I bought a Retinol Serum from The Ordinary two weeks ago and I'm using it 2-3 times a week in the evenings. But my skin has gotten really red and flaky, especially around my eyes. Is that normal or am I doing something wrong? Should I use it daily or less often?
Unfortunately, that's totally normal at the beginning, but you're actually doing something wrong - you need way less, not more. Retinol is pretty intense and your skin needs time to get used to it. The flakiness and redness are classic initial reactions, but if it's still that bad after two weeks, you should dial back the frequency for now. 2 - 3 times a week is already quite a lot to start with - a lot of people begin with once a week and then gradually increase. Next time I'd try it with a super tiny amount (like a lentil) and definitely don't use it daily, that's way too harsh.
Also: retinol around the eyes is especially irritating because the skin there is thinnest. Either skip the eye area completely or apply the serum with plenty of distance from the eye zone. After that you need a good moisturizer - that's really important, otherwise the irritation gets worse. And please use sunscreen during the day, because retinol makes your skin more sun-sensitive.
If the redness and flakiness don't improve even when you use it less often, I'd take a break for a couple of weeks and then start over again with an even lower concentration. Some people just don't tolerate The Ordinary that well, so maybe something else would work better for you.
your skin is really reacting badly, but not just because you're using it too often. The Ordinary has tons of different retinol concentrations, and if you start with a higher one, it can get brutal. Red and flaky around your eyes is a huge sign that you've overwhelmed your skin barrier. You need to calm that down now - meaning: take a break for a few days and just use a light moisturizer, nothing extra.
once your skin has recovered, start way weaker. not 2-3 times a week, but more like once, and apply it super thin. you should also avoid your eyes generously, because the skin there is way thinner and more sensitive. lots of people underestimate how much retinol attacks your skin barrier - beginners really should ramp up slowly, not the other way around. plus: always follow it with a moisturizer, otherwise you'll dry out completely.
my advice: check what concentration you're using and compare it to beginner levels. if you're really new to this, start with the low doses and increase over weeks, not days. your skin will react better later instead of rebelling already. daily is definitely not right - it takes time.
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