So ever since the folliculitis fiasco I have been paying special attention to my skin. I have added ingredients like niacianamide, arbutin and ferulic acid to deal with the aftermath. Retinol is the latest addition to my regime.
Now before I proceed with the review there are a bunch of things you need to consider when jumping on the retinol bandwagon.
1. Retinols (Vitamin A and its derivatives) are contraindicated for pregnant women
2. Sunscreen is a must, when you are using oral or topical retinols
3. Always Start with low dose retinol and build up the concentration
4. Retinols can cause purging which can temporarily flare up acne and make the skin look worse
5. With continuous use retinols can reverse signs of skin ageing to some extend
6. Retinols make skin super dry and flaky so you need to up your moisturiser game.
Okay now that I have listed all the important points let's move onto the review.
Ingredients:
Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, BHT.
I bought this serum in March 2021 . I jumped on 1% Retinol because I was already using 0.5% prescription Retinol so my skin was pretty much used to the harsh side effects of retinol. The bottle is made of tinted glass. It is pretty much basic. It is stated on website to refrigerate the serum after opening it. Since the weather was cold at that time, I kept serum in my room
Since this is a squalene baised retinol it has an oily texture. If you apply few drops to the skin it gets absorbed right away but if you use half a dropper then it leaves an oily film on the skin. A lot of people apply thick cream or sleeping mask om top of retinol but I didn't
I initially mixed 4-drops of the retinol with one dime size amount of serum. This way the concentration was slightly diluted. I started off with using 1 % retinol once a week then moved on to using it twice a week. after two weeks of use I stopped diluting the serum and applied it directly to my face
On Day 1 my skin was super dry. It felt smooth and taut . I had to use twice the amount of serum and moisturizer to my face . I didn't see any peeling or purging
On my 2 use I noticed same signs with a little acne breakouts on my cheek. Now after 2 months of use my skin still gets dry and I get a little peeling near my nose and lips. I have noticed that retinol has improved the appearance of PIH on my skin. My breakouts are also under control. My pores look a little refined as well.
This has made massive improvements to my skin . My stubborn acne scars are gradually fading. My feels smooth as well. I wish I bought this magical ingredient a little earlier. I am really happy with The Ordinary 1% retinol is squalene