I talk a lot about retinol and retinoids and it is something I recommend for almost everyone (except if you are pregnant). Some people have concerns about potential irritation and there can be a period of adjustment when starting or if increasing strength. With that in mind here are some tips to help tolerate your retinol / retinoid: ✅ It is important to apply on clean, dry skin as damp skin may increase absorption. You may consider waiting 10 minutes after washing and drying your face to apply your products. 🧴 Using a moisturizer after is important to hydrate and soothe the skin. Use the one you like but if you are dry consider a thicker cream. And avoid “slugging” or use of a highly occlusive product like Vaseline on top as that can increase strength of the product and lead to irritation. 🥪 If that isn’t enough you can try applying moisturizer first or use the “sandwich” technique where you apply a layer of moisturizer, followed by your retinol, and then another layer of moisturizer. Applying moisturizer first will help to buffer the skin and while it may slightly reduce the strength of your retinol, you will still get benefits. ⏱ A final option to consider is short contact use. In this case you would apply your product but wash it off after a period of time, generally anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. A big note to add to this is that the goal of using retinol / retinoids should not be to get the highest strength on your skin. Nor do you need to use it every night if your skin has trouble tolerating it. It’s important to find a product that works well for you and you can use consistently over the long term without irritation. #drkatiebeleznay #dermatologist #igskincare #instaskincare #retinol #retinoid