Truth and Lies: Retinol
Have you ever shied away from using a product because you weren't sure how exactly to use it and have heard a lot of conflicting information about it so you thought it wasn’t for you? Today we're going to be putting 5 lies about Retinol in a box to the left, and stirring up some T to serve you some truth.
See How to Start Using Retinol for Acne
Myth #1: Retinol Exfoliates the Skin
This is a very popular misconception about retinol. Retinol is an antioxidant; a skin-restoring ingredient. It is one of the only ingredients scientifically proven to actually improve the quality of your skin making it look healthier, smoother, and more vibrant. But retinol is also a very drying ingredient that can lead to some temporary side effects, like dryness, flakiness, and even pealing that is often mistaken for exfoliation.
Myth #2: Retinol cannot be Mixed with Vitamin C
The rule of thumb when it comes to using active ingredients is that you don't want to combine too many. But there are some ingredients that when combined work beautifully together. When vitamin C is combined with vitamin a, it can help stabilize the retinol and make it more effective. You don't have to mix all of this yourself, there are already great products on the market that already combine vitamin c and retinol so you can get these benefits.
Myth #3: You cannot use Retinol in the Morning
It is true that retinol does break down under direct light, which is why you'll find retinol packaged in opaque containers. You'll get the most out of it while using it at night while your skin is already repairing and rebuilding itself. But, it is actually perfectly fine to use retinol in the morning. Retinol does not make your skin more prone to burning, any redness that you are seeing is likely due to heat exposure in general. These days, there is retinol that is specifically formulated to be used in the morning and at night. Just make sure you apply a good SPF for sun protection.
Myth #4: All retinol is the same
As we said before, retinol is a powerful ingredient. But they are not all made the same. The strongest form of retinol is called Tetrenoin which in most cases are only available by prescription, these go all the way down to retinol derivatives and alternatives that are a lot more gentle on the skin.
If you are getting any side effects from using retinol then it means the product is too potent for your skin, or you may be applying it too often. Switch to a lower strength product or consider applying the product less often ad increasing frequency as your skin gets more used to the product.
Myth #5: You Should Use Retinol Every Day
This is both a truth and a myth. When you’re starting retinol, it’s always a great idea to start low and work your way up as your skin builds tolerance to it. If you use it every day you’re going to end up with all of the negative effects like dryness, itchiness, redness, and peeling. Listen to what your skin is telling you. Start with using retinol 1x per week and see how your skin is fairing. Increase use as long as you’re not experiencing any irritation. Eventually, you’ll work your way up to the coveted 5x a week.
See My Experience Using Retinol for Cystic Acne
