Retinol Newbie - Need Help!

[abigailcharisse]

I’m 33 years old and I have never tried Retinol in my life!

I have combination skin and I have been taking care of my skin now.

Can anyone tell me if it’s ok to use Retinol with Glow recipe BHA toner and Niacinamide serum? I also use the Drunken Elephant Protein peptide moisturizer.

Will these counteract on my skin?

#retinol LANEIGE Retinol Firming Cream Treatment with Peptides + Hyaluronic Acid 0.5 oz / 15 mL Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops Serum Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer 1.69 oz/ 50 mL 

[dimesandnichols]

@abigailcharisse I can use both a retinol and BHA together, but only x2 per week. The rest of the time I alternate so that I don’t irritate my skin.

[sabrinas]

Hey there! I agree that you should do alternating days- I am also your age and right now use the Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum one night and on the other night I use my Alpha-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum with 14% Glycolic Acid and Tripeptide-5 1.69 oz/ 50 mL and have had good success and am happy with how my skin is.  That being said, it took a lot of trial and error and I finally found the products that don't cause me breakouts or irritation :).

[Marslan]

I alternate my retinol days and acids days. Usually Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are my retinol days and Tuesdays and Thursdays acids. It’s best to start slow and see how your skin takes it and add on from there.

[WinglessOne]

Hi @abigailcharisse ! Generally, the only reason not to layer retinol with an AHA or BHA (salicylic acid) is your skin tolerance. Some people’s skin can’t handle retinol and a chemical exfoliant used together: the combo can be too irritating. For other folks, like me, that combo’s fine. (I use retinaldehyde each night and either AHA, BHA, or PHA 1-3 times week.) You may want to patch test the combo before trying it on your whole face. 

Assuming the “BHA toner” you use is Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner: this toner contains a gentle form of BHA, willow bark extract (which isn't really the same as salicylic acid), and a PHA. This is the product you should patch test with your retinol product. If your test patch of skin doesn't get scaly, flaky, red, or otherwise irritated, then you can try the combo on the rest of your face—but maybe do that just once or twice a week for a while, and then gradually increase frequency to whatever you're comfy with. (I wouldn't use that toner on its own more than 3 times a week anyway, to avoid over-exfoliating my skin with PHA.) The other Glow Recipe product and the DE moisturizer should be fine to use with retinol.