Can You Wear Retinol During the Day?

Renee Rouleau's advanced resurfacing serum

Updated 03/14/22. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you already know that I’m 100% team retinol. When it comes to slowing down the visible signs of aging, retinol is unparalleled. What makes it such a unique ingredient is the fact that it has been studied meticulously for decades, and its dramatic anti-aging effects have been scientifically proven time and time again. Brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles, rough texture, and enlarged pores (yes, your pores get bigger as you age) can all be improved by incorporating a retinol into your routine. No other ingredient out there can make all these claims, so you can see why I’m a believer.

Even though retinol is now widely accepted as a staple skincare ingredient, I still see a lot of confusion about how to use it properly. This is key because using retinol incorrectly means your skin might not be getting all the benefits. And worse, it can put you at greater risk of experiencing some of the unwanted side effects associated with retinol (think dryness, redness, peeling, and stinging—no fun). There’s one question, in particular, that seems to generate a lot of confusion: “Can I wear retinol during the day?” In this post, I will give you my answer to this question, once and for all!

Should You Use Retinol During the Day?

My official answer is no, you should not use retinol during the day.

This is because retinol is a reparative ingredient, so it’s best to use it at night when your skin’s natural reparative processes are at their peak. This will allow you to reap all the benefits retinol has to offer.

When deciding which skincare ingredients to use in the morning vs. evening, the best strategy is to work with your skin’s natural circadian rhythm. During the day, when your skin is in defense mode, use protective ingredients like sunscreen, antioxidants, and vitamin C. At night, when your skin is renewing itself, use reparative ingredients like retinol or exfoliating acids. Another benefit of using active ingredients like retinol at night is that your skin barrier is more permeable. This allows products to penetrate deeper and work better than they would during the day.

What About Sun Sensitivity?

You’ve probably heard that using retinol during the day is a huge no-no because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. This photosensitivity is actually a cumulative effect that occurs due to the fact that retinol increases cell turnover. This means that fresh, new skin cells are constantly being brought to the surface. These cells are more vulnerable to sun damage than dry, dead skin cells. This is why it’s so important to wear sunscreen every day when you’re using a retinol product—even if you’re only using that retinol product at night.

As I said before, it’s best to work in harmony with your body’s natural cycles. Using retinol in your evening routine is a good way to do this.

Next, learn the best age to start using retinol in your skincare routine.

Disclaimer: Content found on www.ReneeRouleau.com and Blog.ReneeRouleau.com, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website or blog.

Comments:

Post a comment
  1. If it is better to use retinol at night, why does your sunscreen contains retinyl palmitate?

    Posted By: Christine  | 

    Reply
    • This minimal amount of vitamin A acts as an antioxidant preservative. This is not formulated to be regenerating.

      Posted By: Ella Stevenson  | 

      Reply
  2. Bunch of informative content I have ever seen, thanks for sharing it

    Posted By: Joveen  | 

    Reply
  3. I really love your articles, you have helped me to understand what is going on with my skin and how to tackle most of my issues. I really wish I could put my appreciation into more words. My skin is the best it has ever been. Nowadays even when I have breakout or dryness or stinging, I immediately know why and deal with it. So thank you for this Blog.

    Posted By: Motunrayo  | 

    Reply
    • Thank you so much for your kind words! Really happy my posts have been helping you 🙂

      Posted By: Renée Rouleau  | 

      Reply
  4. I love Renee’s articles and learn a lot from them! I’m curious what her take is on the newer phyto retinols – are they really the same and/or better for more sensitive skin? I have skin that is irritated easily by harsh products (including retinol) so I’ve been trying one and seem to tolerate it well, but I’m curious if I’m wasting my time by not using actual “real” retinol. Thanks!

    Posted By: Erin  | 

    Reply
    • Hi! So glad to hear it’s been working for you. If you can’t use retinol, there is no harm in trying this alternative. But know that there aren’t enough studies yet to prove that phyto retinols are as effective as retinol. Good luck!

      Posted By: Renée Rouleau  | 

      Reply

Post a Comment:

Find your
skin type

Great skin starts with knowing your skin type.

Take the quiz