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Should You Pause Your Retinal Serum in Summer?
Summer often comes with a familiar piece of skincare advice: stop your retinoid until the weather cools down. It's one of the most common myths in skincare, and it's largely based on a misunderstanding of how retinal actually behaves in sunlight. Pausing a retinal serum for the summer isn't just unnecessary for most people — it can actually undo the progress the serum has been making. Where Does the "Pause Retinal in Summer" Advice Come From? The concern usually traces back to a mix-up between two very different things: sun sensitivity and light sensitivity. Retinal doesn't make skin more sensitive to the sun simply because it's present. What retinal actually is, is photolabile — meaning the molecule itself breaks down when exposed to light, which reduces its effectiveness rather than increasing your risk of sunburn. That's an important distinction, because it changes what you actually need to worry about. Does Retinal Make Skin More Sensitive to the Sun? Not directly, and not simply by being on your skin during the day. The reason retinoids are associated with increased sun sensitivity has more to do with their effect on skin over time: as they support cell turnover, they can temporarily thin the outermost layer of skin, which does make it somewhat more vulnerable to UV exposure. That effect isn't seasonal — it's present whether you're using a retinal serum in July or January, and it's managed the same way regardless of the time of year: consistent daily sunscreen. What Actually Happens If You Stop Using Retinal for Summer? Pausing consistent use is the one thing that reliably undoes a retinal serum's benefits. Skin gradually thins back out. The improvements in texture and fine lines that come from consistent retinal use rely on continued use — stopping allows skin to return to its previous state over several weeks. You lose the cumulative benefit. Retinal's effects build over time with regular use, so a summer-long pause means restarting much of that progress when you pick it back up in the fall. The break doesn't reduce sun sensitivity. Since the retinoid isn't the direct cause of increased UV vulnerability the way many assume, stopping it doesn't meaningfully change your sun exposure risk — it just costs you months of consistent use for no real protective benefit. What Should You Actually Do Instead of Pausing? Keep using your retinal serum at night, and treat sunscreen as the non-negotiable part of the equation — exactly as you would any other time of year. Apply retinal in the evening as usual, since nighttime use avoids the photolability issue entirely. Then apply sunscreen every morning without exception, reapplying if you're outdoors for extended periods. This combination lets you keep the cumulative benefits of your retinal serum without adding any meaningful summer-specific risk. Are There Any Legitimate Reasons to Adjust Retinal Use in Summer? For most people, no adjustment is needed at all — but a few situational changes can help comfort without requiring a full pause. If skin feels more reactive during hot, humid weather, reducing frequency slightly (for example, from nightly to four times a week) is a reasonable adjustment. This is about comfort, not necessity, and it's very different from stopping altogether for the whole season. FAQ Should you stop using retinal serum in the summer? No, for most people this isn't necessary. Retinal doesn't directly increase sun sensitivity by being present on the skin — daily sunscreen use, not pausing your retinoid, is what actually manages any UV-related risk. Does retinal make skin more sensitive to sunburn? Not directly. The increased sun sensitivity associated with retinoids is related to their gradual thinning effect on the outer skin layer over time, not to the retinoid being present during the day, since it's applied at night and doesn't remain "active" in a way that reacts to sunlight. What happens if you take a summer break from your retinal serum? Skin gradually loses the texture and renewal benefits that come from consistent use, and you lose months of cumulative progress — without any real reduction in sun sensitivity, since that risk isn't tied to the season. Why is retinal used at night instead of during the day? Retinal is photolabile, meaning it breaks down when exposed to light, which reduces its effectiveness. Using it at night avoids this issue and allows it to work overnight while skin repairs itself. If summer has you second-guessing your retinal serum, the better move is usually to keep it in your nightly routine and double down on daily sunscreen instead of pausing. Advanced+ Renewal is formulated to be gentle enough for consistent nightly use, all year round, including through the summer months. Related Reading Retinol & Retinoids: Your Complete Guide A Comprehensive Guide to Retinaldehyde in Anti-Aging Skincare Beat Sun Damage This Summer
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Retinal vs Retinol: They're Not the Same Thing
Both are vitamin A derivatives. Both support collagen production, smoother texture, and a more even tone. But they sit at different points in the skin's conversion process, and that difference changes how they perform.
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Retinal Vs. Retinol: Understanding The Key Differences
Retinol has been the vitamin A standard for years, but retinal works faster and gentler. Here's the actual chemistry behind why ,and what it means for switching your routine.
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The 3 Products Your Skin Really Needs After 40
A simple anti-aging routine starts with the right products. Learn which three clinically proven skincare essentials help protect, brighten, and firm skin after 40.
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How To Reduce Wrinkles
If you’re curious about how to reduce wrinkles, this post explains that. Wrinkles are one of the most common symptoms of aging skin, but using the right products – a sunscreen like Shade SPF 30 and a retinoid like A is for Anti-Aging Serum, can help to reduce them. Shop A Is for Anti-Aging Serum (Our Retinoid Formulation) What is a Wrinkle? Wrinkles are creases, folds, or ridges in the skin, which tend to appear as we get older. They are most frequently found on parts of the body that are exposed to sunlight, including the face, the neck and chest, the back of the hands and the arms. Sun damage, smoking, some medications and dehydration along with environmental and genetic factors can influence their development. Facial expressions, such as repeatedly smiling, frowning, or squinting may also lead to fine lines and wrinkles. And, the thinner, drier and less elastic skin that accompanies aging, impact their formation as well. Younger skin has more elasticity, allowing it to spring back. The aging process makes springing back harder and less frequent, resulting in permanent lines aka, wrinkles. Wrinkles – Lifestyle and Environmental Factors Unprotected exposure to UV light is thought to be one of the biggest contributors to wrinkle development. UV rays break down collagen and elastin fibers, which form part of the skin’s supporting network. This damage results in skin that is weaker and less flexible, causing it to droop and wrinkles to develop. This is why sun protection is one of the best things you can do to reduce wrinkles. Wear a broad spectrum, UVA/UVB blocking sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 every day, year round. Shade SPF 30 is a naturally safe, mineral-based (zinc oxide) and non-whitening formulation to consider Cover up with clothing, seek shade, wear hats and sunglasses to protect skin against sun damage Smoking speeds up the aging process by reducing blood supply to the skin. Excess consumption of alcohol can result in dehydration, which causes skin to become dry and appear more wrinkled. And finally, sleeping on your side or face contributes to face lines while repetitive facial expressions (like squinting) overworks facial muscles and can result in grooves beneath the skin’s surface, which eventually leads to wrinkles. Treatments That Reduce Wrinkles When it comes to topical ingredients, there are a few that can help, but retinoids, which are derived from vitamin A, are supported by the most amount of research to support their efficacy in the reduction of fine wrinkles. They have also been shown to reduce pigmentation and decrease skin roughness. Retinoids include ingredients such as retinoic acid, retinaldehyde, retinol and retinyl palmitate. They work by increasing the production of collagen and by stimulating the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which improves skin color. It takes about three to six months of regular use before improvements in wrinkles are apparent and the best results take six to 12 months. The one downside of retinoids is that they can cause skin dryness and irritation so it may be useful to gradually work up to nightly applications, especially if you have sensitive skin. Retinaldehyde, which is found in A is for Anti-Aging is effective and one of the gentlest forms of retinoid available, making it suitable for most skin types. Retinaldehyde has the added benefit of being antibacterial, which delivers benefit to acne sufferers as well. A is for Anti-Aging also contains niacinamide, which can stimulate collagen production. The combination helps to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Keep in mind that retinoids are broken down in sunlight so apply this serum at night in order to maximize benefits. A two-pronged approach will serve you best when it comes to wrinkle reduction: sunscreen every day in the morning and a retinoid each night.
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Retinol. 5 Myths Busted
Retinol and its relatives retinaldehyde, retinyl palmitate and prescription forms including retinoic acid, tazarotene and adapalene, is one of the most effective skin care ingredients to include in your skin care arsenal. Yet, despite the popularity of this effective class of ingredients, there are many misconceptions regarding its use. In this post we’ll look at 5 of the most common ones in an effort to set things straight. What is Retinol? Retinol and other derivatives all come from Vitamin A. It and its related compounds have been around for decades and many studies have shown consistently positive results on skin, including: Improving the skin’s texture Minimizing fine lines and wrinkles Delivering an even skin tone Reducing skin oiliness Managing blemishes Retinoids accomplish this by boosting collagen synthesis and increasing skin cell turnover (helping to speed up the development of new skin cells as we age). You’ll notice an ‘exfoliating’ effect, unclogged pores and less dry, flaky skin upon regular use of retinoids. Retinaldehyde, found in our A is for Anti-Aging Serum, also has anti-bacterial activity, making it a valuable addition in the management of acne. Below, I am setting the record straight on 5 commonly held myths regarding retinol: 5 Retinol Myths 1. Retinol (retinoids) Exfoliates The peeling and redness that accompanies some retinoids is the result of skin irritation and not true ‘exfoliation’. It is also the result of increased skin cell turnover. Despite the painful period of dealing with the peeling, this action is what helps make skin look so good. Build use gradually or try a milder or less sensitizing form of retinoid, like retinaldehyde to minimize this reaction. 2. Don’t Apply Retinoids Around Your Eye This recommendation comes from the belief that under eye skin is extremely sensitive. While it is indeed sensitive, studies have shown that people who apply retinoids right up to the eyes get the best results. As with all new skin treatments, do a patch test first, start slowly and back off if skin becomes very red and irritated. 3. Stop Applying Retinol if Your Skin Gets Irritated Initial skin irritation is part of the process and skin tends to adapt after a few weeks so unfortunately, you may have to put up with it. We’re talking here, about light peeling, increased dryness and some redness. With skin that experiences significant discomfort, discontinue use. Retinaldehyde is the least irritating form of retinoid, yet still delivers results. 4. Use the Strongest Retinoid You Can Find You don’t need to use the most potent retinoid (prescription forms like retinoic acid) to obtain benefits such as increased collagen production and skin cell turnover. While you may get faster results, it’s also true that you may also experience more irritation. This is something I have personal experience with. About to give up with retinoids due to irritation, peeling and redness from various prescription forms, along with non-prescription retinol, I found that my skin tolerated and liked, retinaldehyde very much. In fact, most customers tolerate A is for Anti-Aging very well, with minimal skin irritation. 5. You Should Stop Using Retinol in the Summer While retinol is light sensitive (it breaks down upon exposure to sunlight), there is no reason to stop using it in the summer. You can use retinol year round but always apply at night to ensure that it doesn’t degrade. Diligently apply an effective broad spectrum sunscreen during the day (SPF 30, at least) and you won’t have anything to worry about. Caveats There are a few: Don’t use retinoids if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Although probably safe, there have been links to birth defects with the use of Vitamin A. Don’t layer retinoids with benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acids, which may deactivate them. Use caution during waxing, as skin may experience excessive redness with retinoid usage. Don’t use a retinoid for several days before a treatment. A very small amount of individuals have ultrasensitive skin and can never tolerate a retinoid. If you’re one of these people, try using a gentle exfoliation treatment once or twice a week and be extra careful to use sunscreen regularly. Retinoids. What do you say?
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