Retinoid For Every Skin Type
There are a lot of holy grail products and routines I have when it comes to skincare, but if there were two products I HAD TO CHOOSE, it’s sunscreen and a retinoid. While most of us know that SPF is non-negotiable, I have noticed that retinoids don’t always get the hype they deserve. If you are looking for a skincare product to combat most of your skin issues (aka breakouts, fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture), a retinoid is absolutely the best choice.
Now you might be wondering, “this sounds great, but how does it actually work?” Retinoids work by increasing cellular turnover. In doing so, they speed the time in which your skin cells mature and flake off leaving the skin baby smooth. They also stimulate collagen production (speaking of collagen, make sure to take a peek at my recent blog on my collagen building skin routine). The reason it reigns superior to many in the skin community is the clinical results that range from improved appearance of photo (sun) damage, to smoothing of the skin. Ultimately, if you use it regularly, a retinoid can be a major game changer for your skin.
There are so many formulas and products out there, which can make it tricky to find the best retinoid for YOU. Not to worry, that’s what I am here for. After testing out probably close to 100 of them on my own skin, and more on my patients, here is my roundup of the best retinoid for every skin type (it should be mentioned that it is NOT recommended you use a retinoid while pregnant):
Beginners & Sensitive Skin:
If you have never used a retinoid before, it’s important to give your skin time to adjust to the active ingredient. Starting with a gentle retinoid (especially if you have sensitive skin) can really set you up for success.
Dry Skin:
As amazing as retinoids are, they have the ability to cause dryness and flakiness. Rest assured there are countless formulations perfect for those with dry skin like the one above and this one here!
Oily Skin With Acne:
Like I previously mentioned, preventing breakouts is one of my favorite aspects of retinoids and if this is your main problem, there is one form of retinoid that reigns superior (when it comes to OTC options). This one is my absolute must-have for any of you dealing with oily skin and/or acne.
Experienced With Retinol:
At the end of the day, building a tolerance to retinoids will give you better results. Think of it like running a marathon. On day 1, you wouldn’t start with 26 miles. With time and consistency, you can build a higher tolerance to a retinol with a higher percentage. This is a great option for anybody who has experience with retinol and one of my favorite 1% formulations.
Next Step After Retinol:
If you are at a place where you are consistently using a strong retinol, I am obsessed with this Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%. This potent next-gen retinoid addresses skin texture and fine lines like no other. Retinal or Retinaldehyde is a different type of retinoid but slight more effective and actually can be less irritating.
If you are curious about reading more about this topic, make sure to read my blog on Retinoids 101! I hope this helps you in your Retinoid journey! For more skin, beauty, and hair tips, you can follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, & Subscribe To My Newsletter!
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