Alright, so you wanna know about my retinol journey? Buckle up, it’s been a ride!
I started using retinol because, well, I saw those fine lines creeping in. You know, the ones that make you look like you’ve spent the last decade squinting at a spreadsheet? Yeah, those. And my skin? It was looking dull, kinda like a faded photograph.
So, I did my research. I read all the articles, watched all the YouTube videos, and felt completely overwhelmed. There’s so much info out there! But the general consensus was: retinol works, but it takes time. Like, serious time.
I decided to start slow. Super slow. I grabbed a low-percentage retinol serum from the drugstore – something like 0.01% or 0.03%. I figured, better safe than sorry, right? Didn’t want to peel my face off in the first week.
The first two weeks? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. My skin looked exactly the same. I was applying it at night, after cleansing and before moisturizing, like everyone said to. I was using the “pea-sized amount” they all preach about. I was starting to think it was a scam.
Then, week three hit. And bam! Redness. Dryness. Flaking. Oh, the flaking! My forehead looked like a tiny snowstorm. My chin? A desert landscape. I was NOT happy.
I almost gave up. I really did. But I remembered all those articles saying “push through the purge!” So I scaled back. I went from using it every other night to every third night. And I slathered on moisturizer. Like, a ridiculous amount of moisturizer. Think snail slime, hyaluronic acid, all the good stuff.
Week four to eight? It was a rollercoaster. Some days my skin looked okay, other days it was a flaky, red mess. I kept moisturizing, kept using it sparingly, and tried to stay out of direct sunlight. Sunscreen became my new best friend.
Around week eight, I started to see a glimmer of hope. The redness was calming down. The flaking was less intense. And…dare I say it… my skin actually looked a little smoother. My pores seemed a bit smaller too.
I kept going. I gradually increased the frequency of use, going back to every other night, then eventually every night (with plenty of moisturizer, of course!).
It took about three months – maybe even four – before I really started to see a noticeable difference. My fine lines weren’t gone completely (let’s be realistic, nothing short of a time machine will do that!), but they were definitely less pronounced. My skin tone was more even. And that dullness? Gone! I actually looked like I was getting some sleep, even when I wasn’t.
So, how long does it take for retinol to work? In my experience, be prepared to wait. And be prepared for the “purge.” It’s not pretty, but if you stick with it, you might just be pleasantly surprised.
Here’s what I learned:
- Start slow. Like, ridiculously slow.
- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
- Sunscreen is your BFF.
- Be patient. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Is it worth it? For me, yes. Absolutely. My skin looks better now than it has in years. But it takes commitment. And a whole lot of patience.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go slather on some more moisturizer. My skin is feeling a little dry just thinking about all that flaking!
