When to use retinol in your skincare routine

Retinol is one of the most common products added to a skincare routine after the basics. Where it goes in the routine matters as much as which product you choose. This guide covers the step retinol takes, what goes before and after it, what to leave out on retinol nights, and who should talk to a doctor before starting. It follows the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and drug labels. It belongs to the guide to starting a skincare routine.

For what retinol and the other retinoids are, and how they compare for acne, see the retinoids guide, retinoids for acne: retinol, adapalene, tretinoin.

What retinol is

A retinoid is a group name for products made from vitamin A that are used on the skin. The AAD describes retinol as a type of retinoid that's routinely used to improve uneven skin tone, pigmentation and texture, and says it is sold without a prescription in many products. Other retinoids used for acne include adapalene, which is sold with and without a prescription, and tretinoin, which needs a prescription.

The AAD says a product with a retinoid is a good option for someone with mild acne, mild pigment changes, or mild fine lines and wrinkles. It is a treatment for a specific concern, so add it only if you have one.

The step retinol takes

Retinol is the treatment step of the night routine:

Step	Night routine with retinol	Why
1	Remove makeup, then a gentle cleanser	Retinol goes on clean skin
2	Wait until the skin is dry	The AAD suggests 20 to 30 minutes after washing
3	Retinol, a thin layer	The AAD's order puts any treatment right after cleansing
4	Moisturizer	Helps skin tolerate the dryness retinoids cause

The morning routine stays the same: cleanser, moisturizer and broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.

The AAD's page on product order says to wash your face, then apply any medicine or treatment right after cleansing, then moisturizer and sunscreen. Its page on skin care in your 20s quotes a dermatologist who recommends applying a retinoid before bed, 20 to 30 minutes after washing your face.

Why retinol goes at night

The AAD explains that retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun. A dermatologist it quotes advises using a retinoid only at night and always using sun protection during the day. That protection includes seeking shade, wearing sun-protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat, and applying sunscreen to all skin that clothing does not cover.

Drug labels say the same about adapalene, a retinoid sold without a prescription. The Differin adapalene gel label says to limit sun exposure, including tanning beds, and to use sunscreen when going outdoors. So the sunscreen step in the morning matters more once retinol is in your routine. Morning vs night skincare explains how the two routines divide the work.

What goes before retinol

Cleanser. A gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. MedlinePlus gives the same direction for tretinoin, a prescription retinoid: wash with a mild soap that is not medicated, abrasive or drying, then let the skin dry as directed.

Toner, if you use one. A plain toner with no acid can go on before retinol. A toner with an exfoliating acid is a different case. See the section on what to leave out, below, and when to use toner.

Time. The AAD suggests waiting 20 to 30 minutes after washing before the retinoid goes on. How long to wait between skincare steps covers the other waits in a routine.

What goes after retinol

Moisturizer. The AAD says retinoids such as adapalene, tazarotene and tretinoin tend to dry and irritate the skin, and a moisturizer every day can help your skin tolerate them. For people with darker skin, an AAD dermatologist warns that irritation can cause dark marks, and says starting slowly and using moisturizer will help lower that risk.

One planned change. If a retinoid dries your skin too much, the AAD's page on skin care in your 20s gives a different order: apply a moisturizer that will not clog pores right after washing, then apply the retinoid 20 to 30 minutes later. For a prescription retinoid, ask the doctor who prescribed it before you change the order. Retinoid dryness and peeling covers what to do when dryness starts.

What to leave out on retinol nights

Exfoliants. The AAD says prescription retinoids and products with retinol can make skin more sensitive or cause peeling. Exfoliating while you use them may worsen dry skin or even cause acne breakouts. The Differin label says to avoid products with alpha hydroxy or glycolic acids while using the gel. When and how often to exfoliate covers exfoliating in general.

Masks with the same ingredients. The AAD advises against face masks that contain active ingredients you already use, and names retinol and acid products as examples.

A second new product. Add retinol on its own. An AAD dermatologist advises introducing one new product at a time to check that your skin can tolerate it.

For specific pairs, such as retinol with vitamin C or with niacinamide, what to mix with a retinoid goes through each one.

How to start retinol in an existing routine

The AAD quotes a dermatologist who advises using the least intense retinoid formula you can find, every other night to start, then slowly building up. She says people who start too strong end up irritating their skin. The AAD also says the percentage of retinol does not have to be printed on the label, so the strength can be hard to compare between products.

Test it first. The AAD's advice is to try a new product on a small area twice a day for seven to 10 days. It says ingredients such as retinol can irritate the skin, particularly sensitive skin, and that this is normal and temporary.

How to start retinol for acne without irritation gives a step by step start plan.

Who should ask a doctor first

The AAD names several groups:

• Pregnancy. The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk to a doctor before using any retinoid.
• Allergies or dry skin. The AAD says people who have skin allergies or dryness are probably not good candidates for a retinoid product.
• Redness or inflammation. An AAD dermatologist says people with strong redness or inflammation in their skin should avoid retinoids and ask a dermatologist about treatments for rosacea.
• Acne scarring or acne linked to hormones. The same dermatologist says people with moderate or severe acne scarring, or acne tied to their menstrual periods or other hormonal changes, should see a dermatologist before trying a retinoid.
• Tweens and teens. An AAD dermatologist advises tweens and teens to avoid retinol, and says a dermatologist may recommend a retinoid for acne in some cases. Retinoids for teens explains the difference.

Retinoids also appear often in complaints to skin doctors. In a 2026 survey of 168 dermatologists and dermatology residents in the Netherlands, retinoids were among the ingredients most often linked to skin problems caused by skincare.

A sample first two weeks

Based on the AAD's advice to start every other night, the first two weeks can look like this:

• Retinol nights (every other night): cleanser, a 20 to 30 minute wait, a thin layer of retinol, then moisturizer.
• Rest nights: cleanser and moisturizer only.
• Every morning: cleanser, moisturizer and broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.

If your skin stays comfortable, move toward more nights. If it gets dry or stings, stay at every other night longer and use more moisturizer.

How long before you judge it

Retinol works slowly. The AAD's page on skin care in your 20s says it takes at least 30 days to know whether a product is working, unless it irritates your skin. For products aimed at aging skin, the AAD says most take at least six weeks and some take up to three months. The Differin adapalene gel label says results may take up to 3 months of daily use.

Prescription retinoids in a routine

A prescription retinoid, such as tretinoin, takes the same treatment step: after cleansing, on dry skin, before moisturizer, at night. Follow the directions from your doctor and on the label, because they can differ from general advice. MedlinePlus says your doctor may tell you to use a moisturizer to help with dryness, and advises protective clothing and sunscreen while you use tretinoin.

The AAD's advice on anti-aging products says some prescription products will burn or sting, and that you should ask your dermatologist whether that should be happening before you stop using one. Never stop a prescribed treatment on your own. Ask the doctor who prescribed it.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if your skin swells, blisters or burns after retinol, or if irritation does not settle after you cut back and moisturize. See one too if the concern you started retinol for has not improved after steady use. For where every other product goes, see skincare routine order for every skin type.