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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:12 what is retinol
0:59 Retinol and acne
1:19 How to use
1:39 How often should i use it
2:29 Precautions


Retinol is the showstopper of a skin care routine. It is the building block on which you layer your whole skin care products..
What is retinol?
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative like tretinoin, adapalene, and retinaldehyde. These are essentially the same thing with varying degree of efficacy.
Retinol is one of those over-the counter skin care medications and is most widely used to treat acne and slowing down the ageing-process of your skin.
Retinol can be present as an active ingredient in a moisturizer or serum and it can also be available at the medical store as a medication.
Retinol is better for sensitive skin among all the retinoids. You can start by using it twice a week. Start low and then go high. Your skin will be able to adapt it within 5-6 months and then you can increase the dosage.
Retinol and Acne
Retinol is completely worth using for treating acne. Retinol increases the cell turnover and makes them come out way before they were supposed to. So you may experience some flare-ups in the beginning. But trust me! Sticking through it for at least 2 months and seeing the benefits after those flare ups is a real game changer.
How to use?
Grab a “Retinol sandwich” guys! That means having an upper and lower layer of products before and after applying retinol.
 Cleanse your skin
 Use a pea-sized amount for the whole face. Put it on your finger, dab it on all over your face and spread it.
 Moisturize your skin.
How often should you use it?
Use it every other day or night. Do not use it on a daily basis because it will cause flaking and irritation on your skin. The break day will help your skin reprogram.
Even if your skin gets irritated after using it every other day, keep using it because your skin will automatically get back to its natural texture after two to three weeks.
Your skin will look better, function better and the product does less irritation on your skin.
You can adopt the ‘RULE OF THREE’
Month 1 – Every third night
Month 2 – Every second night
Month 3 – Every night
However, it could not work the same for everyone. Once you start using it, you can tailor it according to your individual needs.
Precautions
 Protect the sensitive areas of your face like your eyelids and under eyes. This skin on your face is the most sensitive of your whole body. You can apply some eye cream prior to applying the retinol.
 If your skin is highly sensitive, you can stop applying the retinol a week before a facial, chemical peal or waxing, etc.
 PREGNANCY and BREASTFEEDING are the two periods when you must avoid retinol use
 Retinol may make your skin sensitive to the sun. so make sure you are apply Non-comedogenic (Non-acne causing) sunscreen before you go out in the sun.
If you are experiencing major side-effects, stop using it immediately even if it prescribed by your doctor. Then consult your dermatologist to get some effective treatment according to your face situation.