
Rach's Derm Shares How to Use Retinol for Anti-Aging + Fave Prod…

My Teenager Seems So… Distant. When Should I Worry?

Youth Development Expert Answers Most-Asked Parenting Questions

How to DIY a Wine Rack Using Common Hardware Store Items

11-Year-Old Cook Teaches You How to Make Her Easy Meatballs in T…

How to Make Key Lime Pie Cookie Cups

How to Make Brie Bites | Easy Appetizer | David Burtka

How Do I Teach My Kids to Eat Healthier? They Only Want Junk Foo…

Doctor Weighs In on Screen Time + Offers an Alternative That's B…

How to Make Figs with Goat Cheese + Pink Peppercorn Honey | Easy…

How to Make Spicy, Sweet & Sour Egg Rolls and Hoisin-Peanut Dipp…

Rach's Chicken and Shrimp Penne + Dr. Will Li Shares The Latest …

How to Make Goan Chicken Chili Fry

Inspiring Sisters Help Ukrainian Refugees Find Affordable NYC Ho…

How to Make Vegetarian Black Bean Chile Rellenos | Rachael Ray

How to Make Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Sal…

How to Make a Loaded Sheet Pan Quesadilla | Gail Simmons

How to Make Mediterranean Sheet Pan Nachos | Gail Simmons

Easy DIY Ideas For a Colorful & Festive Party: Candy Cake, Artsy…

How to Make Pork or Chicken with Green Onions and Green Rice | M…
Each product has been independently selected by our editorial team. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.
We haven't yet figured out the key to stop aging (sadly!). So in the meantime, some people like to combat signs of aging by incorporating anti-aging skincare. We heard from a viewer who wanted to know more about retinol—which is known to help with anti-aging—and how to best incorporate it into your skincare routine.
We turned to Rachael's dermatologist Dr. Anne Chapas—she not only explains everything you need to know about retinol, but also how to seamlessly begin incorporating it into your routine safely and effectively.
"Retinol is actually a vitamin that was discovered in the 1970s, and it's a healthy vitamin for our skin that really helps it grow properly, so that our pores stay open, we have a more even skin tone, we have less darkness in our skin, and fewer fine lines and wrinkles. So, retinol is really a staple of skincare," says Dr. Chapas.
But, before starting retinol right away (like you would with a moisturizer or sunscreen), Dr. Chapas explains that starting with it gradually is the key.
"I advise my patients to really ease into using retinol, because if they put it all over their face every night, they're going to have redness, stinging, irritation, and they're going to hate it. And they're going to stop using it," Dr. Chapas explains.
Instead, start slow. Dr. Chapas recommends starting by putting it on only once a week at nighttime for the first week. "Right after you wash your face, you can put on a pea-sized amount and that's what I advise patients to do," she says.
"Then, if you tolerate it one night a week, then the next week you can start using it two nights a week. And if you tolerate it two nights a week, the next week you can go to three nights a week—and continue on until you find that happy balance with your skin," Dr. Chapas says.
DR. CHAPAS' RECOMMENDED RETINOL PRODUCTS
For a milder retinol: Cream-Based Retinol By Roc
For a slightly more intense retinol: Retinol Pro Plus By Neutrogena
If you have sensitive skin, it's a really good idea to buffer the retinol with another product your skin is already used to—like a moisturizer. You can mix the retinol with a moisturizer and then apply it to the full face that way.
You can also layer retinol by first applying hyaluronic acid serum, then the retinol, and finally the moisturizer. Dr. Chapas calls that a retinol sandwich!
Before starting any new products, though, it's very important to talk to your dermatologist to determine if it's right for you and how you should use it.