How to start using retinol on your face and the best products for every skin type

The initial adjustment to retinol can be tricky but here are five great tips for building tolerance

Stars like Nicole Kidman enjoy retinol's skin-smoothing benefits. Picture: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Retinol improves all skin types — and smooth-faced celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Paris Hilton sing its praises. It is one of the most studied skincare ingredients, with more than 50 years of peer-reviewed research showing its short and long-term benefits.

Why doesn’t everyone use it? Well, the initial adjustment can be tricky. Until recently I found my skin shed when I used formulas of 0.5% retinol or higher and I just didn’t want to deal with the peeling. Lockdown gave me ample time to build my tolerance.