Expert Notes: Melanie Grant’s Guide to How to Make Your Retinol Work for You

Retinol, or Vitamin A, is a widely researched and proven ingredient, ideal for those seeking to refine, brighten, clarify and densify their complexion. It does this by boosting cell metabolism, encouraging collagen production and repairing connective tissue. This makes it beneficial for those concerned with laxity, fine lines, coarse skin texture and dilated pores as well as those struggling with congestion or acne. 

How to incorporate retinol into your routine

Incorporating retinol into your regime can be a daunting concept, especially for those of us with finer or more sensitive skins, rosacea or for first time users. Thankfully many modern day formulas are a far cry from traditional iterations that often left the skin chapped, inflamed and reactive during the adjustment period. Considering a slow release or micro-encapsulated formula is the best place to start. This technology allows the skin to process concentrated actives without the usual side effects of sensitivity, dryness or chapping.

Retinol is always best applied in the evenings only, starting on alternate evenings and working up to nightly use as tolerated. I recommend avoiding exfoliants - both physical and chemical - on the same evening to mitigate the risk of sensitisation. In the mornings, always make sure to be extra diligent with a broad spectrum SPF as the final step in your regime every morning - retinol encourages cell proliferation, so you don't want to risk exposing healthy new skin cells to the damaging effects of UVA and UVB rays.

Auteur's Definitive Retinol pairs a high dose retinol with supportive ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalene and ceramides to support barrier function first, allowing the retinol and other actives to target multiple skin layers without the risk of reactivity.