If you're new to retinol, it's important to know how to use it properly. Excessive retinol dosage and the wrong combination of retinol use can cause skin irritation. What is the right way to use retinol? Check out this review below.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a type of retinoid, a vitamin A derivative that has various benefits for skin beauty. Currently, many beauty products using retinol-active ingredients such as toners, serums, gels, and creams are sold freely in the market. As for high-dose retinol products, their use requires a doctor's prescription because they can trigger strong side effects on the skin.
Retinol works by increasing skin cell production. It also helps to unclog pores. Retinol also helps to exfoliate the skin and increase collagen production, making it effective in disguising wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Regular use of retinol can cause the skin to look fresh, moisturized, and look younger.
How Much Retinol to Use in a Day?
Retinol is a type of retinoid, a vitamin A derivative that has various benefits for skin beauty. Currently, many beauty products using retinol-active ingredients such as toners, serums, gels, and creams are sold freely in the market. As for high-dose retinol products, their use requires a doctor's prescription because they can trigger strong side effects on the skin.
Retinol works by increasing skin cell production and unclogging pores. Retinol also helps to exfoliate the skin and increase collagen production, making it effective in disguising wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Regular use of retinol can result in fresh, moisturized, and younger-looking skin.
To get the optimal benefits of retinol, it is important to know how to use retinol properly. According to Byrdie, the way you use retinol depends on your skin concerns, whether it's to treat acne or as a routine treatment.
But whatever your treatment goal, it's best to use retinol gradually. If it's your first time using retinol, it's best to start with a low concentration of retinol, once a day at night according to the recommended dosage on the packaging. Retinol makes your skin sensitive to sunlight so don't forget to apply sunscreen the next day.
If your skin doesn't show any signs of irritation from using retinol, you can use it 1-2 times a week. After 2 weeks of use, you can increase the usage to 3-4 times a week.
Overcoming acne
To treat acne, you can use a higher dose of retinol which is around 0.1% or prescription retinol. You can use it at night, covered with a moisturizer or night cream to prevent dry skin and irritation.
Routine care
If it's for regular skincare, you can start using a lower dose of retinol at 0.05%. If there are no signs of irritation, you can increase the amount of retinol in your skincare.
Please note that retinol comes in various forms and doses. If you're not happy with a certain type of retinol, it's best to stop using it and switch to another type.
The results of retinol use are usually visible 3-6 months after regular use. If your skin experiences signs of irritation that do not subside, you should consult a doctor. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr. Siti Marsiana Meriam
Shatzman, C. (2023). This Is How Much Retinol You Should Be Using—and What Happens If You Overdo It. Available from: https://www.byrdie.com/what-happens-if-you-use-too-much-retinol-7564452?
Cleveland Clinic. Retinol. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23293-retinol
Cherney, K. (2023). How Does Retinol Work on the Skin?. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-does-retinol-work