriced moisturisers in a little pot but obviously just my personal opinion. If you have sensitivity around your eye I would just buffer with something neutral eg a Moistusier you like or vaseline, then put the Spf over that. I wouldn't use Retinol on an area that isn't covered by Spf as the skin you're renewing will just suffer sun damage and eradicate your hard work.

@BryceQuinlanTheFirst I've always been sceptical about separate eye creams, but I hear mixed things and tbh, was getting a bit desperate.

Do not use Retinol anywhere without building it up and do not use any form of Retinol without using a very good SPF in the daytime! Retinol is fantastic if used correctly for your skin type, it can do a lot more harm than good if used incorrectly.

@gogogogogogotime that's what I always thought, but assumed this must be really diluted if it's for nightly use.

Have I ruined my face?! 😩

To add, I'm also using the Medik8 crystal, low strength retinol and I'm only using that 2 to 3 times a week, as instructed. So strange that Olay suggest this eye cream be used every night.

No, you haven't ruined your face. 🙂 So don't worry. Retinol just turns your skin cells over faster so that's why you peel. It shows the retinol is working. Protect that new fragile, baby skin with spf50.
The reason why Olay say use it every night is because its retinol strength will be negligible. But maybe it reacts with your medik8 or your skin just doesn't like it. Back off for a while and let your skin mend at its own pace and then test it again by gradually increasing the usage.
And, yes, spf everywhere, including eyes and eyelids. You can get spf just for eyes but they're more expensive. Regular spf will be fine.

I have a lovely combination of dark circles, puffiness and hollows

Unfortunately retinol doesn't claim to help with any of those things, so if it's hurting, ditch it.

@MarshaMelrose thanks, yes I'm laying off it for a few days and moisturising to the max 😂

@TheOnlyBeeInYourBonnet I actually read that it did help with those things, although I couldn't understand how when you understand how retinol works.

Puffiness try a cold spoon from the fridge or a gua sha massager

@BryceQuinlanTheFirst thank you, but I actually have an ice roller and a rose quartz gua sha. Can't see much difference. Not 100% sure how to use it on my eyes though...

I had exactly the same burning with this Olay eye cream! Was quite surprised as i always read reviews before buying to check about sensitivity and it wasn't really mentioned.

I stopped using it and went back to my usual Body Shop vit E eye cream. It's cleared up and fine again now. I am reluctant to try anything else but have no problem with facial retinol so it must be something in this particular product.

@LookdeepintotheParka yes, I read loads of reviews before buying and the vast majority were really positive and I don't think I read anything about it causing discomfort, unlike facial retinols.

How do you get on the Body Shop vit e cream?

@BarnetTroubles it's fine and works well to moisturise under eyes but I don't think it'll improve the wrinkles longer term.

I use Murad retinol on my face which doesn't cause any sensitivity and tempted to try the eye cream but is £££!!

When I started using retinol, I found Roc night Correxion cream for eyes. It really gave an improvement. Of course as I aged, I needed to go more hard-core and I now use tretinoin. But that roc was not expensive and it worked for me.