Are you Ready to Become a Retinol Skintellectual?

Why these iconic SkinCeuticals anti-aging skincare products are a match made in heaven.

Retinol is amazing at—and for—a lot of things. Treating acne? Check. Sloughing away dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, more even skin tone underneath? Check. Treating hyperpigmentation? Check. Effectively targeting fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and unwanted texture? Check, check and check. Retinol’s only caveat is the fact that as it works to deliver clearer, brighter and more supple skin, it can leave some dryness and irritation behind. But it doesn’t have to be that way, especially if you choose the best moisturizer for dry skin to pair with the anti-aging ingredient. Read on to learn why SkinCeuticals’ retinol cream and moisturizer for dry skin are the ultimate anti-aging skincare duo.

Why does retinol cause irritation?

Retinol works by speeding up the process of your skin cells turning over. This naturally occurring process happens every few weeks whether or not you use a single skincare product and anti-aging ingredient. (The exact rate is dependent upon many factors, most notably age, and, yep, you guessed it—it slows down as we get older.) But applying a topical anti-aging skincare product like retinol makes skin cell turnover happen at a much faster rate than it normally would, which is how retinol is able to reveal younger-looking, brighter and clearer skin.

It is important to know how to use retinol when being introduced to it for the first time. However, when you first start using the vitamin A derivative, there’s an adjustment period where dead skin cells have been sloughed off but new, healthy cells have yet to come to the surface. This in-between period can temporarily weaken your skin barrier, leaving your skin feeling dry, sensitive and overall irritated. That’s why when it comes to using a retinol product, a slow and steady approach is best. Start by incorporating a retinol cream, like SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 Refining Night Cream, into your nighttime routine once or twice a week. If your skin responds well to that (in other words, no signs of irritation like redness or tightness), then you can increase the frequency. Ready to level up? Opt for a more potent retinol cream, like SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 Refining Night Cream.

But sometimes, no matter how gradually and carefully you incorporate retinol cream into your regimen, you may experience some of the common side effects of retinol such as redness and tightness, as your skin gets used to retinol. But just because they’re common C1 - Internal use doesn’t make them any less unpleasant. It also doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about them.

How to use retinol without compromising your skin barrier

Want to get into the world of retinol skincare but don’t want to deal with any of the dreaded dryness or irritation? Believe it or not, it’s actually possible to have the best of both worlds—you just need the right skincare product combination. The key is to choose a deeply nourishing and hydrating moisturizer for dry skin that can counteract any dryness caused by topical retinol serum or cream. Enter: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2. The anti-aging skincare hero is formulated with ceramides (fat molecules that help skin maintain moisture) that are crucial for supporting skin’s natural repair functions and keeping the skin barrier strong and healthy. If you’re feeling the effects of retinol on your skin, slathering on a rich cream like SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is an excellent way to ensure any moisture that has been lost, or any skin barrier health that has been compromised in the skin cell turnover process, is replaced and restored.

How Do You Layer Retinol in a Skincare Routine?

Generally speaking, skincare products should be layered in order of consistency, starting from the thinnest product and ending with the thickest. So, after cleansing your face in the evening, you should apply either SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 Refining Night Cream or SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 Refining Night Cream, depending on your desired percentage, followed by SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2. However, if your skin is extra sensitive, you can even apply a thin layer of the moisturizer before you apply SkinCeuticals’ retinol products to create a protective barrier and ensure that your retinol application is a little less intense and potent. You can then apply another layer of moisturizer on top of your retinol cream to really trap in moisture for the night.

Who can use this SkinCeuticals product duo?

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is particularly helpful for sensitive skin types who still want to reap the many benefits of retinol products without suffering the consequences of a disrupted skin barrier. That said, it is suitable for any and all skin types, because even if you don’t have sensitive skin, using retinol without following up with a nourishing moisturizer is never a good idea and is, in fact, a recipe for developing dry skin fast. Choosing a thick moisturizer for dry skin is the best way to treat (or prevent) signs of retinol-induced irritation such as tightness, redness, itchiness and peeling.

Become a Skintellectual in 5 Steps

1. Start off with our beginner's guide
2. Learn how to layer retinol in your skincare routine
3. Learn which ingredients to pair with your retinol
4. How to introduce retinol in your nighttime routine.
5. Don't be swayed by common myths about retinol

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