I've been using retinol for like 3 months now and my skin gets really irritated, it itches and peels a lot. I'm using one I bought at Farmacia del Dr. Ahorro but I think it's too strong. Which one would you recommend that's gentler to start with?
Are you using any moisturizer after the retinol or are you applying it directly to your skin? What's happening to you is totally normal when you're starting out, but you probably need to lower the concentration - look for retinol at 0.25% or retinaldehyde (which is gentler than pure retinol), and make sure to hydrate your skin well afterward, space out applications to two or three times a week if it's still irritating you, and consider using a serum or hydrating cream before applying the retinol to create a barrier.
When I started using retinol I made the mistake of not going slow and steady, and I ended up with my skin totally wrecked! What you're missing is a good moisturizer BEFORE applying the retinol, that's the key thing - if you put it straight on dry skin it's gonna get way more irritated. Look for retinol in concentrations like 0.25% or even less if your skin is really sensitive, and apply it two or three times a week, not every day like some people say. There are also milder alternatives like pharmacy retinoids (adapalene) but those need a prescription, or if you prefer something over-the-counter try bakuchiol - it's not retinol but it works similar and it's way less harsh!
Pure retinol without stabilizers is pretty aggressive, especially if you're just starting out, so switching products is the right call. What I'm seeing in the other comments is that people are mixing two things up: yeah, you do need a moisturizer, but the order matters way more than they think. If you apply moisturizer first and then retinol on top, the retinol doesn't penetrate well and you lose effectiveness; what actually works better is applying retinol on clean, dry skin, waiting 15-20 minutes, and then doing your moisturizing. For sensitive skin I'd recommend looking into retinaldehyde (it's less irritating than pure retinol), encapsulated retinol, or just going straight for bakuchiol, which is retinol-like but gentler. With any of those options, use low concentrations (0.25-0.3%) and start two or three times a week, which is way less aggressive than what you're probably doing right now.
What's happening to you makes sense after 3 months if you started with a high concentration without getting your skin used to it first. Besides switching to a gentler retinol (something like 0.25% or retinaldehyde if you can find it), pay attention to the frequency: start using it 1-2 times a week instead of daily, and let your skin barrier strengthen in the meantime. Then you can gradually increase it without ending up with your face all peeled.
Look, after 3 months of constant irritation you probably need to do a reset - drop the retinol for a week or two while you properly hydrate your skin, then start with something way gentler like 0.25% retinol or retinaldehyde, which is less harsh but still works. The key is to go slow, apply it only 2 or 3 times a week at first and always follow up with a good moisturizer, because the irritation you're describing is a sign that your barrier is compromised 🙃
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