As far as major skin care questions go, whether you should apply retinol products before or after moisturizer is right up there at the top of the list. While we’ve seen arguments on both sides of the coin, we tend to believe that the answer isn’t so simple.
Retinol has numerous well-researched and reported benefits, but in order to reap them, you have to use it correctly 一 and that could depend on several factors. To understand when in your skin care routine to use retinol, and to make sure your attempts to use retinol don’t go awry, keep reading.
Is It Best to Apply Retinol Before or After Moisturizer?
There is no hard and fast rule about using retinol or moisturizer first. The order you should apply it in depends on the actual product you’re using. Retinol can be included in all sorts of different formulas, such as retinol creams and retinol serums, and how you apply them will vary.
The general rule of thumb is to apply a retinol product the same way you would any other skin care product — from the thinnest consistency to the thickest. While we can’t give you a foolproof answer as to whether you should always apply retinol before or after moisturizer, what we can do is break down when to apply retinol, based on the type of product it is.
When to Apply a Cleanser with Retinol
Cleansing is the first step of any skin care routine, and that holds true if you have a cleanser formulated with retinol. Wet your face and hands, then massage the cleanser over your skin. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Via: Lorealparisusa.com