Mostly, skin care products contain retinoids as ingredient that provide benefits to our skin. These retinoids have chemical derivatives of vitamin which are excellent anti-aging ingredients that help against acne as well as pigmentation issues.

However, the best of skin care ingredients will not work if you don’t use them correctly. Worse, it can cause you more harm than good if you use retinoids incorrectly. Retinoids are known to cause side effects like irritation and skin redness and therefore should be applied very cautiously. Here are some steps and tips that you should keep in mind if and when you start using retinoids.

Start Slow with the Application

One of the most common mistakes women make is they slather on retinoid products every night and wake up to red and irritated skin. The best way to use retinoids is to use them sparingly through the first few weeks and as your skin gets used to it, increase the application gradually. When you start using retinoids, apply them once every three days for the first couple of weeks. Then, as your skin adjusts itself to the product, you can start using them on alternate days for some weeks. After that, you can start using it on daily basis.

Use Lower Concentrations First

When you start using retinoids, don’t choose the strongest one, and use the one with a low concentration of retinoids. It will help you condition your skin and help it get used to the new product before you move on to use a stronger concentration. Using stronger concentrations of retinoids from the very start can take your skin by surprise and result in irritations and breakouts.

Use only a Small Amount

Use only a pea-sized amount of the retinoid product for your entire face. A pea-sized amount is more than enough to get you the desired results. Squeeze out a pea-sized amount onto your finger and dotting the product evenly over your face lightly. Then, smear all these dots together and spread the product into your skin.

Use Retinoids only at Night

Retinoids tend to increase skin sensitivity. Thus, the skin becomes highly vulnerable to damage by the UV rays of the sun. Apply retinoids at night only. Also, make it a point to use a good sunscreen during the day to protect your skin against any UV damage.

Wait Before you Apply

After washing your face, wait for about 20 minutes before you apply the retinoid product. Waiting for some time gives the skin enough time to recover and you can use the retinoid product safely.