What Retinol Percentage Should I Use?

We recommend using retinol to improve your skin as early as 25 years old. But, how much retinol should you use? There’s no definitive answer as the proper amount and concentration can depend on your skin type, the other ingredients in your products, and even the strength of the retinol you have. Let’s learn how to find the right amount of retinol for your skin in order to get the best results.

5 Retinol Benefits for Your Skin

As a derivative of Vitamin A, retinol has antioxidant properties that is widely used in skincare to help improve the overall health and appearance of the skin [1]. A full list of benefits include:

• Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Lightening dark spots and acne scars
• Boosting collagen production
• Evening overall skin tone
• Unclogging pores to prevent buildup

How to Choose the Right Retinol Concentration

With so many benefits, it's no surprise that retinol is a staple ingredient for acne and anti-aging treatments. But where do you start? What determines how much retinol to use? This depends on a few factors, such as your skin type and concerns, your skin’s sensitivity, and how much retinol it can tolerate. 

Choosing the right retinol concentration is an important factor when it comes to your skincare routine. Retinol concentrations in skincare can range from 0.01% to 1%. Anything beyond 1% usually requires a dermatologist's prescription. 

Generally speaking, it’s best to start with a lower concentration of retinol to help build your skin’s tolerance to it. It’s recommended to start with a concentration of around 0.03% to 0.05% at the beginning [2]. Then, you can slowly increase the concentration of retinol and find the right concentration for your skin. We recommend using it two to three times a week to build your way up to daily usage [3]. You can still get improved results by using retinol a few times a week with consistent use. 

Since retinoids and retinol help to regulate skin cell turnover our skin can become more sensitive to the sun. For this reason, it’s essential to always follow up with sunscreen in the morning and stick to using retinol during the night. Using a daily moisturizer with SPF can keep your skin hydrated and protected from harmful UV rays that can impact the skin and negatively interact with active ingredients from your skincare products.

How to Use Retinol Safely 

Once you determine the right concentration of retinol that’s suitable for your skin, you can begin incorporating it into your skincare. Using too much retinol at first can cause sensitive skin or dry skin. PROVEN’s 3-step skincare set is powered by AI technology to make a custom formula that’s expertly adjusted to your current skin needs. If you stick with our skincare regimen, then your skincare ingredients and concentration amounts will change to provide the best results for glowing skin.

When you’re first starting to use retinol, apply it no more than two or three times a week. Start with your gentle facial cleanser to reset the skin and wait at least 10 minutes or until the skin is dry to apply your retinol product. A little goes a long way, so a pea-sized amount is all you’ll need for your entire face and neck. Wait a few more minutes for the product to penetrate the skin, and follow up with your moisturizer or night cream. This is an important step since retinol can dry out the skin since it’s an exfoliator [5]. 

Again, once your skin has built a tolerance to retinol, you can gradually increase to everyday wear. As always, follow up with your sunscreen during the day, as your skin is more sensitive to the sun and its UV rays when using a retinoid.

Let PROVEN Skincare Introduce Retinol to Your Skin

When it comes to skincare, retinol is one of the best ingredients used for acne. Known for its plethora of benefits, it’s also great for anti-aging concerns to boost collagen production and reduce fine lines. A significant factor in its effectiveness is finding the right retinol product and concentration amount for your skin.

At PROVEN, our patented Skin Genome Project™ is crafted by Stanford scientists to help you create a tailored skincare plan that helps provide maximum results for your unique skin. We know every skin is different, so we develop personalized skincare solutions through our skincare formulations so your skin doesn’t get overwhelmed. Ready to transform your skin? Try it out today!

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