Your Cart is Empty
Trying to get your skin to love retinol? Try this:
Yes, there is a way to get your skin to take to retinol, even for the pickiest among us!
Retinol (or Vitamin A) is a holy grail ingredient that smooths fine lines like no other. BUT, it can also be notoriously difficult to incorporate in your skincare routine. Retinol is an active ingredient and can be a shock to sensitive skin that isn’t used to it.
Retinol speeds up your skin cell turnover (i.e. your skin’s renewal process). This means brighter skin, fewer lines, and less acne. It’s clinically proven to work, and is why so many dermatologists love it!
But if you have reactive skin, work up to it. Here’s a good analogy: Think about you running on a treadmill at speed 6, and then your PT dialling it up all the way to speed 16 without warning! Unless you’re already a runner, your muscles will be singing you the song of its people the next day. And your skin, if not used to retinol, will also give you negative feedback the next morning.
Retinol (or Vitamin A) is a holy grail ingredient that smooths fine lines like no other. BUT, it can also be notoriously difficult to incorporate in your skincare routine. Retinol is an active ingredient and can be a shock to sensitive skin that isn’t used to it.
Retinol speeds up your skin cell turnover (i.e. your skin’s renewal process). This means brighter skin, fewer lines, and less acne. It’s clinically proven to work, and is why so many dermatologists love it!
But if you have reactive skin, work up to it. Here’s a good analogy: Think about you running on a treadmill at speed 6, and then your PT dialling it up all the way to speed 16 without warning! Unless you’re already a runner, your muscles will be singing you the song of its people the next day. And your skin, if not used to retinol, will also give you negative feedback the next morning.
You can also apply a barrier-fortifying cream afterwards, like Skin&Lab’s Barrierderm, Purito’s Oat-In-Calming Gel Cream or B5 Panthenol Re-Barrier Cream.
Start applying retinol once weekly, and then after a month, if your skin is liking it, move it to twice a week – and then 3-4x a week gradually.
Only use retinol in the evenings and ALWAYS use an SPF during the day, as retinol can increase your skin’s vulnerability to UV rays.
If you’re sunburned, or suffering burning or a weakened skin barrier, ditch your retinol and all active ingredients, and work on rebuilding your skin barrier FIRST. Healthy skin starts with a good barrier – retinol and other active ingredients meanwhile, are simply the cherry on top.
Start applying retinol once weekly, and then after a month, if your skin is liking it, move it to twice a week – and then 3-4x a week gradually.
Only use retinol in the evenings and ALWAYS use an SPF during the day, as retinol can increase your skin’s vulnerability to UV rays.
If you’re sunburned, or suffering burning or a weakened skin barrier, ditch your retinol and all active ingredients, and work on rebuilding your skin barrier FIRST. Healthy skin starts with a good barrier – retinol and other active ingredients meanwhile, are simply the cherry on top.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Kanvas Kult Blog
How to get rid of Strawberry Skin on legs
Got Strawberry Skin on your arms and legs?
Harmless but annoying, 'strawberry skin' usually arises after shaving or some form of hair removal that exposes the hair follicle or a clogged pore to oxidization (thereby turning it dark). It could also be an excess buildup of skin or keratin around the hair follicle (i.e. keratosis pilaris).Honing in on what triggers it for you is the key to preventing it in the future - along with the right skincare routine.
My Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Review
An honest Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Review.
I tried the viral Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics - and truthfully it wasn't for me. It was just too dewy on my oily ass skin. But I decided to give the new Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice + B5 Sunscreen a go because it's meant to be for my skin type (oily but sometimes dehydrated on the U-Zone, prone to hormonal acne, sometimes sensitive).
Skin Burns After Skincare? It May Be a Damaged Skin Barrier
How to repair a damaged skin barrier (from someone who has had to repair their skin barrier multiple times)
Skin irritations and allergies are never fun, but a damaged skin barrier is a whole new level of hell. The good news, is that our skin is a resilient organ and can heal relatively quickly. The not-so-good news is that you'll need to peel back all your fancy skincare for the time being, get consistent with a simple routine, and resist putting any active ingredients on your skin until it heals. You can do it, let's get into it!