Can You Use Retinol in Summer? The Expert Guide to Year-Round Glow

Summer might have you feeling like you need to put down your retinol and go easy on your skin, but don’t worry! We’re here to give you some tips on how you can keep using and benefiting from the effects of your retinol, all the way through summer.

Retinol can sometimes be a controversial subject when summer rolls around, often becoming associated with red, irritated skin triggered by retinol use. While it can sometimes be precarious to use potent actives during the summer months, there are many ways to manage your retinol use to maintain a glowing complexion. This is especially important for those who use the ingredient as an essential part of their routine to keep acne and texture at bay. Keep reading for our top retinol summer tips.  

Simplify Your Skincare

Skip the 10-step routine. While there is nothing wrong with a multi-step routine that works for your skin, overcomplicating it during summer isn’t usually a good idea. Instead, prioritise products that are essential to your routine. A good outline to follow is:

• Cleanse
• Treat (with your retinol of choice)
• Moisturise
• Protect

Following these basic foundations for your summer skincare routine is a great way to avoid irritation caused by incompatible ingredients.

Using The Two-Finger Rule When Using SPF And Reapply, Reapply, Reapply!

Wearing sunscreen on your face is important year-round, but especially if you’re a regular retinol user in summer. Make sure to always apply two fingers’ worth of SPF every two hours. If you’re not wearing SPF, all the hard work your retinol has done the night before won’t be as effective and you’ll be more susceptible to irritation.

Take It Easy On Actives

As mentioned, using retinol can leave your skin in a delicate state. Using acids like AHAs and BHAs within the same routine as retinol is always advised against, but especially during summer. If you do combine these potent ingredients, you can expect red, irritated skin. To avoid this, only use one active ingredient per routine – never both together.

Switch To A Lower Concentration

If you’re a die-hard retinol user, you’ll probably know that depending on which brand you go with, there are usually several different concentrations of retinol. For example, Medik8 has five different concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 0.24%. Lower concentrations offer a gentler form of retinol, ideal if you have sensitive skin or are heading off on holiday and want to reduce the chance of irritation.

Reduce Your Weekly Retinol Use

If you're finding your skin feeling easily irritated and sensitised, it might be because you're not allowing your skin to recover between retinol uses. Overuse of retinol without adequate recovery time can compromise your skin barrier, leading to dryness, redness and increased sensitivity. Try introducing a ‘rest day’ in your routine by alternating your retinol with a nourishing, hydrating product to support repair and balance. Alternatively set specific days when you’re going to use your retinol, for example on a Tuesday and Thursday. This way you can ensure your retinol has its time in your routine, but also allow your other gentler and more nourishing products to do their job too.