[Routine Help] Layering Retinoids and Acids

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So, I looked up how to do this, and I got some mixed answers. I wanted to know how to appropriately incorporate retinol into my routine without over complicating it or sacrificing my sweet sweet stridex wipes.I found this article (https://theskincareedit.com/2017/07/06/acids-and-retinol) that explains things very well, and I figured I’d summarize it all and share what I learned!So basically, my questions was can whether I could use retinol and my BHA at the same time, in my evening routine, without alternating days. Short answer: yes, but it’s not that simple.The article offers three ways to work retinol into your routine while still maintaining use of your BHA/AHA.1) Use your acids in the morning and your retinol in the evening.This is probably the “easiest” way to incorporate it, but my morning routine is usually just a quick water rinse and a SPF/moisturizer. I didn’t like the idea of changing that and adding an extra step in the morning.The idea behind this one is that it’s best because: a) using retinoids at night avoids dealing with the increased sun sensitivity b) retinoids *can make your skin flake(though usually that means your concentration is too high), so using a good chemical exfoliant in the morning will help clear your pores from all those dead skin cells.*2) Alternate NightsThis one is what I heard a lot of from the SCA community— just alternative. Every other night, switch between your acids and your retinoids. Or any other day combination works as well, depending on your skin type. I will be doing this method to gradually introduce the retinol into my routine, but eventually want to use retinol and my acids everyday.3) Wait 30 minutesHere is the answer I wanted to know about. Can I just use all of my products every night without complicating things? Short answer is yes, you can.Basically, the reason it’s not great to use retinol as the same time as acids is because of the drastic pH difference between them. They’ll render each other ineffective— the retinol conversion to retinoic acid will be impaired, and the acids will be neutralized. And that shit’s too expensive to be wasting like that.The solution is to just wait for one or the other to fully absorb into your skin and your skin’s pH to normalize before layering the other. 30 minutes should be enough time to do this.For example, here’s my routine, now with retinol addedAM: Water rinse Jergen’s natural glow moisturizer with SPF (gotta fight the white somehow since tanning is a no-no)PM: First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face CleanserEra Organics Facial TonerStridex cleansing wipesapply Avarelle Acne patches of necessaryArtNaturals Vitamin C Serum.Wait 30 minutes. *In this time I will usually brush my teeth, get into my pajamas, get a glass of water, pack my lunch for the next day, etc. *ArtNaturals 2.5% RetinolCeraVe PM facial moisturizing lotionAnd that’s it! TLDR; yes you can do both.Hope you guys found this as helpful as I did!
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by rachelleeann17