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.
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 🙃
Try retinol in low concentrations like 0.25% or retinaldehyde, but the important thing nobody mentions is that if your skin is already irritated after 3 months, you need to stop for a week or two before switching, because keeping something strong on sensitized skin just makes things worse. Once it calms down, start with minimal doses (twice a week) and increase gradually, not daily from day one.
One thing nobody mentions here is that after 3 months you should already be adapted, so the product you bought is probably really strong or has a concentration that's not suitable for sensitive skin.
Look for retinol at 0.25% or retinaldehyde as a starting point, and here's the important part: start using it only 1 or 2 times a week, not every day like you're probably doing.
Most people skip this step and that's what causes all the peeling and itching. Also, make sure you hydrate well afterward but wait a few minutes for the retinol to absorb first, don't mix it in the same application.
What you need is to start fresh but with a much gentler product. Pure retinol at high concentrations is pretty harsh on sensitive skin, so I totally get why your skin is like this. My recommendation is to switch to retinaldehyde or very diluted retinol (like 0.25% or less), which are "cushioned" versions of retinol that work just as well but without attacking your skin barrier so much. There's also retinol ester if you can find it, which is a bit gentler still.
The important thing right now is to stop the irritation. For a couple of weeks, use the retinol only once or twice a week, and apply it to completely dry skin (wait a few minutes after washing). Then apply a heavy moisturizer on top, something with ceramides or hyaluronic acid. Don't mix the retinol with anything else in that application. Some people use the "sandwich" technique (moisturizer, retinol, moisturizer again) if the irritation is really bad, and honestly it works pretty well for getting your skin used to it without ditching the product.
What you can't do is go back to strong retinol thinking that once you're used to it things will be fine, because with sensitive skin that usually doesn't happen, it just gets worse. Build up frequency and concentration really slowly, even slower than what the instructions recommend. And be careful mixing retinol with acids or vitamin C at the same time, because that cranks up the irritation. Patience - this is a marathon, not a sprint.
I went through the same thing years ago, and the thing is, a lot of people don't realize that after applying retinol you need to wait for your skin to be completely dry - if you put it on damp skin, the concentration becomes way stronger and that's when you get real irritation. Besides dropping down to something with 0.25% or retinaldehyde, try retinization (start with once or twice a week, not every day) and make sure you're using a good moisturizer in between that doesn't have acids or strong actives. The hard part is having patience because your skin needs time to adjust, but in a month or two your tolerance goes up so much.
I have a cat with sensitive skin, and when I use something too strong on her it irritates it, so I understand what you're going through. The problem is probably not just the concentration but also the frequency: if you're using retinol every day and your skin wasn't ready for it, that burns. Try cutting back to 2-3 times a week first, and look for a stabilized retinol like retinaldehyde or a gentle retinoid (people usually recommend brands like The Ordinary or CeraVe, though there are local options too). The important thing is that between applications you take a real break so your barrier can recover, and use a good moisturizer on top without waiting for the retinol to dry.
Are you using the same product every day or alternating it with other treatments? The irritation you're describing after 3 months sounds like the concentration is too high for your sensitive skin, so switching brands isn't a bad idea. I tested a strong retinol at home with my partner and after a month he got horrible flaking - when we switched to 0.25% retinol or retinaldehyde things improved quite a bit. Besides concentration, the key is using a good moisturizer first (damp skin absorbs better and gets irritated less) and then the retinol, and if you can, start using it twice a week instead of daily until your skin adjusts again.
When I started using retinol at home I noticed the same thing you did - my skin would burn and flake - and it turned out I needed to wait more days between applications, not so much lower the concentration. Try applying every 3 or 4 days instead of daily, and make sure to use a good moisturizer first (as mentioned above, that's essential); a lot of times the irritation is from frequency, not the product itself.
Try alternating days: use retinol every other day instead of daily, which honestly works better a lot of the time than just switching products. Besides lowering the concentration like others mention, something practical is applying the retinol to completely dry skin (wait 20 minutes after washing) and then use a really occlusive cream on top, like vaseline or a thick balm, that creates a barrier and cuts down the harsh irritation. If it's still itching a lot after two weeks doing it this way, then go ahead and look for a 0.25% retinol or even encapsulated retinol which is gentler on sensitive skin.
I don't think it's so much about switching brands as understanding what's going on: after 3 months of strong irritation, it's not just that your concentration is too high - you're probably applying it every day or not giving your skin barrier time to recover between applications. Drop down to 2-3 times a week with what you already have, and in the meantime use a decent moisturizer right after (wait for the retinol to dry a bit first). If it's still the same in two weeks, then yeah, look for something gentler like 0.25% retinol or a retinaldehyde, which are less irritating to begin with.
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