Retinoid Skincare Routine For Beginners
One of my most frequently asked questions is about using retinoids for beginners. Retinoids can honestly transform your skin.
Benefits Of Retinoids
Some of my favorite benefits to using a retinoid consistently is tackling breakouts, reducing the appearance of fine lines, evening out your skin tone and texture, stimulating collagen production, and even refining the look of your pores. However, initiating a retinoid routine, can lead to significant skin irritation if not approached correctly. In this blog we will go over the essential steps of a retinoid skincare routine while reducing irritation in the process.
Types Of Retinoids
As a Dermatology PA, a significant chunk of my time is devoted to educating patients on the intricacies of using retinoids effectively and creating a suitable skincare regimen around this ingredient. It’s important to note that there are a few different types of retinoids, including retinol, retinaldehyde, and tretinoin just to name a few. I, personally, cycle through each of these. With that, if part of my job wasn’t trying a variety of skincare, I would honestly choose one and stay loyal to it. The benefits of retinoids are truly only found in the consistency.
Retinoid Application
Before we get into the routine, let’s go over a couple of my top tips when starting out with a retinoid. One of my absolute biggest suggestions is to let your retinoid be the star of your routine. In other words, it's best to keep the remainder of your skincare routine relatively simple. Trust me, this is a scenario where less is more!
My next suggestion is to introduce your retinoid at night, not because it will make your skin more sensitive in the sun (this is just a myth), but because some older retinoids are less stable in light. That being said, it is still ESSENTIAL you are using sunscreen every day. There is no point in using treatment skincare if you are undoing it by skipping SPF.
Step 1: The First Cleanse
I cannot emphasize a double cleanse enough. It is the only way I have found to be certain that all my sunscreen and makeup from the day is fully removed. Hence, my first step is a cleansing balm. NATURIUM's Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm (you can use CODE AMYK15 for a 15% discount) has been one of my go-to’s since it launched. It's gentle, but does the job well. If you are trying to find the best cleanser for your skin type, make sure to read How To Choose The Right Cleanser.
Apply your cleansing balm to dry skin first, massage thoroughly then add a bit of water to emulsify. Once finished, wipe it away with a damp, but soft cleansing cloth. Be careful with what you are using to remove the cleansing balm, certain hand towels can be rather rough, leading to an exfoliation on the skin, which can cause irritation especially when couple with retinoids.
Step 2: The Second Cleanse
Now it’s time for a water-based cleanser as your second cleanse. My best suggestion when picking out your second cleanser is if your skin leans towards the dry side, opt for a creamy or milky cleanser; if it's oilier, a gel cleanser is for you. I, personally, am loving COVEY's First of All Cleanser for normal to oily types and Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser for dry types!
Derm Tip: if, when patting your skin dry, you spot remnants of tinted sunscreen on your towel, you haven't cleansed thoroughly enough. This is where using a gentle cleanser is great, because if you need another pass, it won’t be too stripping.
Step 3: Optional Retinoid Application
The next step is contingent on your skin's sensitivity and your retinoid experience. If your skin is well adjusted to a retinoid or you're opting for a super gentle retinoid, proceed to apply your retinoid here. However, if you are using a prescription retinoid or are a complete beginner to retinoids, please skip this step.
Step 4: Treatment Serum (Optional)
This is where I like to add a treatment serum to the mix. Again, my skin has had years to adjust to retinoids, so a treatment will not add irritation for me. If you're a beginner to retinoids, I highly recommend not adding in a treatment serum. For this step, PILLOWTALKDERM's Major Fade Hyper Serum is in my current routine. It helps to target discoloration and contains niacinamide (a key ingredient for strengthening your skin barrier). Below are some other great serums that pair well!
Step 5: Eye Cream
Following this, consider an eye cream. Lately, I’ve been using CAUDALIE's Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream. It has caffeine and niacinamide and many aid in reducing the appearance of fine lines, leaving under eyes plumped up and smooth. There are so many incredible eye creams, but here are My Top 5 Eye Creams.
Step 6: Moisturize
Now it’s time to moisturize. Select a gentle moisturizer tailored to your skin's unique lipid needs. This is a critical note to remember: the right cleansers and moisturizers can make or break your retinoid routine. I think we often forget how impactful the proper moisturizer can be in your routine. ZERAFITE's Barrier Repair Moisturizer is a non-negotiable moisturizer in my inventory. It uses MLE technology to perfectly mimic our skin’s own lipid bilayer for optimal barrier repair. For more information on moisturizers, check out Moisturizers For Every Skin Type.
Step 7: Retinoid
Before applying your retinoid, especially if certain areas of your face tend to be more sensitive, a thin layer of petroleum jelly on those delicate zones (around your nose, mouth, and eyes) acts as a buffer to reduce potential irritation. Once you have completed this, apply a pea sized amount of retinoid (I have been using Apostrophe’s Tretinoin) to your face. Note: I have a previous code for Apostrophe that still works! AMYKOBERLING makes your consult only $5!
You have likely heard that retinoids can benefit the neck and chest. This is absolutely true, but these areas can be much more sensitive when it comes to active ingredients, so opting for a gentler formulation is a wise move to avoid irritation. I love Naturium’s Retinaldehyde Cream Serum for this step! It’s gentle, but still effective.
Just as a little recap, starting a retinoid skincare routine can be a game-changer for your skin, but it's essential to ease into it with a structured regimen. The right products, consistency, and paying attention to your skin's unique needs can make all of the difference. My biggest takeaway for each of you is to keep it simple. More is NOT more!
Looking for a little more detail on the subject? Watch my recent youtube video on a Derm PA’s Tretinoin Skincare Routine for Beginners!
**Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and may contain products gifted in PR. This means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase via these links at no additional cost to you (thank you! It helps me keep things up and running)… As always I ONLY recommend products, goods and services that I stand behind and personally love and use
