Just like all beauty related products, our age, skin type and issues do come into play so different people will have different results even though using the same product.
If you read about how to incorporate retinol into your routine, you will notice a lot of conflicting methods; use/don’t use it with AHA/BHA, use/don’t use with Vitamin C, use/don’t use during day time and the list goes on and on but one thing is for certain, always use high SPF when using retinol.
Personally I have no problems using acid exfoliator before retinol because they work on different levels. Acid exfoliators work on skin surface while retinol works on a deeper level. What’s most important is to listen to your skin. Some people have higher tolerance than others.
Currently I rotate in between 3 retinol products and I reach for them depending on my mood and how my skin feels.

I love this serum and am actually paranoid that each pump will be my last pump. I hate that there is no way for me to tell how much product is left but I love how amazing it makes my skin look and feel. You can read my full review on it here.
I am in two minds about featuring this product no thanks to all the drama surrounding the founder’s non-conventional ways in running his business and the way he has been acting on Instagram. That said, my best friend passed this bottle to me because he suspected that it’s the cause of his breakouts and he hoped I would have better luck with it.
Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane replaced my favourite Advanced Retinoid and the difference is the formula is now based in Squalane, a stabilized oil. If you are curious about what the hell is Granactive Retinoid then this article explains it in layman’s terms so everyone can understand it. This lightweight oil is scentless or at least I didn’t detect any scent and it absorbs quickly without leaving any residue on the skin.
The good? It doesn’t cause me to breakout and the Squalane really hydrates my skin. The downside? Well, to be fair it’s not really a downside but I don’t see any results with it. It does nothing for my skin or at least none that I noticed. It’s suggested that this is gentle enough to be used around the eye areas so I might warm up a drop in between my fingers and tap it on the high points of my cheeks and around my eyes where the fine lines are creeping like crazy.
Bottom line? Retinol is our skin’s best friend and it’s one of the best ingredients that I have discovered through blogging.
Do you use retinol in your routine? What are your favourite retinol products?
*Products marked with * were received for free but my thoughts and opinions are 100% unbiased, honest and my own. There is no place for any sort of BS here.