Simple Clean Retinol Routine for the first week
Retinols and retinoids are popular, loved, and recommended? You must have heard about these -
- Use SPF the following morning
- Don’t use actives along with this
And so many along with that. Let me simplify the whole process for retinol beginners. I have recently started using retinol as a beginner and this is what I have picked up.
Always make sure to patch test before following through.
You need 4 products. Yes, 4!
1. SPF
2. Cleanser
3. Moisturizer
4. Barrier Relief or Barrier repair skincare
All the above products need to be safe when paired with retinol.
Then your 3 stages —
Stage 1: Retinol
It’s evening and I am about to apply retinol for the first day tonight. So I cleanse my skin before moisturizing on my damp skin. I take about 1 pump of the product(retinol) and apply it to a part of my face. Depending on the need (my face and neck), it took me about 2 pumps in total. Then I apply moisturizer, my second layer, again. That’s for tonight.
Why today? Because why not.
Why evening? It is preferable to add retinol to your evening routine instead of the morning. Retinol in simple words is Vitamin A and it is said that the Sun could hinder its effectiveness. But some retinol in the market could have been formulated for the AM routine. Either way, it’s your own choice.
Why 2 layers of moisturization? The first application helps the skin not directly to interact with retinol. The second acts as a retinol barrier and aids the skin if extra moisturization is required. There is no loss so I decided that it’s worth a try. It turned out well for me.
Why apply little by little? It is easier to add than to remove.
I avoided exfoliation and went for a simple cleansing and moisturizing for tonight. Other than retinol.
Cleanse-Moisturize-Retinol-Moisturize.
But it's still daytime? Then substitute SPF with the 2nd layer of moisturizer.
And remember that for 24 hours from the time you apply retinol and the Sun is out for you — have your SPF on. Reapply when needed.
Stage 2: After Retinol
My skin felt good when I woke up the next day morning. As in no barrier problems, yet. So I chose —
Cleanse-Moisturize-SPF
And throughout the day, I made sure to reapply for SPF every 3 hours. Every 2 hours if out in the Sun.
The night was the same routine as above, without the SPF. I followed the same for the next day so that is for 48 hours.
Stage 3: Barrier
If you felt the same way for 2 days, you can skip this step else continue.
You felt a slight sensitivity to your skin like something might happen.
Then that is your sign to add our barrier cream to your routine. It will calm your skin.
If it’s morning, Cleanse-Barrier cream-Moisturize-SPF.
If it’s afternoon or still daytime, wash your face with water gently-Barrier-SPF.
If it’s evening, Cleanse-Barrier cream-Moisturize.
To summarize -
Day1 — Retinol (Stage 1)
Day2 and Day3 — Safe Day (Stage 2 and Stage 3)
Day 4 — Usual Routine (optional). Then Day 5 — Repeat Day 1 onwards again.
Else Day 4 — Repeat Day 1 onwards again.
One last thing to keep in mind-
You are doing the first few weeks for — your skin to get used to it. So don’t expect immediate fascinating results.
Be consistent and wish you well on your skincare journey! Thanks for reading!
