'I'm a beauty editor and this is what I say when people ask me how to start retinol.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Elizabeth Arden

Ask any dermatologist or dermal clinician for their favourite topical skincare ingredient, and they'll probably tell you it's vitamin A.

Why? Because there aren't many things this group of ingredients (also known as 'retinoids') can't do for your skin.

From the gentlest retinol esters to prescription retinoids, there are so many different vitamin A derivatives and skincare products to choose from — and be confused by.

Retinol is the most commonly-known, used and studied type of vitamin A, hence its nickname as the gold standard in active skincare.

Think of it as your routine's workhorse; it helps stimulate cell turnover and collagen production, even skin tone and texture, decrease oil production, refine the look of pores, manage blemishes and scarring, and reduce the appearance of signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

The catch? Like a lot of things we know are really great for us, retinol isn't the easiest ingredient to add into your routine. But it doesn't need to be scary or overly complicated.

When friends, family and strangers on the internet ask me how to start using retinol, this is the crash course I give them.

Who can use retinol skincare?

You know those memes, 'if you owned a Motorola flip phone, it's time to start using retinol'?

That pretty much sums up who might benefit from adding retinol into their skincare routine.

Most people can safely use retinol skincare from around the age of 25, when our collagen production naturally starts slowing down, but there's no rule — personally, I added retinol into my weekly routine when I started noticing subtle skin changes in my early 30s.

Choose the right retinol product for your skin.

Retinol's PR team had some work to do a few years back to repair the ingredient's reputation for burning faces off.

We call this 'retinol face' in the industry; telltale signs of using the wrong product for your skin or going too hard on vitamin A skincare include flakiness, itchiness, redness, breakouts or uneven texture, and increased skin sensitivity.

While old-school formulas took a 'no pain, no gain' approach, modern retinol products with well-rounded formulations, sophisticated delivery systems and even dose-control packaging help mitigate common retinol user errors.

Take Elizabeth Arden's Retinol + HPR collection, which combines two forms of vitamin A — pure retinol and hydroxypinacolone retinoate (a next-gen retinoid shown to be 10 times as effective as retinol) — with skin supporting ingredients like ceramides and peptides.

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These types of holistic formulas ensure you can achieve the clinically-proven retinol results you're after, without irritation or downtime.

Just as important as the type of retinol formulation you choose is the format of the product. It needs to suit your skin type, but also your lifestyle and your skincare approach.

For example, if you are time poor or just want one does-everything product rather than a multi-step routine, go for a retinol moisturiser.

Something like the Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Ceramide Water Cream can take the place of retinol serum and a moisturiser. It's also super lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly for a super quick nighttime routine.

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If you enjoy layering your skincare, don't mind having multiple steps, or even travel a lot, the Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Ceramide Capsules Serum are pre-measured with the perfect dosage of ingredients.

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How to start using retinol skincare.

To avoid aforementioned retinol face mishaps, 'start low and slow' was the general company line for vitamin A first-timers.

It's still a good idea to introduce any retinol product into your routine slowly; try one or two nights a week if you're a beginner to give your skin time to build its tolerance.

I always tell people to pull back on other active skincare products in your nighttime routine, too. For example, if you use an exfoliating product currently, give it a rest while you start with retinol, or drop the frequency down and take a 'skin cycling' approach so you don't accidentally overdo it.

For example, exfoliation on night one, retinol on night two, no actives on nights three and four, then repeat.

Retinol is best applied at night because, like any ingredient that encourages skin cell turnover, it can make your skin more sensitive to sun exposure.

Side note: Any beauty editor worth their weight in serums will tell you; if you can't commit to wearing and re-applying SPF every day, then you're not emotionally mature enough to be using retinol. Sorry.

How to apply retinol.

Best practice is to apply your chosen retinol capsules, serum or cream to clean, dry skin. A product like Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Ceramide Water Cream can be your one-and-done step, otherwise apply a moisturiser or face oil over the top of your retinol serum.

Once you've decided which retinol product you're going to use, and when you'll apply it, stay consistent. Don't be tempted to up your frequency; using retinol more often won't automatically get you better results faster.

Finally, if you're worried about retinol purging or potential irritation — even when using a beginner-friendly formula — there are two things you can do.

Firstly, patch test the product on a small area of skin that's not in the middle of your face (I like to do this on my jawline near my ear). Secondly, 'sandwich' your retinol between two layers of moisturiser (one before and one after) to buffer the efficacy.

See? Not so scary after all. But if you do have any further questions or aren't sure where to start, nothing beats personalised advice from a skin professional.

Shop Elizabeth Arden's Retinol + HPR Ceramide Collection online now.

HPR is 10 times as effective as retinol based on a comparison of bioavailability of HPR compared to retinol.

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10 times more potent, without irritation. Explore Elizabeth Arden's Retinol + HPR Ceramide Collection.