Retinol is the most researched ingredient in over-the-counter skincare and also the easiest to use badly. This day cream sits in Faberlic's Retinol 24/7 line, and the useful thing to understand before buying is not the marketing but how retinol products need to be introduced.

Starting slowly

The single most common mistake is using a retinol product every day from the start. Skin needs to acclimatise, and rushing produces exactly the redness, flaking and stinging that makes people abandon it:

  1. Weeks one and two - twice a week
  2. Weeks three and four - every other day, if there is no irritation
  3. After that - daily, if your skin is comfortable with it

If skin becomes tight, red or flaky at any point, drop back a step rather than pushing through. Some initial adjustment is normal; persistent irritation is not.

Sunscreen is not optional

Retinol makes skin more sensitive to sunlight. Using it without daily sun protection undoes the point of using it at all, and can leave skin worse than before. If you are not prepared to wear sunscreen every day, this is the wrong category of product to buy.

Practical use

  • Apply to clean, completely dry skin - damp skin increases absorption and irritation
  • A pea-sized amount for the whole face is enough
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and the corners of the nose and mouth unless the label says otherwise
  • Do not layer it with exfoliating acids or scrubs on the same day while you are adjusting
  • Give it time: visible change from retinol is measured in months, not weeks

Who should not use it

Retinol products are generally advised against during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and they are a poor match for skin that is currently irritated, sunburnt or being treated for a condition. If you are using prescription skincare, or you have rosacea or eczema, ask a dermatologist before adding a retinol product rather than experimenting.

The exact formulation, concentration details and the rest of the Retinol 24/7 line are published in the Faberlic catalogue, which is the right source for composition questions.