If you’re ready to become a retinol-convert, Bianca says starting low and slow, and she recommends reading the ingredients list thoroughly.

“Firstly, start with a conservative strength such as 0.25% if you have sensitive skin or have never used retinol before. [Also], the PH balance needs to be correct and you should also look at the other ingredients within the product. Perfumes tend to break down active ingredients so if a product is heavily perfumed, it’s likely this will reduce the efficacy of its actives.”

Another thing to look out for is the type of retinoid that’s being used, because they aren’t all born equal. Retinol esters, she says are “quite different”. They are derivatives or Vitamin A and have their pro’s and cons.

All forms or vitamin A have to be broken down into their useable form in the body – retinoic acid. If it’s an ester, it’s not going to be as strong once it’s broken down. But, dermatology nurse and medical director of Glasgow’s Clinica Medica, Shirley Nicol, says this is a great option for people who have sensitive or dry skin. You’ll still get results but without the redness and flaking – it may just take a little longer.

“Retinol esters deliver Vitamin A to the skin, slowly allowing the skin to prepare for the Vitamin A without causing irritation redness or discomfort”, Shirley says.

There are five main types used in the treatment of wrinkles and/or acne:

Retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate. These are retinol esters.
Retinaldehyde. This is slightly stronger than esters like retinyl palmitate and the other esters.
Retinol. This is the strongest ingredient found in OTC retinoid products.
Tretinoin. A potent form only available on prescription
Tazarotene. Another potent form that are on available on prescription.

And that’s not all – things like the packaging can also affect a product.

Bianca explains, “As well as the percentage of retinol in a product, you also need to consider stability. Certain active ingredients will only be stable if packaged correctly”.

The gold standard is an airtight, light proof pump action container.

Bianca recommends her Skin Care 2% Retinol Serum with Vitamin E

Shirley Nicol recommends Beaute Pacifique Creme Metamorphique

If you’re only just jumping on the retinol bandwagon, don’t fear, there’s no industry-agreed ‘right time’ to introduce it into your life – it depends on the state of your skin.

Bianca Estelle says “There isn’t a set age to start using retinol as it’s highly dependent on skin concern and personal circumstances. For example. If someone has been suffering from acne since their late teens, skin-renewing ingredients like retinol will help them a lot and as such, they might need to incorporate this from around the age of 25, whereas others can start later.”

It totally depends on your skin; retinol isn’t a one-size-fits-all product. If you skin is sun damaged or showing the signs of aging early, then that might be the right time to start. But it’ve never too late. The effects of retinol can be seen even in those in their 80s, as one study found, so there will always be time for you to explore the option of adding it at a later date.

If you’ve been looking into retinol, any amount of Googling will have thrown up terms like ‘SPF’ and ‘sunlight’, but how much truth is there in the information?

Well, quite a bit. It all depends on the strength of the retinol product, but generally, it’s accepted that retinol should be applied at night time.

Bianca confirms, “Providing you are using a quality product, you should apply anything over 1% retinol at night time. Retinol is very effective for skin renewal so fresh skin may be more sensitive to the sun, which is why it’s safer to use before bed, where you won’t expose your skin to the elements. If your product is less than 1%, you may use it during the daytime but be sure to apply appropriate sun protection afterward.”

Rule number one for retinol – always use sun protection.

We recommend:

Evy technology UV Face Mousee SPF30

Tancream

If you’re the type of person who adds a serum into your routine during winter or swears by a mattifying product in summer, you’ll be well aware of the benefits of tweaking your skincare regime. Retinol, however, “is fine to use year-round, as long as you take care”, Bianca says.

As mentioned before, just make sure you wear sun protection and preferably apply it in the evening.

Most beauty gurus will tell you that solutions can be complimented or hindered by other products, but Bianca suggests always following retinol with moisturiser. She explains, “Follow an application of retinol with a quality moisturiser and of course, if you’re using it during the day, sun protection with an SPF of at least 30, ideally 50.”

The other thing you can add to ensure you’re ticking all the boxes is AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids). Bianca says, “Retinol is best teamed with AHAs because it works at a cellular level, whereas AHAs work at the very top of the skin so by doing this, you are covering all bases.”

That is, the AHAs clear the debris from the surface of the skin so the retinol can penetrate better to get to the layers below where it goes to work.

But, sometimes if the retinoids are irritating the skin Dr Unnati Desai, a GP and aesthetics practitioner in Mayfair, suggests diluting them – that is, mixing them in with your moisturiser.

She also says lay off the AHA/BHA acids like glycolic or salicylic acids if your skin is irritated. This is especially important if you’re using a prescription strength retinoid.

Her other tip is to use them every second or third day until you build up a tolerance.

Booking an appointment with a skin specialist will leave you armed with knowledge specific to your skin, which will significantly lower the risk of any issues. After all, they’re the pros for a reason.