How to Incorporate Retinol into Your Skincare Routine: The Sandwich Method Explained
Retinol has been known for its amazing skincare benefits for decades, but it’s only in recent years that it has received the attention it truly deserves. Retinol does it all, from reducing fine lines and fading hyperpigmentation to tackling acne and improving skin texture. But it’s not the
most straightforward ingredient to incorporate into your routine, and there are several important factors to keep in mind regarding its application and what products to pair it with.
Whether you are a longtime user of retinol or you’ve just recently become interested in trying it, you’ve probably heard of the “sandwich method.” While it’s a popular application technique now, it’s actually been around for a while. In essence, it consists of applying hydrating products both before and after retinol to mitigate irritation and maximize its effectiveness.
In this post, we’ll break down the “why” and “how” of the sandwich method in more detail, using the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum and Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream as the perfect combination for a gentle and effective skincare routine.
What is the Sandwich Method?
The Sandwich Method is a gentle skincare layering technique where you apply a layer of moisturizer both before and after your retinol product. Placing retinol between two layers of moisturizer, like a sandwich, helps to buffer its strength and allows it to work more gradually on the skin.
Although retinol is a multitasker and a very effective ingredient, it can come with potential side effects. The most commonly known are dryness, peeling, redness, and irritation. The main goal of this method is to minimize these side effects that are associated with retinol, especially during the early stages of use or for those with sensitive skin.
Key Benefits of the Sandwich Method
Let’s get into the various benefits of the sandwich method and how it can help make your retinol routine more effective and balanced:
1. Reduces Irritation and Sensitivity
One of retinol's key benefits is its ability to accelerate cell turnover. While this action helps shed dead skin cells and replace them with new ones for healthier skin, it can also disrupt the skin barrier.
As your skin adjusts, you might experience redness, flaking, or dryness. Buffering retinol with layers of moisturizer reduces its initial intensity and gives your skin extra protection as it builds tolerance.
2. Eases Retinol Adjustment for Beginners
When starting out with retinol, your skin isn’t yet used to its strong effects and undergoes an intense adjustment phase, also known as retinization. This phase often includes the effects that I previously mentioned and increased skin sensitivity.
It takes the skin a couple of weeks to get used to the faster turnover rate. The Sandwich Method can soften this transition by diluting the strength of the retinol and allowing new users to build tolerance over time without the discomfort.
3. Customizes Retinol Use for Different Areas of the Face
Certain parts of the skin on our face tend to be more sensitive and prone to irritation, like the under-eye area, around the mouth, or the sides of the nose. Since these areas can be more reactive, using the sandwich method will help you maintain a more balanced and comfortable experience without sacrificing results. In this way, you can also gradually expand your coverage as your skin builds tolerance.
4. Helps Preserve Skin Barrier Function
The outermost layer of our skin works by keeping moisture in and irritants out, but retinol can disrupt it by speeding up the skin’s cell turnover. The first layer of moisturizer forms a hydrating cushion and not only does it prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL) but it also supports the healing and recovery process during the adjustment phase. Ultimately, a stronger skin barrier means better tolerance, more consistent use, and improved long-term results.
How to Apply Retinol with the Sandwich Method
Now, let’s walk through how to incorporate retinol into your routine with the sandwich method:
Step 1: Always start with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser to remove impurities without compromising your skin barrier.
Step 2: Apply a light moisturizer or hydrating toner/serum. This step is the first layer of your “sandwich.”
Step 3: Now it’s time for the active. Make sure the previous step is completely absorbed and the skin doesn’t feel wet before proceeding with the retinol application. Use only a pea-sized amount and gently massage it onto the skin.
Step 4: Follow up with a nourishing moisturizer after the serum is absorbed to seal everything in and prevent water loss.
TIP: Start with the sandwich method 2-3 times a week if you’re new to retinol. Always apply it at night and follow up with sunscreen during the day.
The Best Products for the Sandwich Method
When it comes to incorporating retinol into your routine, choosing the right products can make all the difference. You want to use formulas that are effective but gentle to support your skin barrier at every step. So, for those looking to get the most out of retinol and the sandwich method, the Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum and Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream pair perfectly to provide the best results.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum
What makes the Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum stand out? Let’s find out!
This serum includes a combination of 0.08% encapsulated retinol and 1% bakuchiol to provide an effective antiaging formula that is also gentle on the skin. It is known by now that retinol is a
gold-standard ingredient in skincare and provides many skin benefits. It helps smooth fine lines and improve skin firmness but also fights hyperpigmentation and helps reduce breakouts. The result? Plump, firm and glowing skin!
What makes this formula special is the inclusion of bakuchiol, apart from the encapsulated retinol, which releases the active slowly into the skin to avoid irritation. Bakuchiol is considered a natural alternative to retinol and provides similar antiaging skincare benefits without causing irritation. The added anti-inflammatory properties make this ingredient well tolerated by all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
There are two other ingredients in this serum worth noting: 100% Korean Fermented Black Rice and Ceramide NP. Rich in antioxidants, black rice helps protect against free radicals and moisturize the skin, while ceramides soothe irritation and maintain a healthy skin barrier.
Here’s what the clinical results have shown for the Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum:
The serum demonstrated a 12.1% reduction in wrinkles and an 8.96% improvement in skin elasticity after two weeks of consistent use.
Additionally, it showed immediate improvements in pores after a single application: pore area decreased by 39.68%, volume by 40.03%, count by 24.1%, and depth by 19.09%. These results reflect not just the serum’s efficacy in softening fine lines and improving skin firmness, but also its ability to refine skin texture.
Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream
The Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream is perfect to use with the retinol serum for the sandwich method for various reasons. This luxurious cream deeply hydrates the skin without feeling greasy, providing all-day moisture.
It contains a blend of ceramides, allantoin, vitamin E, upcycled black rice jigemi extract, and fermented black rice. Not only does it provide barrier support and long-lasting hydration due to the ceramide capsules, but it also has potent antioxidant properties.
Clinical studies have demonstrated impressive results, with a 37.13% improvement in skin hydration and a 23.60% enhancement in skin barrier function after just two weeks of use.
Final Thoughts
By now, you should have a solid understanding of how to incorporate retinol into your skincare routine using the sandwich method. Pairing the Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum with the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream is the perfect strategy for anyone who wants to maximize the benefits of retinol while minimizing irritation.
Use these two products together consistently in your nighttime routine, and you'll soon enjoy a brighter, more youthful glow that’s well worth the wait.
Meet the Author
Ledia N., the creator of kbeautynotes.com (@kbeauty.notes), has been passionate about skincare and beauty for over 15 years. With a passion for writing honest, detailed reviews, she helps her readers find the perfect products for their unique skin needs. Ledia’s goal is to make skincare feel less intimidating and empowering, guiding her audience to discover routines that work for them. She believes everyone deserves glowing, healthy skin, and she’s here to make that journey a little easier—and a lot more fun!
How to Incorporate Retinol into Your Skincare Routine: The Sandwich Method Explained
How to Incorporate Retinol into Your Skincare Routine: The Sandwich Method Explained
Retinol has been known for its amazing skincare benefits for decades, but it’s only in recent years that it has received the attention it truly deserves. Retinol does it all, from reducing fine lines and fading hyperpigmentation to tackling acne and improving skin texture. But it’s not the
most straightforward ingredient to incorporate into your routine, and there are several important factors to keep in mind regarding its application and what products to pair it with.
Whether you are a longtime user of retinol or you’ve just recently become interested in trying it, you’ve probably heard of the “sandwich method.” While it’s a popular application technique now, it’s actually been around for a while. In essence, it consists of applying hydrating products both before and after retinol to mitigate irritation and maximize its effectiveness.
In this post, we’ll break down the “why” and “how” of the sandwich method in more detail, using the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum and Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream as the perfect combination for a gentle and effective skincare routine.
What is the Sandwich Method?
The Sandwich Method is a gentle skincare layering technique where you apply a layer of moisturizer both before and after your retinol product. Placing retinol between two layers of moisturizer, like a sandwich, helps to buffer its strength and allows it to work more gradually on the skin.
Although retinol is a multitasker and a very effective ingredient, it can come with potential side effects. The most commonly known are dryness, peeling, redness, and irritation. The main goal of this method is to minimize these side effects that are associated with retinol, especially during the early stages of use or for those with sensitive skin.
Key Benefits of the Sandwich Method
Let’s get into the various benefits of the sandwich method and how it can help make your retinol routine more effective and balanced:
1. Reduces Irritation and Sensitivity
One of retinol's key benefits is its ability to accelerate cell turnover. While this action helps shed dead skin cells and replace them with new ones for healthier skin, it can also disrupt the skin barrier.
As your skin adjusts, you might experience redness, flaking, or dryness. Buffering retinol with layers of moisturizer reduces its initial intensity and gives your skin extra protection as it builds tolerance.
2. Eases Retinol Adjustment for Beginners
When starting out with retinol, your skin isn’t yet used to its strong effects and undergoes an intense adjustment phase, also known as retinization. This phase often includes the effects that I previously mentioned and increased skin sensitivity.
It takes the skin a couple of weeks to get used to the faster turnover rate. The Sandwich Method can soften this transition by diluting the strength of the retinol and allowing new users to build tolerance over time without the discomfort.
3. Customizes Retinol Use for Different Areas of the Face
Certain parts of the skin on our face tend to be more sensitive and prone to irritation, like the under-eye area, around the mouth, or the sides of the nose. Since these areas can be more reactive, using the sandwich method will help you maintain a more balanced and comfortable experience without sacrificing results. In this way, you can also gradually expand your coverage as your skin builds tolerance.
4. Helps Preserve Skin Barrier Function
The outermost layer of our skin works by keeping moisture in and irritants out, but retinol can disrupt it by speeding up the skin’s cell turnover. The first layer of moisturizer forms a hydrating cushion and not only does it prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL) but it also supports the healing and recovery process during the adjustment phase. Ultimately, a stronger skin barrier means better tolerance, more consistent use, and improved long-term results.
How to Apply Retinol with the Sandwich Method
Now, let’s walk through how to incorporate retinol into your routine with the sandwich method:
Step 1: Always start with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser to remove impurities without compromising your skin barrier.
Step 2: Apply a light moisturizer or hydrating toner/serum. This step is the first layer of your “sandwich.”
Step 3: Now it’s time for the active. Make sure the previous step is completely absorbed and the skin doesn’t feel wet before proceeding with the retinol application. Use only a pea-sized amount and gently massage it onto the skin.
Step 4: Follow up with a nourishing moisturizer after the serum is absorbed to seal everything in and prevent water loss.
TIP: Start with the sandwich method 2-3 times a week if you’re new to retinol. Always apply it at night and follow up with sunscreen during the day.
The Best Products for the Sandwich Method
When it comes to incorporating retinol into your routine, choosing the right products can make all the difference. You want to use formulas that are effective but gentle to support your skin barrier at every step. So, for those looking to get the most out of retinol and the sandwich method, the Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum and Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream pair perfectly to provide the best results.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum
What makes the Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum stand out? Let’s find out!
This serum includes a combination of 0.08% encapsulated retinol and 1% bakuchiol to provide an effective antiaging formula that is also gentle on the skin. It is known by now that retinol is a
gold-standard ingredient in skincare and provides many skin benefits. It helps smooth fine lines and improve skin firmness but also fights hyperpigmentation and helps reduce breakouts. The result? Plump, firm and glowing skin!
What makes this formula special is the inclusion of bakuchiol, apart from the encapsulated retinol, which releases the active slowly into the skin to avoid irritation. Bakuchiol is considered a natural alternative to retinol and provides similar antiaging skincare benefits without causing irritation. The added anti-inflammatory properties make this ingredient well tolerated by all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
There are two other ingredients in this serum worth noting: 100% Korean Fermented Black Rice and Ceramide NP. Rich in antioxidants, black rice helps protect against free radicals and moisturize the skin, while ceramides soothe irritation and maintain a healthy skin barrier.
Here’s what the clinical results have shown for the Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum:
The serum demonstrated a 12.1% reduction in wrinkles and an 8.96% improvement in skin elasticity after two weeks of consistent use.
Additionally, it showed immediate improvements in pores after a single application: pore area decreased by 39.68%, volume by 40.03%, count by 24.1%, and depth by 19.09%. These results reflect not just the serum’s efficacy in softening fine lines and improving skin firmness, but also its ability to refine skin texture.
Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream
The Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream is perfect to use with the retinol serum for the sandwich method for various reasons. This luxurious cream deeply hydrates the skin without feeling greasy, providing all-day moisture.
It contains a blend of ceramides, allantoin, vitamin E, upcycled black rice jigemi extract, and fermented black rice. Not only does it provide barrier support and long-lasting hydration due to the ceramide capsules, but it also has potent antioxidant properties.
Clinical studies have demonstrated impressive results, with a 37.13% improvement in skin hydration and a 23.60% enhancement in skin barrier function after just two weeks of use.
Final Thoughts
By now, you should have a solid understanding of how to incorporate retinol into your skincare routine using the sandwich method. Pairing the Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum with the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream is the perfect strategy for anyone who wants to maximize the benefits of retinol while minimizing irritation.
Use these two products together consistently in your nighttime routine, and you'll soon enjoy a brighter, more youthful glow that’s well worth the wait.
Meet the Author
Ledia N., the creator of kbeautynotes.com (@kbeauty.notes), has been passionate about skincare and beauty for over 15 years. With a passion for writing honest, detailed reviews, she helps her readers find the perfect products for their unique skin needs. Ledia’s goal is to make skincare feel less intimidating and empowering, guiding her audience to discover routines that work for them. She believes everyone deserves glowing, healthy skin, and she’s here to make that journey a little easier—and a lot more fun!