How to introduce a new active.
For Slow Bloom, or any retinol, acid, or new active — not just ours.
Patch test first. Every time.
Put a small amount on your inner arm or behind your ear. Wait 24 hours. If your skin is red, itchy, or angry about it, don't put it on your face — that's the patch test doing its job.
Then start slow.
New actives don't need to be used every day right away, and most skin does better if they aren't. A simple schedule that works for most people starting Slow Bloom:
- Weeks 1–2: Twice a week, at night.
- Weeks 3–4: Every other night, if skin isn't irritated.
- Week 5+: Nightly, if you want to and skin agrees.
Some flaking is normal. Pain isn't.
A little dryness or peeling in the first couple of weeks is common and usually settles down. Stinging, swelling, or a rash isn't — stop using it and give your skin a break if that happens.
Sunscreen isn't optional anymore.
Retinol makes skin more sensitive to sun. If you're using Slow Bloom at night, Soft Focus SPF in the morning stops being a "should" and becomes a "have to."