Using face tape with retinol and actives
Where Toute Nuit goes in your routine, and how to bring your serums back in.
The short answer
You can wear Toute Nuit over your actives, but you don’t have to. Start with a plain moisturizer while your skin gets used to the tape, then add your serums back in. Toute Nuit always goes on last, once everything has absorbed.
Where it goes in your routine
- Cleanse.
- Apply your serum or treatment, if you use one.
- Finish with a non-oil-based moisturizer and let it absorb.
- Apply your patch carefully until it feels secure.
Oils and heavy balms can stop the tape from staying put. Save them for nights you skip the patch, or for areas you aren’t taping.
Starting out: moisturizer only
For your first week or two, wear the patch over moisturizer alone. Once you know how your skin likes it, bring your actives back in one at a time.
Retinol, acids and vitamin C
Retinoids and exfoliating acids can leave skin more reactive, and tape on top can make you more aware of it. If an area feels tender, save the patch for your plain-moisturizer nights.
Actives are optional, though: the patch works on its own over a simple moisturizer.
Taking it off
Peel slowly from one edge in the morning while supporting the skin with your other hand. If the skin looks pink, give that area a night off.
Using a prescription retinoid?
Check with your dermatologist before adding tape to that area.
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