In this blog post, I am sharing the specific retinol mistakes that wrecked my skin when I first started, and exactly what I did to fix my damaged barrier. This site contains affiliate links, for all the details view the disclosure here.

My Journey to Using Retinol

I want to be clear right off the top: I am currently in love with my skincare routine. I am religious about my AM and PM rituals, and I’m now using prescription-strength Tretinoin. But I need to take you back, because my journey didn’t start there.

Growing up, I was very basic with my skincare. My mom, on the other hand, had a consistent routine. She used Vitamin-A religiously, and she always warned me: “If you’re ever going to use prescription strength retinol, you have to be careful. You have to go slow.”

This always freaked me out because I have sensitive skin (and a history of eczema), so I doubted this was an option for me.

Why I Finally Started: I’ll be honest, I thought I had done some of the research. TikTok and Reddit influenced me to start taking my basic skincare routines to the next level.

I was naturally curious because you can definitely tell who’s been using retinol for long periods of time versus who don’t. They tend to look younger. I’m not afraid to say that I want to continue looking young too.

I was starting to notice some fine lines on my forehead. I’ve never used Botox or had any fillers and they’re not something that’s on my radar. But if retinol could help improve the texture and tone of my skin, I was certainly open to incorporating into my nightly skincare routine.

So, I went to Sephora and bought a retinol.

Mistake #1: The “Retinol Uglies”

I started my journey in the summer, which was probably my first mistake. Retinol makes your skin incredibly sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of burning. Even if you are diligent with SPF, being out in the sun requires serious skin protection, and I wasn’t fully prepared for that.

To make matters worse, I started about two weeks before a brand trip to Cincinnati. It was hot, it was a busy week, and the itinerary was packed with photo ops and video shoots. Because I was new to this, my skin was just starting to show signs of the “Retinol Uglies”—specifically on my forehead and chin.

Here is the thing: I had heard about the “Retinol Uglies,” but I didn’t necessarily connect the dots in the moment. I just thought my skin was freaking out. Retinol was doing exactly what it’s supposed to do – bringing all that congestion to the surface. I just knew I had to be on camera, and I didn’t love how I was feeling about my skin.

The Lesson: I would definitely suggest waiting to start retinol in the fall, when there isn’t as much sun exposure. And I definitely wouldn’t do it right before a major trip or event.

You also have to understand that it might take a month – maybe a little longer – for everything to clear up. The “uglies” may or may not happen to you, but if they do, you have to be consistent and push through this initial phase. It’s just part of the journey.

Mistake #2: Mixing The Wrong Actives

One of the things I was diligent about was finding a method that someone like myself with dry, sensitive skin could actually use. For a long time, I thought I couldn’t use retinol at all because my skin was too reactive.

I ended up following the Skin Cycling method (popularized by Dr. Whitney Bowe). The concept is great for sensitive skin because it gives you rest days.

The Routine I Was Following:

• Day 1: Gentle Exfoliation I used to avoid exfoliation in my skincare routine because I thought my skin was too sensitive. Let me tell you, exfoliating my skin on a regular basis has made a huge different on the texture of my skin. I now exfoliate often!
  • Favorites: Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Pads (my go-to) or Dr. Dennis Gross Gentle Peel Pads.

• Day 2: Retinol Night I used the Shani Darden Retinol Reform (which is great for beginners). I applied a pea-sized amount and avoided the areas where I flare, like my jawline and neck.
  • The Technique: I followed the “Sandwich Method” to buffer it:
    1. Moisturizer – like Vanicream
    2. Retinol
    3. Occlusive or heavier moisturizer – like Vaseline, CeraVe or Aquaphor

• Days 3 & 4: Recovery Nights No actives. Just repair.
  • The Products: Gentle cleanser, calming mist or hyaluronic serum (like Beekman 1802, Vanicream moisturizer, and an occlusive layer like Vaseline, CeraVe or Aquaphor.)

How I Messed It Up: This routine worked great… until I got reckless.

I remember one night specifically: I used my retinol, and then I decided to layer on the Sunday Riley Lactic Acid.

I woke up and my skin was burnt.

It was red, blotchy, and hot to the touch. It hurt! I had given myself a chemical burn because I combined two powerful exfoliants on skin that wasn’t used to either of them.

How I Fixed The Damage: I realized immediately that I needed to cool my skin down because it felt physically hot. I stopped all active ingredients and focused 100% on hydration and barrier repair.

• Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream: I used this specifically to help calm the barrier.
• Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber Masks: These were essential for that physical cooling sensation my skin was craving.

It took about 10 days for the stinging to stop, and a full two weeks before the redness died down.

Mistake #3: Letting Fear Stop The Process

I don’t know if this was my biggest mistake, but it definitely was the one that set me back the most.

After the chemical burn, I was just freaked out. Even though I knew the benefits, I just thought, “This is too high maintenance.” I didn’t want to risk another burn or deal with the purging when I had things to do and places to be.

I just wasn’t in the mindset for it.

So, I stopped using retinol for two years.

Looking back, I feel like I really lost out on those two years. Consistency is the whole point with retinol, and I wish I had stuck through it.

But I am using it now. My routine is completely different – I actually use prescription Tretinoin now – but I had to reintroduce it in a new way. I’m going to share exactly how I did that in another post.