I Tried Retinol for the First Time (20s Skincare)
Retinol is one of those love-hate ingredients. It offers amazing benefits for the skin, but the price is that your skin will freak out in all types of ways first. As a 20-something-year-old, I tried Retinol for the first time. Today I’m sharing my experience as I tried 4 different levels of retinol.
See more on how to introduce retinol into your routine to minimize the purge
Our Candidates:
Biossance Squalane Phyto-Retinol Plant derivative
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream 1.0%
Naturium Retinol Complex Serum
Laroche Posay Adapalne 0.1 %
see the video
Biossance
I started using this product in Summer 2019. The first was the Biossance Squalane Phyto-Retinol Plant derivative. It retails for $95 on the Sephora Website (pretty pricey!!!). This one has quite an interesting texture. It is a serum/cream hybrid with a water-like texture that soaks into the skin nicely without leaving any dryness as retinol tends to do. It is designed to be used both morning and night. The active ingredient here is Bakuchiol, which is a plant that has been found to mimic the effects that traditional retinol has on your skin. Because it doesn’t contain actual retinol, it is said that this can be used during pregnancy (always check with your doctor!).
This was a more gentle form of retinol that gave me some of the smoothing benefits but didn't react with the other products I was using. I had been using this one for about 6 months morning and night. With something like this, it will take a lot longer to see results but it contains some other great ingredients and it is very effective with continued use. 6 months after beginning this product, I had to stop because I was taking part in an Acne Clinical Trial so I had to discontinue using it before I could see the full effects.
Overall this product has some great benefits and is a great alternative for those who have difficulties using retinol or are pregnant. This will make your skin texture smoother and brighter if you have minor skin issues, but for those dealing with moderate acne, you’re going to need something stronger (which can be cheaper) that will deliver faster results.
Photo from Sephora.com
Drunk Elephant
I wanted to speed up my acne journey so I started the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream 1.0%, it retails for $98.00 CAD. This one has a creamy texture and a signature bright yellow colour. I don’t notice a distinct smell which I enjoy. Additionally, after putting this on (on top of your moisturizer) it doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry.
This one is A LOT stronger than the previous one. I used it every other night at first sandwiched between my moisturizer. It was fine for the first few days then all of a sudden my skin was red and splotchy, itchy and bumpy. I know your skin is supposed to purge so I tried to soldier through but I just couldn't continue. At one point I was cleansing my face with an oil cleanser and as I was rubbing the product in, pieces of my skin were flaking off onto my hand. Needless to say, it was not a pleasant experience so I was not able to use it long enough to see a noticeable difference.
I believe it was just too strong for my skin at that point in time. I should have gone to something easier first. If you haven’t really used retinol before this would not be the first I’d recommend. It’s better suited for skin types that have built up a tolerance of it which makes it a great OTC strong retinol option if you support the brand. I think it’s a great product if your skin can tolerate it.
More on “What no one will tell you about Drunk Elephant” - Cassandra Bankson
Photo from Naturium.com
Naturium
I then received Naturium's products, these products were gifted to me to try. When I first got the serum, I decided to try it out on one side of my face, and use the Ordinary’s products on the other. I've documented this experience so I won’t go too much into detail. But my skin did purge a bit, nowhere near where it did with Drunk Elephant. I think I would have benefited more if I had used this one first than the DE. Regardless, it made my skin so smooth and cleared out my acne. I was shocked at how my skin looked. This complex would is a great option for anyone just getting into retinol and is looking for something that will gradually make their skin smooth without the uncomfortable side affects.
see full review on Naturium’s Retinol + Vitamin C + Niacinamide
Photo from Dermstore.com
La Roche Posay
After the bottle was done, I went on to try Adaplene. My skin was getting more accustomed to retinol so I felt like it was ready to up the antics a bit. My skin did start to purge. Early on, I started to see peeling on my cheeks, nose, and chin. However, there was never any feeling like my face was getting too tight or over-dried. This formula is one that I really did enjoy. Gel retinol tends to be better for those with oily/acne-prone skin, and creams are better suited for dry/maturing skin so that makes sense. But after a month or so, my skin was becoming so clear again I was so happy. It’s been 1 full year that I have been using this product consistently, and my skin is so clear and smooth, I almost can’t believe it! I have repurchased this one, and I got an extra for my cousin (16) who also has acne-prone/oily skin and she loves it!
