RETINOL FOR BEGINNERS GUIDE
Retinol for skin is one of the most powerful anti-ageing ingredients utilised in Kiehl’s science powered apothecary skincare formulas. Whether you’re adding a retinol face serum or retinol cream to your routine, retinol for beginners should be introduced carefully and gradually.
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If you’ve been thinking about how to begin using retinol, you’re in the right place. This beginners guide to retinol will cover everything you need to know about how retinol works, how to start using it and how to choose the best retinol for beginners. Read on for all these tips and more.
What is retinol and how does it benefit your complexion?
Retinol is a highly potent anti-ageing skincare ingredient known for its potential to help reveal a younger-looking complexion. This ingredient is a vitamin A derivative found in face serums or creams. You might already know that retinol creates skin benefits by accelerating the skin’s natural renewal processes, but no beginners guide to retinol would be complete without explaining exactly how this ingredient works.
Dead skin cells linger around the surface of all complexions, but an excess amount can cause skin to become dull, rough and more prone to breakouts. Retinol can help avoid these pitfalls by promoting faster turnover of the surface layers of the skin at a cellular level. This ingredient can also encourage the skin to produce new collagen.
As retinol works within the skin, it can visibly minimise the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores and fine lines and wrinkles. This ingredient is also known to help improve skin texture, brighten the complexion and minimise breakouts. However, since retinol is a potent ingredient, it’s important to start with retinol products for beginners and follow the application tips below.
How to begin using retinol?
Welcoming retinol into your skincare routine can be beneficial, however using retinol for beginners is a venture best taken slowly. There are a few steps you should follow to help your skin adjust to your new product in the smoothest possible manner. Keep reading to learn how to maximise the highly efficacious benefits of retinol while minimising the chances of any unwanted effects as your skin adjusts.
Start with a lower dose
The ‘more is better’ rule doesn’t apply to retinol for skin. In fact, the opposite is true for those new to this ingredient. The best retinol serum for beginners is one with a lower dose or retinol percentage. Starting with a lower dose will make it easier for your skin to adjust, which means a reduced chance of experiencing temporary redness, peeling or dryness. You may then consider switching to a higher dose after your skin adjusts.
Start slowly
Consistency is key in skincare, but that doesn’t mean applying retinol daily straight away is a good idea. Just like starting with a lower dosage, starting with a lower frequency is also recommended to minimise the chance of temporary redness, peeling and dry skin. Use retinol for beginners once per week initially, before increasing frequency fortnightly until daily use is achieved.
Use a small amount of product
Just a pea-sized amount of retinol serum or cream is enough to help rejuvenate the entire facial area. Using more won’t produce any benefits, but it may increase the likelihood of redness or peeling.
Consider mixing your retinol with moisturiser
If you know you have sensitive skin, or simply want to be especially cautious, try mixing your retinol with moisturiser in the beginning. Doing so won’t interfere with the benefits of your serum or cream, but it will further ease the adjustment process.
Be patient
Patience is essential when using retinol for beginners. Choosing a higher dose or applying too frequently may lead to effects that while temporary, can be uncomfortable. Similarly, the benefits of retinol won’t show up straight away. Noticeable complexion benefits may take several weeks or more to materialise and in the meantime you may notice a few extra blemishes known as ‘purging’. However, patience will reveal a more youthful-looking complexion in the long term.
Introducing our Daily Micro-Dose Retinol Serum
If you’ve been searching for the best retinol serum for beginners, our Daily Micro-Dose Retinol Serum has been formulated with your needs in mind. Retinol products for beginners should combine visible youth renewal with ingredients that comfort the skin. That’s why this serum combines Pure Retinol with ceramides to support the skin’s moisture barrier and peptides to further renew your skin.
This serum strikes a balance by helping reduce the appearance of wrinkles, minimise blemishes and refine skin texture, with minimal redness, dryness or peeling. The precise retinol dosage is designed for daily use once the skin has adjusted.
We recommend using our Daily Micro-Dose Retinol Serum in the evening after cleansing and patting dry your skin. Apply a pea-sized amount of serum over the entire face and follow up with a nourishing moisturiser like our Ultra Facial Moisturizer, infused with squalene and glycerin to help counteract any initial dryness.
Over time once your skin has adjusted to retinol for beginners, you might be ready to graduate to our most concentrated dose, our Retinol Fast Release Wrinkle-Reducing Night Serum.
Now you’re up-to-date on how to begin using retinol, learn more about this skincare ingredient powered by nature and science with our guide The Benefits of Retinol for Skin
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Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum
The Daily Micro-Dose Skin-Renewing Retinol Serum is a potent daily retinol serum which visibly reduces wrinkles, firms skin and refines the feel of skin's texture. Suitable for all skin types, the Kiehl's Micco-Dose Skin-Renewing Daily Retinol Serum is the best retinol for beginners and those with sensitive skin.
Retinol Fast Release Wrinkle-Reducing Night Serum
The Kiehl's wrinkle-reducing night serum with Retinol helps to advance skin surface cell renewal. As our most concentrated dose of retinol to date, our innovative powder-to-serum technology allows a fresh, highly concentrated formula to sink into the skin.
Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate
A potent Vitamin C serum to help visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles and firm skin over time. The Kiehl's Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate is formulated with 12.5 percent Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid, perfect for smoothing skin texture, plumping skin, and reducing the visibility of pores. Discover the Kiehl's Vitamin C Serum and achieve radiant skin now!
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