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Where Are You At In Your Retinol Journey?  

marie claire’s guide to building a retinol routine...
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Image credit: Getty

Are you using retinol already? No? Here’s why you should be.   

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Retinol can sound like a daunting skincare ingredient, but when you have the right intel on hand and a skin-supporting product by your side you’ll soon be seeing smooth clear skin results. 

If you’ve never even contemplated adding retinol to your skincare routine, this is your moment to pause and reconsider. You might have assumed that the ingredient is reserved for older skin or blemish-prone skin, but just about everyone can benefit from adding retinol to their routine. You’ve just got to see all the options available first.   

The Retinol Journey   

Before you delve into the world of retinol, you should first understand what the active ingredient is. Retinoids are an active derivative of vitamin A. The three most common forms of retinoids are retinyl esters, retinol and retinal, with retinol being the most commonly used ingredient.   

Retinol offers a range of skin-supporting benefits, such as its ability to visibly improve skin tone and texture, while working to visibly smooth fine lines. Which in turn can help to keep your skin looking more youthful. Plus, it helps to keep your skin feeling soft and supple.   

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How To Build A Retinol Routine   

retrieve one retinol

Building a retinol routine takes time. The two main things we need everyone to remember when it comes to retinol is to start low and slow, and that results aren’t instant.   

Increasing your retinol usage and strength takes time. When starting on your retinol journey, choose a low strength and apply it once or twice (depending on your tolerance) a week in the evenings. If you have no reaction, then you can increase the frequency of use until your skin can tolerate nightly use. 

If you’re looking for a retinol that can take you throughout your retinol journey, let us introduce you to ReTrieve.One ($64.99 from ReTrieve.One). This brand new serum is the highest non-prescription strength retinol available, offering a one per cent concentration that is formulated with hyaluronic acid and peptides and is enriched with buddleja flower extract. 

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The main tip for using retinol effectively is to employ the ‘sandwich method’. The long recommended derm tip found popularity on TikTok where users let you in on the secret of applying a layer of moisturiser, followed by retinol and then topped off with another layer of moisturiser. Basically, moisturiser is essential and protecting your skin from the sun is crucial. Be sure to apply SPF50+ religiously (topping up throughout the day) and follow sun safety guidelines.  

If all of this sounds overwhelming or if over-the-counter options aren’t enough, speaking to a doctor can help guide your skincare journey. A doctor will be able to help you customise a personalised treatment plan that’s right for your skin. And while you’re there, it’s always worthwhile getting your skin assessed with photoageing technologies, as it can optimise your long-term skin health.  

Embrace Your Skin   

When building a skincare routine, you’re not only going to want to add in products and ingredients that support your skin’s needs, but also create a routine that you find easy to follow.   

By creating a ritual around applying your skincare, the process of caring for and protecting your skin will become a welcomed moment in your day. And can even help you to embrace the skin that you’re in, just as it is.   

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Do you need a little help to celebrate your skin? Then you’re in luck, because the key to great skin is a science-backed skincare routine. So, if you’re over playing the skincare ingredient guessing game, head to ReTrieve.One, where you can connect with an AI skincare assistant to better guide your journey, or link you to a doctor to give you the best skin treatment to suit your skin needs. 

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