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Pesky dark spots?Retinol again.
Iryna Veklich/Getty Images
Wrinkles and fine lines?
Yep, retinol canfade and preventthose too.
Before we tell you how to avoid those unpleasant side effects, lets briefly get into how retinol works.
Thats why so many topical retinol products can causedrynessandirritation, Dr. Penzi says.
Fortunately, you dont have to choose between retinols impressive benefits and a happy, hydrated face.
Keep the rest of your routine as simple as possible.
So it only makes sense to avoid making things worse with other harsh, moisture-stripping ingredients.
Go for a retinol-infused moisturizer instead of a serum.
If youre very new to retinol, I would pick amoisturizer-based product, Dr. Shokeen says.
Another way to prevent a scaly, flaky reaction: Look for lower concentrations.
Try the sandwich method.
Already have a highly concentrated serum in your medicine cabinet?
Dont worry, youre not doomed.
Try the 1-2-3 rule.
Of course, you’re able to adjust this rule to your specific needs.
Skip certain parts of your face that are extra sensitive.
That said, you might want to skip certain parts that are particularly prone to dryness.
Recognize when youre overdoing itand stop.
(Thats kind of what happens when you force your outer layer of skin to slough off.)
And keep it simple withgentle moisturizersand serums.
