Wash your face and apply eye cream. An eye cream will help protect the delicate skin around your eyes. Wait a few minutes until your skin is completely dry. This is important, because if your skin is at all damp, the retinol will be able to absorb more deeply into your skin and might cause irritation. We want to apply moisturizers and serums to slightly damp skin, but never retinol. Take a pea-size amount of your retinol and, starting at your chin, apply with your fingertips in upward and outward motions. Finish with your moisturizer. Remember to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen the morning after, as retinol makes skin more sensitive to the sun.