The retinol edit: how to boost your routine with retinol – your skin longevity hero

Before using retinol, here’s something important to note: it’s best to apply retinol to the face at night, as part of your evening skincare routine, and to use sun protection (SPF) the following day to protect the skin, since retinol can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and cause irritation.

To minimise risk of irritation, we recommend gradually introducing retinol into your routine, so that it is better tolerated by your skin. Start by applying it once a week, then increase to two or three times a week, before upping the frequency further and building retinol into your regular routine. If your skin feels dry, looks red or becomes more sensitive, these may be signs of irritation. If this happens, reduce the amount of retinol you apply and how often you use it.

When incorporating retinol into your routine, it's best to stick to one retinol product at a time to limit irritation. Similarly, as a precautionary measure, avoid using retinol alongside other products containing exfoliating acids on the same evening. AHAs, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, and BHAs, such as salicylic acid, can increase the risk of dryness, redness and irritation when used alongside retinol. That said, some products are specifically formulated to combine retinol with exfoliating acids in a single blend, with carefully considered concentrations and a perfectly balanced overall formula designed to help minimise the risk of irritation. Finally, bear in mind that retinol is not recommended for use during pregnancy. For more information, follow our guide to everything you need to know about retinol.