When it comes to skincare powerhouses, retinol is always top of the popularity list. The well-researched ingredient is known both for its skin smoothing and acne-clearing abilities, with the clinical data and results to back it up.
It’s for this reason that many people are already pretty clued up on how to apply retinol, with essential tips like using it at night, making sure you’re using a high SPF, broad-spectrum sunscreen in the day and starting at a low percentage before working your way up, common knowledge among beauty buffs.
But one such ‘rule’ we weren’t aware of until now, is that retinol needs a decent amount of time to absorb.
According to skincare guru and best-selling author, Caroline Hirons, you should allow 20 plus minutes before moving on to the next step of your routine.
“You can use other products afterwards but leave a good gap to make sure your vitamin A has been given a chance to absorb. 20+ minutes is fine (unless stipulated otherwise),” she wrote on her blog.
If you’re adding retinol as the last step in your current regime, that means you’re in the clear. But for those using retinol serums and then following immediately with a night cream, you may be sabotaging your efforts by not leaving a lengthy gap.
The ultimate retinol routine? Try Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol range, uniquely formulated for powerful retinol results with less irritation.
There are products designed for every stage of your retinol journey, whether you’re new to the ingredient or have been using it for some time, with varying strengths of pure retinol to suit your skin needs. Two new products are being added to the Pro+ range (designed for the “expert” retinol user) alongside the .5% Power Serum: the Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .3% Night Cream and the Pro+ Eye Cream to complete your ultimate radiance-revealing retinol routine.
Remember, leave at least 20 minutes between retinol products to let it fully absorb into the skin and always protect your skin during the day with a broad-spectrum, high SPF sunscreen.
Brought to you by Neutrogena.
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