Hello!
I'm Anais and I have oily skin, when I was a teenager I used to have acne.
I'm trying to introduce Retinal to my routine, but I can't increase the use more than 2 days per week because my skin stars to create small pimples all over my cheeks ( never disappaears) and I think it's irritation. I've been like this for 4 months... maybe my routine is wrong? Any advice? Thank you!
Thank you very much for the advice! Would be possible an alternative to cerave- retinol? it contains niacinamide and it always makes me break out...
This could work: https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/boots-ingredients-retinol-serum. It has a very low concentration of retinol (somewhere between 0.1 and 0.2%) plus retinyl palmitate (shouldn't cause trouble unless your skin doesn't agree with retinoids at all). it's a very basic product, but it's a good one to test your tolerance (it's pretty affordable and doesn't contain frequent irritants apart from retinoids).
This is a better formulation: https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/first-aid-beauty-skin-lab-retinol-serum-25-pure-concentrate, but it's too pricey probably for just testing out.
Hello Anais, welcome to WIMJ!
Yes, it does sound like an irritation, and sounds like retinal isn't the right active for you (the rest of your routine is pretty gentle and since you get the irritation after retinal only, it is most likely the reaction to retinal).
Some people cannot tolerate retinoids at all, but some react badly to some forms but not to others.
I'd stop the retinal product fully, and try a different type of retinoid - super carefully, watching your skin reaction closely. It would make sense to buy an affordable product so you are not wasting too much money if that retinoid format is also not working for you.
I'd start with retinol, for example, this product: https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/cerave-retinol-face-serum-for-post-acne-marks, once per week - to check if you are reacting to it