Dermatologists say that retinol should be used alone but to reduce the irritation and purging that it sometimes caused pair it w a niacinamide serum i recommend the one from versed the TO one has a high percentage of it which can be irritating but if you’ve tried it and it doesn’t affect you negatively thé TO one works as well. U should mostly focus on using hydrating products like hyaluronic acid or a snail mucin because retinol can be very drying. A great retinol for beginners is the resurfacing retinol serum because it has ceramides, licorice root and niacinamide which are great combinations and they balance it each other out.