Easy Ways to Add Retinol to Your Routine

Are you getting more sleep? Did you get a haircut? Dermatologist magic? More sex? The effects of retinol on skin are really noticeable—one of the reasons it’s the gold standard in skin care for everything from premature aging to breakouts. Here’s how to layer your favorite retinol with your other products for maximum results.

1. Supercream with Peptides

   

   AFORÉ

   Dr. Few Clean Retinol

   goop, $199

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2. Plumping Face Oil (Especially Great for Dry Skin)

   

   Mara

   Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face Oil

   goop, $120

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3. Firming Serum with Moisture Boosters

   

   Augustinus Bader

   The Retinol Serum

   goop, $350

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Brilliant for practically any skin type and prized for its firming, wrinkle-smoothing, brightening, blemish-clearing, tone-evening benefits, retinol—a derivative of vitamin A—works by boosting cellular turnover and helping support collagen production. Find the right one for your skin (a cushiony cream, nourishing oil, silky serum—whatever you prefer) and the transformation you (and others) see can be remarkable. (It might take about six weeks of consistent use to see a difference, but see it you will.)

When Do I Use Retinol?

P.M.

Apply retinol only at night, as it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. Since it’s a powerhouse exfoliant that can initially irritate and cause dryness (even though retinol ultimately helps skin more effectively retain moisture), keep the rest of your routine gentle and moisturizing.

1. Wash Away the Day

Choose cleansers that can smooth away mineral sunscreen, makeup, grime, and pollution, but avoid alpha hydroxy acids or other intense exfoliants within 24 hours of using retinol (too much exfoliation is extremely irritating to skin).

1. Gently Exfoliating

   

   goop Beauty

   Cloudberry Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser

   goop, $35/$25 with subscription

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2. For Dry Skin

   

   Augustinus Bader

   The Cream Cleansing Gel

   goop, $70

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3. For Oily Skin

   

   goop Beauty

   Malachite + Fruit Acid Pore Purifying Cleanser

   goop, $48/$44 with subscription

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2. Retinol Comes Next

The key to getting the results you want is finding a formula that feels beautiful on your skin, so you look forward to it. To help minimize any reactions your skin might have, start by using your retinol every third night, working your way up to every other night and, eventually, every night, if your skin can tolerate it. To get the biggest benefit, apply retinol to damp skin, which is more absorbent; to soften the intensity, apply it to dry skin.

1. Wrinkle-Smoothing Moisturizer

   

   Dr. Dennis Gross

   Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Intense Wrinkle Cream

   goop, $77

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2. Dark-Circle-Fighting Eye Treatment

   

   Naturopathica

   Passion Fruit & Retinol Ageless Eye Serum

   goop, $100

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3. Brightening Serum-Cream with Reishi Mushroom

   

   Monastery Made

   Rei Gentle Retinol Cream

   goop, $110

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4. Retinol and Two Retinol Alternatives

   

   Marie Veronique

   Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion

   goop, $135

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If you have sensitive skin or are pregnant, retinol alternatives like bakuchiol, retinal (a precursor to retinol that’s said to be gentler on skin), and alfalfa extract can deliver remarkably glowing, firming, smoothing results.

1. Bakuchiol Face Oil with Clinical Results

   

   goop Beauty

   All-in-One Super Nutrient Face Oil

   goop, $98/$89 with subscription

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2. Retinal Serum for Supple Skin

   

   de Mamiel

   Gravity Fix

   goop, $265

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3. Texture-Refining Serum with Alfalfa Extract

   

   KORA Organics

   Plant Stem Cell Retinol Alternative Serum

   goop, $75

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1. Luminizing Cream with Bakuchi Seed

   

   Ranavat

   Renewing Bakuchi Crème

   goop, $95

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2. Replenishing Collagen and Bakuchiol Sheet Mask

   

   Venn

   Collagen Intensive Phyto-Retinol Renewal Sheet Mask

   goop, $47

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3. Moisturize

Another way to soften the intensity of retinol if you’re concerned about flaking or dryness: Blend it with a diluting dab of moisturizer or face oil first, or smooth on a layer of moisturizer a few minutes after you’ve applied retinol.

1. Rich Balm

   

   Okoko

   Sublime Balm

   goop, $83

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2. Lightweight Cream (Great for Sensitive Skin)

   

   Tata Harper

   Fortifying Moisturizer

   goop, $130

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3. Glow-Inducing Oil

   

   Le Prunier

   Plum Beauty Oil

   goop, $72

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Bonus: Skin Cycle

Switch out the retinol step every few nights to give skin a rest, and use a different formula in place of retinol. Giving your skin days off from certain active treatments—aka skin cycling—allows you to reap the benefits of other skin-friendly actives (like AHA exfoliating serums) that might not play well with retinol.

1. Time-Released AHAs

   

   goop Beauty

   Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk

   goop, $98/$89 with subscription

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2. Peptides for Wide-Awake Eyes

   

   goop Beauty

   Lift + Depuff Eye Masks

   goop, $125/$112 with subscription

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3. Active Botanicals

   

   Vintner’s Daughter

   Active Botanical Serum

   goop, $195

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A.M.

Again, never apply retinol during the day. Instead, boost skin with other kinds of actives—antioxidants, peptides, and more.

1. Cleanse

If you like to wash your face first thing in the morning, go for a nourishing formula with ingredients like aloe and glycerin that flood skin with hydration, leaving it dewy and plumped.

1. Refreshing Cream with Moisturizing Extracts

   

   Alpyn Beauty

   Juneberry & Collagen Hydrating Cream Cleanser

   goop, $39

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2. Softening Toner with Glycerin and Aloe

   

   goop Beauty

   Flower Acids Resurfacing Toner

   goop, $45/$40 with subscription

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2. Protect and Luminize with Vitamin C

One of the best-for-skin antioxidants, vitamin C brightens and smooths all skin types. It’s only very slightly exfoliating, so it shouldn’t be too much for most skin when used in a routine with retinol. If your skin can handle it, the one-two punch of retinol in the evenings and vitamin C in the mornings delivers pretty spectacular benefits. Note that because this one is made with hyaluronic acid, it’s especially moisturizing.

1. 

   goop Beauty

   20% Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Glow Serum

   goop, $125/$112 with subscription

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3. Moisturize

The boost in cellular turnover from retinol can lead to flaking and dryness, depending on your skin; moisturizing helps counteract any side effects and keeps your skin healthy in the bargain.

1. Plush Turmeric Cream

   

   KORA Organics

   Turmeric Glow Moisturizer

   goop, $62

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2. Radiance-Boosting Oil

   

   Beauty Thinkers

   Antioxidant Boost Facial Oil

   goop, $78

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3. Richest Balm

   

   Furtuna Skin

   Rinascita Delle Olive Replenishing Balm

   goop, $225

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4. Most Important Step: Mineral Sunscreen

Retinol increases sun sensitivity, so if you weren’t already applying the world’s most effective wrinkle cream (nothing prevents sun damage and signs of premature aging like sunscreen, except staying out of the sun altogether), make it a daily habit. Unlike chemical sunscreens, mineral sunscreens are made with soothing, inert minerals like zinc oxide (it’s the main ingredient in most baby-bottom creams), so they’re ideal for people using retinol. (Chemical sunscreens also pose real health threats.) Because sunscreens are made with moisturizing ingredients, those with oilier skin may find they can skip moisturizer altogether, using mineral sunscreen in its place.

1. Translucent Tint (with Vitamin C)

   

   ILIA

   C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40

   goop, $64

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2. Cream with Glowy Finish

   

   Grown Alchemist

   Natural Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30

   goop, $39

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3. Silky Serum with Nourishing Extracts

   

   MARA

   Algae + Zinc Sea Kale Sunscreen Serum

   goop, $52

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4. Foundation and SPF in One

   

   Tower 28 Beauty

   SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation

   goop, $32

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