HOW TO GUIDE: WHY RETINOL NEEDS BUFFERING and HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL
Have you experienced this? Retinol suddenly becomes too irritating to your skin to continue use? Don’t quit Retinol, learn how to buffer retinol and stop the skin irritation.
How to best buffer retinol by skin type.
What does “buffer retinol” or “skin buffering” mean?
To buffer retinol or “skin buffering” means to apply it with a moisturizer to reduce the effects of irritation.
This helps retinol penetrate slower with less irritation.
How it is applied depends on your skin type. See below “HOW TO BUFFER RETINOL: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS BY Skin Type”.
MY RETINOL OVERUSE STORY
I started retinol. In a few days, my skin is so smooth and refined.
- My dermatologist said to use it only every other day.
- The directions say spread a pea-sized amount into a thin layer all over the face. Not so sure how big a pea, so I mostly wing it.
And then I use more. And the results are so good. I assume the directions must not apply to ME.
So I use even more.
Because if a little is good, more will be better, right?
You know where this is going.
So I dab on a bit extra. I think with a bit more retinol, soon I won’t even need to wear any foundation! And I’m convinced I’ll have to explain suddenly looking so young. So fresh! So dewy!
And then my skin feels tight. And then… OUCH!
The irritation, tightness, redness, and peeling. What happened?
The Risk of Retinol Over Use
I accidentally gave myself an at-home chemical peel burn from too much Retinol.
Nothing helps. I had to take a couple weeks off of retinol for my face to repair. Boo.
Yet, somehow, I never learn. So I repeated this pattern whenever I start a prescription retinol. Sometimes I just give up and months go by.
But Retinol is the holy grail of skincare.
Many who try retinol have fallen into the trap of thinking that we’re special. So the directions do not apply to us. And the pea-sized amount in the directions is vague. We apply too much.
You know what? You ARE special.
But not about Retinol. Everybody is the same to Retinol.
WHY RETINOL IRRITATION HAPPENS
Retinol is a powerful cell-turnover agent that demands your respect for how it works.
But if skin cell-generation occurs too rapidly, young, fresh skin is revealed. This is why you look so ridiculously young. It is for all intents and purposes, baby skin.
But it’s also as sensitive as baby skin. And it’s not ready for more retinol.
This is why your lovely skin suddenly becomes irritated and burns when more retinol is applied.
Why Is my Skin irritated? I followed the Retinol Directions!
And don’t feel so superior just yet you rule-followers who followed the directions as prescribed. You aren’t immune to retinol irritation.
The prescribed pea-sized dosage packs a peely-faced, red, itchy wallop too.
Why Does Retinol Irritation Happens After a Few Weeks?
Skin builds a small retinol tolerance in about a month.
At that time, skin cell-turnover happens at a slower rate.
The same dosage of product suddenly causes surface irritation.
Thin-skinned areas have problems first. But these are also the areas that wrinkle and show signs of aging. So it’s tempting to over-treat these areas with too much retinol.
So how does one get all the retinol goodness without the irritation and burning? BUFFERING.
LAW OF THE BEAUTY UNIVERSE: YOU MUST BUFFER RETINOL
Retinol must be buffered or else you will have to take constant breaks due to irritation.
Some products come pre-buffered so you don’t experience the skin irritation stage. One pre-buffered retinol product is Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.
Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains all natural moisturizers to buffer its’ 2.5% Retinol
TOP TIPS HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL
1. ALWAYS APPLY MOISTURIZER AND PLENTY OF IT
Some prescription retinol such as Renova or Atralin have an emollient base.
These act as a buffer on very powerful retinol. But you may still need a second moisturizer.
Prescription retinol can be deceptive: it looks emollient but still requires lots of moisturizers to tolerate its’ powerful effects
HOW TO BUFFER RETINOL: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS BY Skin Type
How to Buffer Retinol for Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin retinol buffering: If your skin is already irritated or very sensitive, apply moisturizer first, then retinol. Maybe even moisture in top.
How to Buffer Retinol for Normal Skin
Normal skin retinol buffering: mix your retinol directly into your moisturizer and apply it together.
- You may choose a dime or quarter sized amount of moisturizer, and the pea sized amount of retinol.
- Also, this technique requires mixing the moisturizer and retinol together well. Otherwise, results will be uneven.
How to Buffer Retinol When Irritation Happens after a few Weeks Use
Are you suddenly itchy and peeling after a few weeks retinol use? Don’t quit!
If you’ve been on retinol for more than one month, apply retinol first, then moisturizer on top.
Decrease use to ever other day if you must to let skin adjust.
FAQ: WHAT MOISTURIZER SHOULD I USE TO BUFFER RETINOL?
Your moisturizer may be unknowingly contributing to your irritation. What moisturizer should you use to buffer retinol?
I prefer as natural and simple as possible because there’s already plenty going on with just the retinol. Some good moisturizers to buffer retinol are:
- Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a good one. It has Ceramides.
- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisture Lotion
- Epionce Barrier Cream
Does your moisturizer contain brighteners, Vitamin C or exfoliating ingredients? Stick with gentle ingredients such as:
- Aloe Vera
- Shea Butter
- Jojoba
- Sunflower Oil
These are all very soothing and nourishing to the skin.
Although due to the consistency of these natural moisturizing agents, you can look a sticky and oily mess after a direct application and makeup application is out of the question.
Retinol with Built-In Buffering Ingredients
A product that has saved me a lot of grief in the tricky retinol and moisturizer buffering department is Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.
It contains:
- a prescription level 2.5% Pure Retinol
- 20% Vitamin C
- it has a host of hydrating natural moisturizers all in one product, so it is gentle enough to use twice a day without every getting irritated.
Highly moisturizing Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains soothing and hydrating natural moisturizers to buffer the retinol
Even if I over-apply, I haven’t gotten irritated even ONCE in months of use. This means I never miss a dose or have to take time off from Retinol.
If you don’t want to worry about combining retinol and moisturizer or just don’t want the hassle of multiple products, Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer is a no-fail, highly effective and emollient one-stop shop that contains all the hydrating nourishing buffering moisturizers including:
- Aloe Vera
- Shea Butter
- Jojoba
- Sunflower Oil
- Vitamin E
- soothing Green Tea
- Hyaluronic Acid
Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains all-natural retinol-buffering moisturizers built right in like Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba and Vitamin E
2. RE-EVALUATE OTHER SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Retinol makes skin sensitive.
Do you also use powerful actives that could irritate your sensitive skin?
Some examples are:
- Vitamin C Serum
- AHA like glycolic acid
- benzoyl peroxide
- skin lighteners
- peels
- scrubs with grains
- Niacinamide
Even harsh washcloths and sponges or sonic facial brushes are all potentially too harsh now for your retinol-treated skin.
Remember, Retinol is already doing all the peeling and exfoliating for you, you just have to keep your skin clean and moisturized, nothing more.
Vitamin C Serum during the day and Retinol at night is touted as the standard for skin renewal. This is true, but this requires even more intensive buffering.
Master retinol use first before adding in Vitamin C Serum.
Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer has so many soothing and hydrating moisturizers that it can buffer BOTH its’ prescription strength Retinol and its’ 20% Vitamin C Serum when applied TWICE a day with ZERO irritation
3. SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE
It is exciting to see Retinol’s rapid skin renewal.
But less is more with retinol. Because if you have to take two weeks off to heal from overuse, you lost more than you gained in zealous overuse.
- Even if you buffer, don’t use retinol more than once a day.
- The exception to this would be a buffered retinol product, such as Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer, that can be used twice a day due to it’s pre-buffered highly moisturizing ingredients.
- When it doubt, apply as little Retinol as you can. Also apply more moisturizer than you think you may need.
Retinol requires powerful moisturizers to buffer its’ irritating effects. Before finding the all-in-one Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer, I often had to use expensive moisturizers like Creme de La Mer Concentrate to counteract the dryness that retinol causes. Lordsbury gives a better result, is faster and far more cost effective
Summary of WHY RETINOL NEEDS BUFFERING | HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL
Don’t give up retinol due to irritation!
Retinol is a powerful resource for removing:
- wrinkles
- brown spots
- acne scars
- discoloration
- and refining overall skin tone.
It is exciting to see changes in your skin!
But buffering retinol is MANDATORY to be able to use it consistently without irritation.
While buffering your prescription retinol with moisturizers or hydrating serums can make a world of difference in tolerating your retinol program, an easy no-hassle alternative is Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.
- It contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, which is the lowest level on the prescription dosage scale, but Lordsbury can be used twice a day.
- it contains 20% Vitamin C and it comes pre-buffered with skin moisturizing, hydrating, youthifying nourishing ingredients that take the guessing work out of buffering your retinol. This way, you never miss a dose or have irritated skin.
Find Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3PSEQX/
Lordsbury Retinol+C has 2.5% Pure Retinol plus several moisturizers all in one bottle for one step skin care
Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort to create this post. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.
