So I burnt my skin with retinol ....

[TheNeighboursUpstairs]

My skincare regimen consists of a 50 SPF every day under my makeup, then at night I clean my face and moisturise, usually with whatever I've been gifted. So I'm a bit clueless is what I'm getting at.

I was given this No7 gift set for Christmas (see image) and I binned the boxes and leaflet inserts (because I'm 50 and I've never needed to read a leaflet about moisturiser before now). So I cleaned my face, then merrily applied liberal amounts of the eye cream and face moisturiser. Same again the next night.

Yes I know. What a dick.

I woke up with cracked, red, itchy, painful skin around my eyes. I've literally never had a reaction to any skincare product ever, so I googled the product and "skin reaction" and that's when I learnt about retinol burn. I've never even heard of retinol, let alone that it can actually burn. A bit more googling and I learnt I shouldn't have used it 2 nights running and only a teeny amount. (WTF is this stuff??)

Anyway, so there's my lesson - don't throw away skincare leaflets and always read the warnings.

I do want to use them but now I'm wary as hell. Please can someone explain to me like the idiot I am exactly how I should use these products, seeing as I don't have the leaflets anymore? I'm particularly confused about having 2 night creams.

Well her is the advice re using No7 Retinol. I started using it according to instructions and it did sting a bit at first but after a few applications there was no issue and now I use it sporadically without issue.

https://www.no7beauty.co.uk/the-seven/ingredients-products/what-does-retinol-do/

I have used this no7 retinol for 3 years and I love it, I am now worked my way into the 1.5%- the highest concentrate! (I only use the serum, I have not tried the rest of the range) My skin is much smoother and tighter than it was years ago before I used it.

However I did also burn myself a few times over the first few months. Use one pump once every 2-3 days initially.

However I’d never use to an entire range with retinol in it, even now as an advanced retinol user. The rest of my routine are products that aim to soothe and hydrate, to cancel out the sensitivities the retinol serum brings. I’m not suprised you burnt on your first go using all of them at once!!

I’d recommend ditching the eye cream and night cream, it’s just too much. And use an extra gentle (sulphate free) cleanser, along with a gentle toner (to restore skins PH balance which cleansing disrupts). You shouldn’t apply retinol to cleansed untoned skin for this reason. Good luck.

Nothing to stress about - retinol is an excellent but strong product so even if used sparingly, you can have a bit of a burn while your skin gets used to it. Use a small amount twice a week to start.

Thanks everyone - that all makes sense.

So for now, just use one of the products twice a week, after cleanser & toner. Would you start with the night concentrate or the night repair cream?

I believe you could use everything but the night concentrate daily as it’s the only one with a higher % retinol - and then add tiny amount of the night concentrate to the moisturiser once a week the build to twice a week.

However it depends how sensitive you are. Dont use too much and never, ever apply it in the morning. Only at night. Retinol+UVA = burnt.

I believe you could use everything but the night concentrate daily as it’s the only one with a higher % retinol - and then add tiny amount of the night concentrate to the moisturiser once a week the build to twice a week.

However it depends how sensitive you are. Dont use too much and never, ever apply it in the morning. Only at night. Retinol+UVA = burnt.

You have to be very careful with retinol. You only need the tiniest amount. It does sting a bit at fist but I've got used to it now. I only use it once a week before bed.

I had similar experience, but I used as instructed and my skin just didn’t like it. I read that you should give it time, but my skin felt so sore after using it, I can’t bring myself to try again.

Don’t bother with the repair cream. I’d bin it, or use it on your body.

The cream won’t have enough concentrate of retinol in to make a significant different, and as it’s a thick cream it won’t allow the other hydrating cream to absorb properly (which you’ll need to cancel out the dryness) Serums/the night concentrate are designed to be lightweight to go underneath moisturiser, I wouldn’t double up on cream.

I must have rino skin, I use the hand cream in the range, every day twice a day and it did nothing, mind you I do use retinol its called retirides, I used to buy in Spain, its the one you can only buy from dermatologists, I heard you can no longer buy it over the counter in spain so I will now get it from the ordinarily.