Every year, when the heat arrives, the same question comes up: whether you should stop using retinol until summer is over. The good news is that, in most cases, there is no need to give it up. The problem is almost never using retinol in summer, but using it without the right precautions all year round.
Is it true that you have to stop using it at this time of year?
It is one of the most repeated myths in skincare, and it is not entirely true. Retinol does not make the skin photosensitive in the strict sense, with exceptions such as prescription retinoic acid. What it does do is leave the skin somewhat more sensitive to the sun for as long as the treatment lasts, so summer does not mean stopping it, it means stepping up sun protection while you carry on using it.
When does it make sense to take a break?
If the skin is already used to retinol, it can normally be kept up through the hottest months without much trouble. There are, however, a few specific situations where taking a break does make sense:
- After sunburn.
- When the skin is irritated or noticeably flaking.
- During an active rosacea flare-up.
- Right after a recent peel or laser treatment.
In those cases, the priority is to let the skin recover its balance before going back to the active. Summer is also not the best time to start using retinol for the first time if you have never tried it before: it makes more sense to begin during a period of lower sun exposure.
How do you adapt the routine to the sunniest months?
For anyone who already has it in their routine, a few small adjustments are enough to carry on using it with peace of mind:
- Space out the frequency, for example going from daily use to two or three times a week.
- Always apply it at night, on clean, dry skin.
- Step up broad-spectrum sun protection the following morning, without exception.
- Keep the skin well hydrated throughout the process, so that the skin barrier copes better with the combination of retinol and sun.
The same products, at home and in the salon
The same products used the rest of the year work just as well in summer, only the pace of application changes. Whether you use the Natural Filler Retinol cream, in the 50 ml or 100 ml format, or the Retinol System serum, the key is to space out the applications rather than leaving them in the drawer until September. For an occasional boost, the Retinol facial ampoules follow the same rule: better spaced out than applied daily while the heat lasts. If the treatment is carried out in the salon with Retinol vials, the same logic applies to the sessions as well: keep them if the skin is adapted, and postpone them if there has been sunburn or recent irritation. For anyone still starting out with retinol, it is worth reading the full guide on how to introduce it into the routine step by step first.
H2: Summer is not the enemy of retinol
Retinol and the sun can coexist as long as a few basic rules are respected: step up sun protection, adjust the frequency if necessary and listen to the skin when it asks for a break. Keeping it going through the summer, instead of dropping it altogether, is what allows you to carry on seeing results when autumn arrives.
