guideRetinol

How to use Retinol in a maintenance routine

Where Retinol fits, how often to use it, and what to pair it with for barrier-first consistency.

Where it fits in your routine

Cleanse (gentle) → hydrate → treat (optional) → moisturize → sunscreen (AM).

Retinol usually belongs in the “treat” step, but your barrier support is the foundation.

PM: cleanse → moisturizer (optional buffer) → retinol → moisturizer

Start 1 to 2 nights/week for 2 to 4 weeks, then increase slowly

Keep exfoliants minimal while retinol is ramping

Glycerin and humectants for comfort

Ceramides for barrier reinforcement

Sunscreen in the morning if you’re targeting long-term aging well

Multiple exfoliants at once

Strong acids + strong retinoids in the same routine until you know your tolerance

Fragrance-heavy formulas that make it hard to interpret reactions

This guide is for education only — not medical advice. If your skin is persistently irritated, talk to a dermatologist.