All Your Questions About De-Crease Answered
It’s time to debunk some of the facts, reasons, and hows we’ve been hearing about our brilliant new wrinkle-removing eye serum. It’s tricky! Adding new products to your routine. Especially active ingredients.
Since this is our first foray into the world of vitamin A, we thought you should really know the product as well as we do. Example: De-Crease Likes: All skin types. De-Crease Dislikes: Wilted spinach.
Why Retinaldehyde over Retinol?
We chose Retinaldehyde because it’s proven to work better, faster, and less irritating than Retinol, and is the gold standard for cell turnover and collagen production.
Retinaldehyde and Retinol must be converted to Retinoic Acid (which is produced naturally once Retinoic Acid is applied to the skin) to produce their skin-brightening, collagen-boosting, and acne-reducing effects. But Retinol is two steps away from converting to Retinoic Acid, while Retinal is only one step away. A direct precursor. So: better, faster, less irritating.
Can I use De-Crease if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Unfortunately, vitamin A and its derivatives (like the one in De-Crease) are contraindicated for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding (congratulations, by the way!).
Excessive or continuous use of this ingredient could harm your unborn baby as it tries to grow and strain your bladder.
Can I use De-Crease if I have sensitive skin?
De-Crease has been dermatologically tested and is suitable for sensitive skin. But! We always recommend that you consult a dermatologist and do a patch test before use.
Otherwise, start slowly. Use only the retinoid of your choice (no other active ingredients) for the first week to see how your skin reacts to this ingredient. As your tolerance to vitamin A increases, increase the frequency of use from twice a week to more frequent.
What’s up with this whole sandwich thing?
You take two slices of ciabatta bread, take pesto, provolone cheese…
Who are we kidding! This is a super useful skincare tip, of course. Let me explain. If you have particularly dry or sensitive skin, or consider yourself a retinoid newbie, applying retinoids between two layers of moisturizer (moisturizer, retinoids, more moisturizer!) can help prevent potential skin irritation. The first layer of moisturizer acts as a cool buffer between the retinoid and the skin, which would otherwise come into direct contact and could cause discomfort upon first application.
How do I actually apply the serum?
Your face actually has an easy-to-use built-in guide – the orbital bone. You can feel this rounded, cup-shaped bone structure under the eye, on the outer edge, and below the brow. Gently tap your product along the edges (don’t rub! Applying too hastily can irritate the skin and may cause blood vessels to break) to reach all the key aging areas, avoiding the eyes themselves.
What if I already use a retinoid?
We recommend sticking to one retinoid per area of the face per routine.
De-Crease was developed specifically for the eye area and is gentle on the eye area. So only apply the serum there. If you regularly use a different retinoid on other parts of your face, make sure the two products don’t overlap after application. Too harsh. You can alternate between the two in your evening routine to avoid further irritation.
How does Vitamin A work with my other active ingredients?
Vitamin A loves certain active ingredients (think: Niacinamide! Hyaluronic Acid!), but should stay away from others (AHA! BHA! PHA! Vitamin C!). It all depends on the effectiveness of each ingredient and whether they work after application. This can affect the effectiveness of certain products and prevent them from working optimally.
Can De-Crease be used in the morning?
No! Put it away! Vitamin A should always be saved for the evening, as it increases sensitivity to the sun. (So wear sunscreen. Every day.) Zoë shows you her current nighttime routine here. Check it out!
Can I use De-Crease on other areas of my face?
We think you mean laugh lines, frown lines, lip lines, right? Well, the answer is (politely) no.
The skin under and around our eyes is many, many layers thinner than the rest of our face. De-Crease is designed to treat this sensitive area.
For the most effective results, use a product designed for that skin area. An eye for an eye. Face for face. Using de-crease elsewhere sounds expensive, too. Enjoy this serum!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
