Know the in’s and out’s of retinization!
6. The Retinization Process
Allow your skin time to get used to pure, high-concentration retinol.
The Retinization Process
Skin needs to build a tolerance to pure, high-concentration retinol. This adjustment period is called retinization. During this time, first-time users of pure retinol may experience temporary skin discomforts.
Mary Kay has designed an eight-week retinization process to help minimize potential discomfort from dryness, flakiness and temporary redness that can occur when you first start using pure retinol at 0.5% concentration.
This unique usage process was developed in association with dermatologists to help you experience the amazing benefits of retinol, regardless of age, ethnicity or skin type. It combines Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Retinol 0.5 and Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Calm + Restore Facial Milk, along with a gradual increase in application frequency.
If you’re a first-time user of pure retinol,* Mary Kay’s gentle retinization process is recommended for you. It’s an important point of difference from the competition. By gradually increasing exposure in two-week increments, your skin has time to adapt to the potency of this formula. Mary Kay’s unique retinization process helps you maximize the results while minimizing potential discomfort.
*TimeWise Repair® products do not contain pure retinol. TimeWise Repair® products contain an encapsulated, controlled-release retinol that’s not designed to retinize your skin. If TimeWise Repair® products are your only source for retinol, Mary Kay recommends following the retinization process to help skin adjust to the potency of the high-concentration retinol found in Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Retinol 0.5.
Be Wise When You Retinize.
When using a high-concentration retinol product, it’s important to gradually establish skin tolerance before advancing to more frequent use. It is also recommended to suspend the use of certain products and ingredients while your skin is going through the retinization process. This will help maximize comfort and ensure the best possible experience. After skin is fully retinized, these products can be slowly reintroduced back into your skin care routine.
Mary Kay’s eight-week retinization process means that you can reap the benefits of pure, high-concentration retinol from the first time you apply.
What is retinization?
Retinization is the adjustment period during which skin becomes acclimated with retinol. During this eight-week period, skin may experience temporary skin discomforts, including temporary redness, dryness and flaking. Once skin is retinized, these discomforts should disappear.
Do TimeWise Repair® users need to retinize their skin?
Yes. TimeWise Repair® users will need to follow the eight-week retinization process, as the retinol used in some TimeWise Repair® products is encapsulated retinol, not pure retinol.
How is Mary Kay’s retinization process different from other brands?
If you’re a first-time user of pure retinol,* Mary Kay’s gentle retinization process is recommended for you.
It’s an important point of difference from the competition. By gradually increasing exposure to pure retinol in two-week increments, your skin has time to adapt to the potency of this formula.
Mary Kay’s unique retinization process helps you maximize the results while minimizing potential discomfort.
*TimeWise Repair® products do not contain pure retinol. TimeWise Repair® products contain an encapsulated, controlled-release retinol that’s not designed to retinize your skin. If TimeWise Repair® products are your only source for retinol, Mary Kay recommends following the retinization process to help skin adjust to the potency of the high-concentration retinol found in Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Retinol 0.5.
How long will temporary skin discomfort last?
Temporary skin discomfort is common during the retinization process. Once skin is fully retinized, these discomforts should subside.
Temporary skin discomforts may include redness, dryness, flakiness, skin itchiness and/or mild tingling.
To help alleviate these discomforts, apply Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Calm + Restore Facial Milk to soothe skin.
Some users may not experience any temporary skin discomfort during the retinization process. If you do not experience temporary skin discomforts, that does not mean that the Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Retinol 0.5 is not working, nor does it mean you should increase the amount of Retinol 0.5 applied or the frequency of application.
Sun Protection
Retinol can contribute to sun sensitivity because it accelerates the turnover of new skin cells. During the day, it’s recommended to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Otherwise, new sun damage may negate the benefits that retinol is delivering to your skin.
After Retinization
If you’re following Mary Kay’s retinization process, temporary discomfort should be gone by the eighth week. Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, it’s possible you’ll continue to experience periodic flaking, especially if there’s a gap in your application of Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Retinol 0.5 or if you’re applying more frequently than is optimal for your skin. Flaking will diminish with continued use.
Once skin is retinized, your skin’s moisture balance can be maintained with your normal morning and evening moisturizer. Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Calm + Restore Facial Milk is an ideal product to have on hand whenever skin needs calming.
Once skin is retinized, is it necessary to continue using Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Calm + Restore Facial Milk?
Once skin is retinized, your moisture balance can be maintained with your normal morning and evening moisturizer. Mary Kay offers a variety of moisturizing products to meet those needs. Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Calm + Restore Facial Milk remains an ideal product to have on hand whenever skin needs calming.
Stepping into the world of retinol felt like a huge leap for my skincare routine. I'd heard all the hype about its transformative powers, but also the whispers of 'retinization' – a phase that sounded a bit intimidating. If you're like me, wondering what this process truly entails and how long it really takes, you've come to the right place. Let me share my personal insights and what I learned to make my retinization journey as smooth as possible. First off, what exactly is retinization? It's your skin's way of adjusting to pure, high-concentration retinol. Think of it as a training period where your skin builds tolerance. For me, this meant experiencing some temporary skin discomforts like mild redness, dryness, and a bit of flaking. It's totally normal, and the key is understanding that it's a phase, not a permanent state. The article mentioned an eight-week process, and that's exactly what I followed. Having a structured retinization tracker, like the one I saw online, was incredibly helpful to visualize the gradual increase in application frequency. During the first two weeks, I started by applying retinol just twice a week, focusing on small, pea-sized amounts. My skin felt a little tight, but manageable. This is where I really leaned into a good calming facial milk and a rich, hydrating moisturizer to soothe any irritation. Around weeks three to four, I cautiously increased my application to every other night. This was often when the flaking became most noticeable for me, especially around my nose and chin. It wasn't pretty, but I reminded myself it was part of the process – new skin cells were turning over! I also made sure to use a very gentle cleanser and patted my skin dry instead of rubbing. One crucial tip I discovered, which the OCR results hinted at, was to temporarily avoid other active ingredients. I completely paused my use of any exfoliators, be it physical scrubs or chemical ones like AHAs/BHAs, and high concentrations of Vitamin C. Combining these with retinol during retinization can overwhelm your skin and exacerbate irritation. It's all about letting retinol do its work without interference. By weeks five to eight, my skin started to feel more resilient. I was applying retinol most nights, and the discomforts significantly subsided. The facial milk became my best friend, always on standby for those moments my skin felt a little sensitive. It's important to listen to your skin; if it feels too irritated, scale back for a night or two. Don't push through extreme discomfort. Also, wearing a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen every single day, without fail, became non-negotiable. Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, and protecting it is paramount to prevent new damage and maximize your results. Once the eight weeks were over, my skin felt transformed. The initial redness and flakiness were gone, replaced by a smoother, more even-toned complexion. This 'post-retinization protocol' phase is where you can slowly reintroduce other beloved skincare products, but always one at a time and observing how your skin reacts. My journey proved that patience and consistency are key to unlocking retinol's full potential. It's a marathon, not a sprint, but the radiant results are absolutely worth it!
