Retinol is one of the most talked-about ingredients in skincare, and one of the easiest to get wrong.
It's a form of vitamin A that speeds up skin cell turnover, which can help with fine lines, texture, breakouts and dark spots. Autumn and winter are a good time to start because your skin is less exposed to strong sun.
How to start: choose a low-strength product, use it twice a week at night on dry skin, and use a pea-sized amount for your whole face. Build up slowly over several weeks. Some dryness or flaking at first is common, but stinging, burning or heavy redness means ease off. Always wear SPF the next day.
Skip retinol if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, and check with a doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure.
The biggest mistake is starting too fast and not noticing when your skin is struggling. Log each use in the treatments tracker in Home of Skin, add your product to your cabinet, and note how your skin feels in your journal. Over a few weeks you'll see exactly what your skin tolerates.
Try it free at homeofskin.app.
