Retinol is anything from bad for your skin. Some people might get scared of retinol serums and creams for the sole reason that it may have some initial side effects when using it for the first time. When using retinol for the first few times, you may experience dryness, redness, and irritation of the skin. The side effects are usually more severe the higher up the concentration of retinol is. But don't get discouraged! The side effects of retinol usually start to subside after a few weeks or months of using it.