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The Retinol Mistake We Had No Idea We Were Making

Hadn’t heard this one before… - by Samantha McMeekin
  • 10 Jul 2020
The Retinol Mistake We Had No Idea We Were Making

When it comes to skincare powerhouses, retinol is always top of the popularity list. The well-researched ingredient is known both for its skin smoothing and acne-clearing abilities, with the clinical data and results to back it up.

It’s for this reason that many people are already pretty clued up on how to apply retinol, with essential tips like using it at night, making sure you’re using SPF in the day and starting at a low percentage before working your way up, common knowledge among beauty buffs.

But one such ‘rule’ we weren’t aware of until now, is that retinol needs a decent amount of time to absorb.

According to skincare guru and best-selling author, Caroline Hirons, you should allow 20 plus minutes before moving on to the next step of your routine.

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“You can use other products afterwards but leave a good gap to make sure your vitamin A has been given a chance to absorb. 20+ minutes is fine (unless stipulated otherwise),” she wrote on her blog. 

For those using retinol as the last step in your current regimen, you’re in the clear. But for those using retinol serums or capsules, and then following immediately with a night cream, you may have been sabotaging your efforts by not leaving a lengthy gap.

When it comes to the rest of our skincare products, most experts agree that a minute or so is all that’s needed in-between steps. 

According to the experts at Paula’s Choice, “if you're using gentle, well-formulated skincare products (and you should be), then in most circumstances, waiting is more about personal preference than necessity.”

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