Retinol, which is a retinoid – a form of Vitamin A – is hands down the industry’s gold standard ingredient for reversing the signs of skin ageing. It has the power to help accelerate skin renewal and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and age spots for firmer, smoother and more even-toned skin. Retinol can also help reduce the appearance of acne by helping prevent dead skin cells from clogging pores.
why is retinol used?
Skin ageing occurs for a number of reasons, from environmental factors to stress and natural ageing. As skin ages, cell turnover and collagen production slow down. Visible signs of skin ageing (spots, fine lines, wrinkles, etc.) appear as a result of our skin’s natural defense mechanisms, and due to slower cell renewal and skin recovery. Retinol is an excellent treatment choice for premature ageing because it can help accelerate skin renewal to diminish the appearance of ageing.
how does retinol work on skin?
Retinol encourages skin cell turnover and renewal. This gives skin a smoother, more even-toned appearance. In order to tolerate Retinol, skin often has to build up what are called retinoid receptors first. These receptors are proteins that are naturally found in skin, and they help Retinol do its work. Skin can build retinoid receptors through controlled exposure, which is why it’s often recommend to start slow with retinol products and build up to higher concentrations.
types of retinol
Retinol belongs to a family called retinoids, forms of Vitamin A that help increase cell turnover and accelerate skin renewal, effectively evening out discoloration and smoothing the damage that occurs during skin ageing.
The most powerful effects of retinoids are on collagen! Retinoids have a dual effect here: they help to decrease the amount of collagen breakdown from sun exposure and they stimulate the production of new collagen. how to use retinol and salicylic acid together
Traditional Retinol formulas can be extremely unstable: they break down upon exposure to light. Furthermore, they don’t play well with Salicylic Acid on skin because the combined effect can be too harsh (think redness, dryness and flaking). To get around this problem, most skin experts recommend using acids only during the day if you’re using Retinol at night. But with Dermalogica’s Retinol Clearing Oil, we’ve cracked the code.
how to use retinol
does retinol cause peeling, breakouts or redness?
It can take up to several weeks for your skin to get used to Retinol. In the meantime, you may experience flaking and small bumps that resemble breakouts, as well as other forms of sensitivity. This is normal and should stop once your skin builds up its retinoid receptors. Some people call this a “purge” period, but it’s really your skin building up its receptors through controlled exposuregeing.
does retinol cause spots?
Retinol does not cause age spots (hyperpigmentation); in fact, it is used to help decrease their appearance. However, Retinol does make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so you need to wear sunscreen and reapply frequently if you are on a Retinol skin care regimen. Any sun damage can undo your progress and lead to more spots and other signs of skin ageing.
