CAN RETINOL SERUM BE USED LONG TERM? If used appropriately, Retinol Serum is suitable for long term use.

11 of the Best Retinol Serums and Products to Try | Boots

As well as its original purpose of clearing acne, retinol boosts the skin’s own healing processes and is great for repairing scars that may have been caused by previous acne breakouts, as well as other kinds of skin damage such as dark spots from sun exposure. The benefits of retinol are well documented, which is the reason you will find the ingredient featuring prominently in so many creams and serums. Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry as well as fashion business marketing. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.

What age should you start using retinol?

I'm currently 36 (going on 37) and I have been using retinol consistently for the past 5 years; I've moved to stronger (& more high-end) formulas in the meantime, but I still keep this one on rotation, that's just how great it is; apart from a little texture on my forehead (meaning a few very fine lines) I have virtually no wrinkles around my eyes, or mouth or anywhere else really... and I firmly believe that to be the merit of retinol in general, and this little serum in particular. This fragrance-free cream feels soft and goes on smoothly, absorbed easily into skin. The Rapid Wrinkle Repair range also includes a serum, facial oil, eye cream, post-treatment moisturiser, and a retinol cleanser. For best results, Neutrogena recommends building up use of the cream over time until you’re using it twice per day, following up your morning use with a good sunscreen. Initially, begin using it a couple of times a week in smaller doses. As you start to see results and less irritation, you can steadily increase the percentage – but this has to be done over time (reading more on best practice retinol usage is recommended). Overuse of retinol can cause redness, sensitivity and peeling, so, do keep in mind that whilst using any product containing retinol you'll need to apply daily sunscreen. This was the first retinol I ever used, I started with this around 5 years ago & it was my only retinol for about 2 years.

Retinol | 10 best retinoid creams, serums and skincare treatments Retinol | 10 best retinoid creams, serums and skincare treatments

The product comes in a handy pump dispenser, with one or two pumps enough for most faces. While we found the serum non-irritating, CeraVe recommends building up usage over time, starting once a week and working up to every second night. Simple and effective, CeraVe’s serum is a good alternative to pricier formulations. You'll also find various retinoid complexes, which means multiple forms are combined into one. Then there's retinal (aka retinaldehyde), which has shown to be a little more effective than traditional retinol while still avoiding prescription-level side effects. As with all active skincare, application is key in reaping retinol success. Dr. Sturnham advises using yours only at night, after your cleanser and before your (gentle) night cream. “With a good quality serum, absorption will be rapid and there is no need to delay application of your moisturiser,” she says. If you have marks in the form of post-acne scars, dark discoloration or deep wrinkles which give the appearance of uneven texture and tone, we suggest trying Scar, Mark and Wrinkle Solution with 1% Retinol.

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Retinoids can cause burning, stinging and peeling when first applied,” says Dr Mahto. “Build up their use slowly – a few times weekly – until you are able to use them nightly. If the product makes your skin sore, give it a break; if not, you are OK to continue using it. If you are looking to reduce the appearance of post-acne scars, wrinkles and dark spots, once your skin is comfortable with our Retinol Serum, upgrade to the next level with our higher-strength Scar, Mark, and Wrinkle Solution with 1% Retinol. Don’t mix retinol with AHAs or BHAs because using too many active ingredients, too frequently, can spark sensitivity. For this reason, also be careful if using a cleanser with actives. I think this might be the best retinol on the market at this price point. I never ever experienced irritation (or breakouts, or any sort of other bad skin reactions for that matter) while using this - and I actually got to incorporating this into my routine daily (and still, no irritation). High percentage products are more potent, but they tend to cause more irritation. "In general, it’s best to start with a low-strength product and gradually move to a higher percentage product over time," says Dr Phillips.