How to Introduce Retinol into your No7 Skin Care Regimen

Dermatologists advise that the earlier you start addressing the signs of aging, the better. Once you enter your 20s and the skin begins to lose its elasticity, early signs of sun damage and aging will start to show. Retinol is a key anti-aging vitamin that can be incorporated at any stage of your skin care journey. However, retinol has the potential to cause irritation and sensitivity, so always use in accordance with the instructions, and closely monitor your skin’s response. Here’s our advice for how to use retinol for optimal results.

Prior to using retinol, there are key things to keep in mind. It is recommended to avoid retinol or other retinoids while pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not apply to broken or irritated skin. We do not recommend using facial hair removal products or methods while using retinol. Do not use our retinol product with other products containing retinol, retinoic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), prescription acne medicine, or skin peel regimen.

How to use retinol

It’s important to introduce retinol into your skin care routine slowly, evaluating your skin’s reaction and responding appropriately. Though retinol can be quite harsh on your skin (with possible side effects including redness, irritation, skin tightness and dryness), No7’s Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex is specially-formulated to be more gentle to your skin and minimize the potential for irritation when used as directed.

We recommend using a gentle skin cleanser and avoiding harsh scrubs while using retinol. Start by applying two pumps to your face, avoiding the eye and lip area, every three nights and watch carefully for any signs of irritation. It is not uncommon to experience some short-lived dryness, peeling, irritation, or redness initially. As your skin builds up tolerance, start to use it every other night. Eventually, when you feel like your skin is comfortable and well-adjusted to retinol, begin to use the product every evening. It could take 4 weeks to build to nightly application, but always monitor your skin. Always follow this application with a nourishing night cream to hydrate skin and reduce the possibility of dryness. Try No7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Face & Neck Night Cream, which is designed to nourish the skin while targeting the key signs of aging to reveal smoother, plumper looking skin.

Retinol can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to limit your exposure to sunlight and to apply a day cream with SPF during the day while using retinol. Try the Restore & Renew Multi Action Face & Neck Day Cream SPF 30 which includes No7’s Double Defense technology to defend and protect skin from harmful UV rays.