Beauty News, Healthy Living

What is Retinol and Why do you Need it

 

Did you know that retinol is one of the ingredients that our skin specialists get asked about the most? This comes as no surprise since Retinol is one of the most clinically researched and proven active ingredients in the skin care industry. It’s the skin care ingredient that people can’t stop talking about! Whether you are wondering about what the best age is to start using Retinol, what effect it can have on the skin, or when to use Retinol, we can break it down for you!

 

What is Retinol?

There are different forms of retinol. Retinol (Vitamin A) is commonly used in skin care and doesn’t require any referral to be safely used at home. Retinol is one of the four Vitamin A creams in the Retinoid family. Retinoids work to treat the visible signs of premature aging, such as fine lines, age spots and other types of pigmentation. As a mild exfoliant, retinoids also unclog pores, preventing acne outbreaks and allow other topicals to work better.

 

Why is Retinol Effective?

Our body naturally contains Vitamin A which is responsible for skin cell renewal. Unfortunately, when the body has a Vitamin A deficiency it causes extreme dryness, ultimately resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and flakey skin. By applying Retinol topically, we are able to correct damage by stimulating the skin to produce a healthier, glowing complexion.

This makes retinol an effective anti-aging treatment.

Why is Retinol the best Anti-Aging Ingredient?

Cosmetically, the most common use of retinol is to prevent and correct the signs of aging in the skin as it is known to be one of the most powerful fighters against wrinkles. Retinol has the amazing ability to effectively stimulate collagen and increase cell turnover rate. Over time, as the dermis thickens, the appearance of lines and wrinkles minimizes. It also accelerates the skin’s ability to shed dull, dead skin cells, resulting in a smooth and bright complexion.

 

When can I use Retinol?

Your production of collagen begins to decrease at around the age of 25, which is when you start to see the initial signs of aging – crows feet, fine lines and brown spots caused by the sun. By using retinol, you help maintain a healthy skin cell turnover rate and keep your skin looking youthful.

 

How do I use Retinol?

When using retinol for the first time, please keep in mind that this is a very active product. Retinol can increase sun sensitivity as it exfoliates the top layer of the skin, which is why it should be used topically only at night. During the day, it is essential to wear sun protection to help reduce the chances of developing a sunburn or any irritation to the skin.

It is also recommended to begin your use of Retinol gradually. To prevent redness or irritation in the skin, it is recommended to use your Retinol Serum once every 2-3 nights for about a week to ten days. If your skin can tolerate more frequent use, you may increase use to every night. It is important to remember to not rush things just because you want quick results, it is best to give your skin adequate time to adjust to the product gradually.

 

Does Retinol Exfoliate?

Retinol has always been the gold standard ingredient for exfoliation as it has the ability to penetrate deep down to the dermis and stimulate cell turnover in the epidermis. Retinol has an exfoliating effect on the skin that gives the skin a smooth, even texture, leaving it looking more youthful, radiant and healthy. It also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, minimizing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Moreover, its exfoliating properties can unclog pores, preventing acne outbreaks and allow other topicals to work better.

Is a Higher Concentration of Retinol better?

A higher concentration of retinol does not necessarily mean that you will get better results. In fact, lower concentrations are the perfect retinol for most people, especially if you have sensitive skin or if you’re using a retinol product for the first time.

Is it Safe to use Retinol?

Retinol is fairly safe to use, however, there are some contraindications that you may need to consider:

  • Don’t use a retinoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Waxing can cause excess redness on retinoid-treated skin; don’t use a retinoid for several days before your treatment.
  • A small percentage of people with ultrasensitive skin can never tolerate a retinoid; if this is you, use a gentle physical exfoliator twice a week to soften your skin, and be extra-diligent about using SPF to prevent collagen loss in the first place.

 

Do’s & Don’ts to follow

Getting your best results with our Retinol Serum:

When using retinoid products, it is important to not mistaken irritation for exfoliation. While drier and slightly peeling skin can be a part of retinol’s exfoliating process; extreme dryness, redness and flaking may actually be signs of irritation. Many first-time retinol users often become discouraged due to irritation and give up on retinol altogether, but there are ways to avoid it. The key is to ease into it slowly! For the first two weeks, apply the Retinol Serum every third night. If your skin isn’t irritated, you can increase your usage to every other night for the following two weeks. If your skin continues to not show any signs of irritation, you can start applying it every night.

Many people also have the misconception that they would see better results faster by applying a large amount of the product each time. However, when it comes to retinol, less is really more! You only need to use a pea-sized amount of product for the whole face. It’s also important to not expect immediate results as it takes at least 12 weeks for retinol to produce noticeable changes in the skin. If it’s your first few weeks using retinol, do not be discouraged if you don’t see any changes yet!

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