This Is How To Apply Retinol Like A Dermatologist & What *Not* To Do

Author:

November 17, 2022

mbg Assistant Beauty Editor

By Hannah Frye

mbg Assistant Beauty Editor

Hannah Frye is the Assistant Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including health, wellness, sustainability, personal development, and more.

Image by Liliya Rodnikova / Stocksy

November 17, 2022

Our editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may

earn a small commission.

Every beauty professional has their nonnegotiable steps. In our series, Like a Pro, we tap experts for the top three techniques they absolutely swear by. Here, you’ll hear from a variety of industry insiders on the fail-safe tricks they always keep in their back pockets. We’re all about simplifying your beauty regimen wherever you can, and sometimes the best routines are as easy as 1, 2, 3.

So, you want to start using retinol, but maybe you’re a little bit scared. This is totally common—retinol is an intimidating product, especially when it comes to hefty, prescription-strength formulas. Not to mention, the application comes with a learning curve!

But retinol is also a powerful and research-backed ingredient that has a long list of benefits—from clearing stubborn acne to easing fine lines and wrinkles to even brightening a once dull complexion. You just have to use it correctly—here, board-certified dermatologist Amanda Doyle, M.D., FAAD, explains how to do just that: 

1.

Apply your retinol to a clean canvas. 

If you launch with a super-strong retinoid and use it every night, you’ll probably get a “retinoid reaction,” which may consist of redness, excessive dryness, irritation, etc. “If you’ve never used a retinol or retinoid, make sure to start no more than two or three times a week at night,” Doyle says. If you have sensitive skin, don’t use retinol more than twice a week. Be sure to leave a few days in between using retinol, too (i.e., start skin cycling).

“The skin requires an adjustment period before you can more consistently use it,” Doyle says. Starting low and slow (in terms of concentration and cadence) will help minimize the risk of those more intense side effects—though some redness and dryness are to be expected with any new retinoid. 

3.

Do not mix your retinol with other actives. 

“Avoid using retinols at the same time as other acid-based or retinol-based products,” Doyle says. At the risk of sounding like a broken record: Do not cocktail your actives. 

Even if you’re not deliberately using a strong AHA serum or retinol product, be sure to check the ingredients on all of your skin care. Even if it’s not clearly stated on the front of the package, that “glow-inducing” or “skin-smoothing” night cream may have a few active ingredients that may react poorly to your retinol treatment.