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As if your skincare routine didn’t have enough products, another one is a great contender for the lineup: retinol. Retinol does work wonders in that you can see a difference in your skin after just a short time of using it. Because you’ll only be using it at night, you might think this small product is worth the investment, even if you experience negative side effects when you start incorporating it into your routine. Here’s everything you need to know about what retinol does and how you can add it to your routine almost seamlessly.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A that you can take as a supplement — whether orally or through skincare. Vitamin A naturally occurs in foods as well. Leafy green vegetables are some of the best sources of Vitamin A, but other food groups, like dairy and eggs, can also hold some Vitamin A. Too much Vitamin A can lead to dry skin and nausea, so you should watch how much you consume.
Skincare with retinol can be found in any location where skincare products are sold. Retinol does work and might be more effective than you think, so try to find a strength and a consistency of product that you’re comfortable with. This product can come in serums, gels, creams and so much more. You might even find a face mist with these anti-aging benefits in it!
Retinol does exactly what you’ve heard: it diminishes the effects of aging on your face. While it can’t turn back the clock, it can help clear up your skin and reduce some signs of aging by promoting the elasticity of the skin. It can also reduce inflammation, which could lead to several chronic health issues.
Similarly, this product can unclog your pores and increase your collagen production. More collagen means you likely appear to have fewer wrinkles, giving you the overall youthful appearance you want. You may just look fresher after implementing retinol into your skincare routine for a while, but you should keep in mind that there will be an adjustment period as your skin gets used to the new product.
If you want your retinol to do exactly what you want, you should incorporate it into your nighttime skincare routine only. Even so, you may not want to use it every night. Once you start using retinol, you’ll figure out what routine works best for you and how to mitigate any negative side effects.
The most important product in your morning skincare lineup should be your sunscreen. Sunscreen serves as a protection against the harsh rays of the sun, which can both internally and externally damage your skin, as well as age you prematurely. When you incorporate retinol into your regular routine, sunscreen is more important than ever, as your skin will be even more vulnerable to sun damage.
Retinol works best when your face has had time to rest from other products. When you cleanse your face, you should wait about 30 minutes before applying retinol. You should also give it time to soak in before using your next products. Using this product correctly will teach you how to wait and help you prioritize other things to get yourself ready for a healthy bedtime.
As with any new product in your routine, you’ll want to slowly incorporate it into use. Retinol isn’t necessarily meant to be used every day. You might see negative side effects, like irritated or dry skin, as a result of too much use. You can use skin cycling as a way to rotate through your skincare regimen while allowing your skin time to heal from the harsher products. This way, your products last longer, and your skin may be healthier than if you were using every product every night.
Retinol can do whatever you want it to, and the results largely depend on how much retinol you use and how often. You should always start out slow when incorporating a new skincare product into your routine. While retinol can’t rewind time and make you look drastically younger, it can make you feel better about your appearance while decreasing the number of fine lines you see on your face. It could be worth adding to your skincare rotation so you can reap the benefits without the responsibility of using it every night.
