When to Apply Retinol For Best Results
Retinol is highly praised for its proven benefits that help fight the visible signs of aging, but is there a right order to apply retinol products during your skincare routine? Does it matter whether you apply retinol serums before or after moisturizing? Let’s answer some of the hottest questions around retinol skincare products so you get the best results from our powerful formulas.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A, a potent antioxidant that is quickly absorbed to help provide a cascade of effects. First, it stimulates and helps the skin to propagate more quickly, decreasing the time it takes to see a fresh, radiant looking complexion. Retinoids have been known to help individuals concerned with the appearance of melasma and hyperpigmentation. It can help your skin look and feel softer, and smoother. Which is a core reason it’s used in so many anti-aging products like our Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Complex.
Because there are many types of retinoids, including retinol, we want to be specific about how we include retinol in our products. The powerful active ingredients we use are often blends of complementary, equally potent compounds that we can’t characterize as a specific percentage strength of retinol. In our Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Complex, we use a blend of retinyl acetate, retinol, and glycolic acid (2.5%) to help with the appearance of smoother looking skin, clogged pores, pigmentation, and, of course, fine lines and wrinkles.
Should You Apply Retinol Before or After Moisturizer?
The truth is that retinol-based products will be effective no matter when you use them after cleansing your skin. Because retinol is so potent, we recommend not applying our retinol products with damp skin, as the water facilitates the absorption of retinol compounds, which can lead to irritation. For a similar reason, the best time in your skincare routine to apply retinol products depends on how your skin reacts to the compound.
Who Should Apply Retinol Before Moisturizer
As long as your skin has been thoroughly cleansed with a gentle cleanser and toner, your skin is ready to take in the potent active ingredients in our powerful complex. Applying retinol before moisturizer means you receive the full power of its ingredients, which can be overwhelming for people with even slightly sensitive skin. At the same time, applying it before moisturizer ensures you see the maximum results from your high-quality skincare routine. If your skin doesn’t experience any negative side effects, go ahead and use it before moisturizing.
Who Should Apply Retinol After Moisturizer
Those who know their skin is sensitive may not want to use retinol products at all to avoid the risk of inflammation and redness. However, if you want the benefits that our retinol formula provides, applying it after using your moisturizer can dampen the effects of retinol, both reducing the risk of irritation while limiting the formula’s influence. You won’t get the same benefits that someone applying it before moisturizing would, but you still get some.
How to Use Epicuren Discovery’s Potent Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Complex
Our retinol serum is so strong, we want to make sure people apply it in the correct way for the lowest risk of irritation or redness. First, our Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Complex should only be applied in the evening, not twice a day. Second, even tolerant skin types should only use this formula 3-5 times per week. Finally, as long as your skin can handle it, we recommend applying it before moisturizer for the best effect.
Professional-Grade Retinol Skincare Products
If you’re interested in the benefits of retinol, you’re looking for high-quality, high-potency active ingredients. However, retinol products are often misleading, which is why we want to give you the honest truth that pure retinol products are often not the best way to incorporate Vitamin A derivatives into your skincare routine. We believe a balanced, synergistic approach with glycolic acid and Vitamin A derivatives that convert into pure retinol in your skin is the best way to get the benefits of retinol.
It’s this level of care and dedication to high-quality formulas that we put into every one of our products, for the best results without a prescription. Find more professional-grade products that are tailored to your skin type and goals by taking our Skin Quiz today.