Skincare Benefits of Retinol – Why Is Retinol Good for Skin?
Retinol, you may have heard of it, you may even use it in your skincare routine or perhaps you have no idea why you should be using retinol at all. This is why I have decided to put together a simple explanation of what this wonder ingredient is good for and why you should be using it!
Why should I use retinol?
Retinol is extremely beneficial for the skin and more multitasking than a parent of three children! If you have concerns with your skin such as enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture to the skin. Believe it or not, retinol will fix all of that!
After using it for roughly 4 weeks you will see a huge difference to your skin, with a significate difference if you continue to use it religiously after 3 months. Your skin will feel firmer, look plumper and youthful. Fine lines and wrinkles will be ironed out with an all-over smoother appearance to the skin. Finally, any hyperpigmentation of the skin from any left-over sun damage or acne scarring will be noticeably reduced. Yes, it really is that good!
What is retinol?
Retinol is a form of vitamin A and by adding it to your skincare routine it will promote skin renewal. By giving skin renewal a helping hand you will find your skin has a healthy glow all year round as dead skin cells that have a tendency to linger on the surface of the skin giving it a dull, lack lustre appearance. Retinol is also able to penetrate its way down in the lower layers of the skin and aid collagen production, vital for keeping your skin looking youthful and healthy. The rate that collagen is produced begins to decline by the time we reach our 30s. As depressing as that may sound, retinol is a great first step to take with tackling this and the sooner you add it to your routine the more prevention benefits you’ll have! Other concerns such as sun damage will be significantly reduced, one thing to remember about sun damage is that you won’t be able to make it disappear completely but the pigmentation will become lighter in appearance and so less visible to the naked eye over time.
When should I use retinol?
There are a lot of contrasting opinions and information out there on the web, all regarding many things when it comes to retinol! The most common would be how using retinol during the day will in fact speed up premature aging and even cause the skin to become irritated and possible burning. This isn’t true and the only problem you may face with using retinol during the day is that sunlight diminishes the strength of retinol making it useless to apply! To really reap the benefits it’s best to use it in the evening before bed.
How do I use retinol?
Retinol is a complicated product, mainly because of the different levels of strengths available and the reactions it can cause to the skin if used too much. Here is the best way to introduce retinol into your routine without any irritation, burning or discomfort.
Start by choosing a low percentage of retinol, for example, 0.3%
For the first two weeks use it twice a week in the evenings
The following two weeks you can then use it every other night
For the weeks after this your skin is adjusted enough to use product every night
By now your skin is used to the retinol and so the level of percentage can be increased, building up to 0.5%, 0.6%, 1% and 2%
Following this routine is best if you wanted to introduce retinol without causing any reactions. It is one of the most confusing and complicated ingredients on the market, but once you understand a good starting point with using it, there’ll be no looking back!
Can I use retinol if I have spots?
Retinol is a very powerful ingredient, it has the ability to unclog pores, promotes skin renewal and aids cell turnover. All of these will benefit a blemish prone skin by allowing it to be at a healthy state and easier to maintain whilst battling any breakouts. If you follow the steps previously mentioned you will find any spots or blemish concerns will be significantly reduced.
Retinol will also help of you have any remaining hyperpigmentation left from acne scarring and after 3 months of use you will find the pigment appearing less visible to the naked eye.
All skin types will see a noticeable difference when using retinol, from the signs of ageing, sun damage, uneven skin texture and many more. If you are still concerned that retinol won’t work for your skin go and visit your GP or Dermatologist for professional advice.
If you are pregnant, breast feeding or taking a medication that cannot be taken with vitamin A you can’t use retinol in your routine.
Can I use AHA and BHA with retinol
There is a lot of contrasting information when it comes to using a liquid exfoliant, such as an AHA or a BHA whilst using retinol. Many claim that using both products will cause over exposure to the skin and cause uncomfortable reactions. Let me give you the peace of mind by telling you this isn’t the case. Both products work on different levels of the skin, retinol working down with the celluar movements in the lower levels of the skin and liquid exfoliants, such as AHA and BAH’s work hard at riding the face of dead skin cell build up on the upper layer. Due to the fact they are not battling against each other and over-exposing the skin to stripping formulas, they in fact become a power duo and work in conjunction with each other to make your skin healthy and glowing.
So there you have a summary of retinol, hopefully now you have a little more knowledge and understanding of this powerful (all though be it complicated) ingredient.
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.
