Why I Started Using Retinol Again

Thank you, Olay, for sponsoring this post!

When I was in my 20’s, I was sitting in the chair at my dermatologist’s office for a routine skin check and started asking some questions about anti-aging products. I still remember the conversation today: my dermatologist told me that retinol was the only ingredient with tons of science backing its efficacy for anti-aging benefits and she even told me she can tell when a woman in her 60’s has been using retinol for decades versus one that has not. I was SOLD! The doctor gave me a prescription for retinol and I was excited to start using it.

I finally had to throw the expired tube away years later – it was more than half full (and it was SO expensive too – I felt awful!) I knew to expect some redness and peeling, but it was more than I felt my skin could handle so I stopped using it. I have quite reactive skin and it was hard to wear makeup with all the cakiness and peeling. I knew there was an adjustment period, but I couldn’t deal with my skin looking the way it did, so I gave up.

Then I was pregnant and breastfeeding for several years, so retinol was a no-no during that time. I had thought about starting to use it again when I knew we were done having children, but I had been happy with my skincare routine and was primarily using acids on my skin.

But my dermatologist’s words still loomed over me all these years later – that retinol was truly the most effective and clinically proven ingredient. I have a co-worker in her 50’s with the most amazing skin and I’ve asked her what she uses and she swears by retinol. In fact, most people with amazing skin after age 40 all tell me the same thing: consistent retinol use.

I’ve worked with Olay for several years now and their newest product line, Retinol24 has intrigued me more than any others because I knew I wanted/needed to start using retinol again, but kept delaying it because I didn’t want to go through the peeling, redness and irritation again.

Olay Regenerist Retinol24 has three products – a night cream, night serum and eye cream. I decided to use the Retinol24 night cream because I liked that it was packed with moisturizers to help soothe skin while the retinol worked its magic. I exclusively used this cream for the last 4 weeks – meaning it was the ONLY skin care product I used at night, every night. I felt it was the only way for me to give an in-depth review of the product.

When reading about Retinol24, here’s what I learned:

• Designed for visible improvements in fine lines & wrinkles, smoothness, brightness, firming, dark spots, and pores.
• Formulated with B3 plus Olay’s most transformative Retinoid Complex, including two types of retinol.
• Optimized for potency and skin penetration, while simultaneously providing an indulgent 24 hours of hydration and virtually no irritation. 

The first week I used Olay’s Retinol24, I was actually experiencing a breakout, which is a little unusual for me. However, I did notice that the pink mark left behind from my painful under-the-skin blemish faded a little fast than usual. 

Over the last few weeks, I have been really pleased with how my skin has been looking – it’s been really even looking, smooth, bright and overall just…good! In fact, I was really thrilled with my skin in the photos I took over the weekend for this post – obviously I’m wearing makeup, but I just really felt it was smooth, glowing and even.

The  Retinol24 night cream is a thick texture cream, but when applied to the skin, it spreads easily and doesn’t leave skin feeling heavy or greasy at all. I use it every night and bring it down to my neck, since a lot of women skip this step – I’ve been making a more concerted effort to do this will all of my skincare products, actually.

I was a little worried about stopping my multi-product night-time skin care routine, but I think the Retinol24 actually has all of the ingredients my skin needs in ONE product since it focuses on treating basically every skin concern I have: fine lines, brightness, pore size, dark spots, etc. 

The highlight of this review though, is the fact that the biggest concern I had with adding retinol back into my skincare routine is that my skin would be a red, peeling mess. My fears were totally unfounded because my skin looks incredible – no irritation, no redness and no peeling whatsoever! When I wake up in the morning, my skin looks hydrated and smooth. I always thought that retinol has to wreck your skin in order for it to work, but now I don’t think that’s true.

I also learned that the amount of retinol in a product doesn’t matter so much as the way it’s combined with other ingredients – apparently, retinol is an incredibly difficult ingredient to formulate as it degrades when exposed to air, sun and heat. Olay’s proprietary formula remains stable and potent from first use to last.

I’ve gone through quite a bit of my jar, so having a retinol that works and is super affordable, which is a big win. Y’all know I try products at a ton of different price points, but regardless of price, I only share the ones that actually work for my skin. If you’re considering adding retinol to your skincare routine, I think Olay’s Retinol24 is such a fantastic product because your skin will get great benefits/results, without the irritation, redness and peeling most people experience with retinol. Similarly, if you’ve never tried retinol at all, Retinol24 will ensure your skin stays hydrated and irritation-free, while delivering the benefits of its star ingredient.