Key Takeaways
- Use retinol at night after cleansing, followed by gentle actives and moisturizer.
- Always wear sunscreen during the day.
- Don’t pair it with strong, aggressive actives, but gentle, supporting ones are safe to use.
- When it comes to how to use retinol for beginners, start slowly from 1-2 nights per week, then build to every second night or nightly use as tolerated.
Want to Glow with Retinol? Do it Right
Retinol is one of those skincare ingredients everyone wants in their routine because it does a lot for the skin. When used well, it can improve breakouts, discoloration, and rough texture. It also helps stimulate collagen production and reduce signs of aging. If smooth, radiant skin is the goal, it makes sense to add it to your routine.
But here’s the thing. Retinol can irritate the skin when used incorrectly. That’s why knowing how to introduce retinol to your skin matters.
Below, we show you how to use retinol for beginners to get the results without compromising your skin barrier.
How to Introduce Retinol into Skincare
So when should you use retinol?
Nighttime is when it truly shines. Light and air can make some formulas less stable, but more importantly, retinol makes your skin extra sensitive to the sun. Using it during the day can do more harm than good, even if you’re diligent with sunscreen.
PM Routine: Step-By-Step
Here’s how to use retinol for beginners while keeping your nighttime routine gentle and effective. When you’re starting out, less is more. Keeping a minimalist routine helps reduce the risk of irritation.
A beginner-friendly routine usually looks like this:
1. Cleanse
Start with mild cleansing to remove makeup, sunscreen, and the day’s buildup without stripping your skin.
Want to know how to introduce retinol to your skin gently? Let your skin dry completely before application. Damp skin absorbs products faster, which can make retinol sink in quickly and feel harsher.
Another key part of how to use retinol for beginners is avoiding overcleansing and harsh formulas, as these leave your skin prone to irritation. Lea Black Beauty® Skin Revitalizing Daily Face Wash uses powerhouse botanicals to cleanse effectively while leaving your skin hydrated and calm.
2. Apply Retinol
Use a pea-sized amount of retinol on your face. More product doesn’t mean better results and often leads to irritation. A beginner-friendly option like Lea Black Beauty® Anti-Aging Face Serum with 250mg CBD delivers retinol benefits while hydrating and soothing your skin.
3. Treat With Gentle Actives (Optional)
A common part of how to use retinol for beginners is following up with gentle actives to hydrate, soothe, and support the skin barrier. Hydrating serums and eye treatments like Lea Black Beauty® Premium Hemp Soothing Eye Cream can help combat dryness and discomfort after retinol use.
4. Moisturize
Finish with a nourishing moisturizer or night cream to lock everything in and support the skin barrier. Try Lea Black Beauty® CBD Daily Face Moisturizer or Lea Black Beauty® Sudden Youth® 1000mg Nourishing Cannabis Sativa Oil as the final step to help reduce post-retinol dryness and soothe your skin overnight.
AM Routine
Your morning routine should focus on nourishing, balancing, and shielding your skin from the sun. Even though you use retinol at night, it can leave your skin extra sensitive to sunlight the next day.
Reach for your cleanser, toner if you use one, serum, and moisturizer. A toner like Lea Black Beauty® Brighten & Balance 200mg CBD Skin Toner can help prep and hydrate the skin after cleansing.
Now that you know how to introduce retinol into skincare, daytime sunscreen is non-negotiable. Skipping it increases the risk of irritation, redness, peeling, and hyperpigmentation.
What Products Should Not Be Used With Retinol?
If you’ve been wondering how to use retinol for beginners, that also means knowing about mixing skincare products. Layering strong actives with retinol can overwhelm the skin, increase irritation, and sometimes reduce effectiveness.
It’s best to avoid these on retinol nights:
AHAs/BHAs (Glycolic, Lactic, and Salicylic acids)
These exfoliating acids can lead to over-exfoliation, dryness, and irritation when paired with retinol.
Vitamin C and Vitamin E
When it comes to how to use retinol for beginners, layering with these antioxidants can be too stimulating and increase the risk of irritation. Use vitamin C and vitamin E in the morning for antioxidant protection, and retinol at night.
Benzoyl Peroxide
This can deactivate retinol and increase irritation risk.
Physical exfoliators
These increase the risk of peeling and irritation. Save these for non-retinol days.
Pro Tip: When it comes to how to introduce retinol into skincare, the safest approach is to use these products in separate routines or alternate nights, especially for beginners.
Products You Can Safely Use With Retinol
Now that we’ve established that you can follow retinol with the right actives, some ingredients can actually be your best friends when it comes to how to use retinol for beginners.
Pairing retinol with gentle, supportive ingredients helps restore moisture, soothe irritation, and protect the skin barrier, making retinol more comfortable and effective. Safe options include:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Provides deep hydration
- Niacinamide: Soothes and supports the barrier
- Peptides: Support skin repair
- Ceramides: Reinforce the skin barrier
- Resveratrol: Provides antioxidant protection
How Often Should Beginners Use Retinol?
One of the most common skincare mistakes is using retinol too often, too soon. Want to know how to use retinol for beginners to avoid irritation? Start slowly and increase frequency only as your skin builds tolerance.
Most people eventually work up to every second night or even nightly use, depending on tolerance, but rushing the process usually leads to irritation.
Beginner-Friendly Frequency
Here’s a common approach for how to introduce retinol to your skin gradually:
- Weeks 1-2: Use 1-2 nights per week
- Weeks 3-4: Increase to 2-3 nights per week if well tolerated
- After 6-8 Weeks: Move to every second night
- Later: Progress nightly use only once your skin fully adjusts, which may take several weeks or months
If you experience sensitivity at any point, move back to the previous frequency for a week before increasing again.
Retinol Dos and Dont’s
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Get Started With Premium Retinol
Retinol can truly change how your skin looks and behaves when you know how to use retinol for beginners correctly. Ready to start retinol and enjoy smooth, radiant, youthful-looking skin without hurting your skin barrier?
Discover Lea Black Beauty® retinol skincare products, made with the finest, clean raw ingredients sourced globally and backed by clinically proven results. Our 100% natural skincare products are gentle yet effective. See the difference for yourself!
FAQs
+ What retinol strength should beginners use?
Start slow. Most beginners do best with 0.1% or lower. Sensitive skin should start even gentler. Use formulations made for your skin type.
+ What are retinol side effects?
Mild dryness, flaking, redness, tingling, or short-term purging in breakout-prone areas are common and temporary. Persistent burning, swelling, or pain is not. If irritation continues for several weeks, reassess strength or frequency.
+ How long does retinol take to work?
Adjustment (retinization) usually takes 2-4 weeks. Texture may improve by 4-6 weeks, with visible results after 8-12 weeks.
+ Who should avoid retinol?
Retinol may not be suitable if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have active eczema, rosacea, or a damaged skin barrier.
