Retinol: The Myths and Truths
Admit it or not but we’re all secretly hoping for a magic potion to keep Father Time at bay. While I won’t give up hope, I realize there really isn’t a fountain of youth. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit back and age “gracefully”.
Retinol has been around for a while—available originally through dermatogolists to treat hyperpigmentation, photodamage, and pore size. Today, many products include retinol. Great, right? Saves a trip to the dermatologist. Unfortunatley, not all Retinol products are created equally.
So how do you choose the most effective Retinol product for your needs and using it properly to get the results you want?
Follow these tips:
- Retinol products containing pure and stable Vitamin A are most effective. Retinol’s structure allows it to immediately get to work improving the skin's appearance. In contrast, Retinol esters (pro retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl propionate, etc.) first have to be converted into Retinol before they can begin to work.
- Retinol fights fine lines and deep wrinkles. Whether you want to prevent future signs of aging or want to appear years younger (or both!), there’s a Retinol product suited to your needs. For deeper wrinkles, opt for a formula that offers an ultra-effective combination of Retinol and an Essential Mineral Complex.
- Retinol’s strength is not only determined by its concentration. Retinol’s effectiveness relies heavily on its formulation and delivery system. A product containing a higher percentage level of Retinol will not necessarily work better or faster.
- Retinol must penetrate skin to improve it. Delivering Retinol in an encapsulated form enables it to penetrate into the skin’s surface, improving performance. Many other over-the-counter products only topically coat the skin, compromising results.
- Retinol can degrade if not packaged properly. An air-tight, opaque tube or bottle helps maintain the formula’s stability by preventing oxygen or UV-light penetration.
- Retinol works best when introduced gradually to your regimen. Using Retinol is like training for a marathon. Slowly build up your tolerance level—begin by applying a product containing Retinol every other day. Once your skin adjusts to this effective ingredient, you’ll be able to incorporate it into a daily skincare regimen with little chance of flaking or redness.
- Retinol products can be safely used on sunny days. You don’t have to forego Retinol’s anti-aging benefits during daytime hours. A formula containing SPF 30 will provide adequate protection from the sun’s rays like RoC’s newest product Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer With SPF 30.
- Retinol will complement AHA (Alpha hydroxy acids). Alpha hydroxy acids exfoliate the skin, enabling Retinol to penetrate into the skin’s surface even more efficiently. A product containing both ingredients is best used at night to avoid sensitivity.
- Retinol can help prevent the signs of premature aging. Early use of products containing pure and stable Retinol will help to combat fine lines before they start to appear noticeable, so skin continues to look years younger than it’s true age.
- Retinol improves more than just wrinkles. It not only reduces the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles, but also improves skin tone, the signs of photodamage and pore size. Combined with sun protection, it’s the gold standard in anti-aging.
::A. Covington for Beautiful Me
beauty tips on Apr 28, 2008 10:15:27 AM:
I'm very curious about retinol. What I can't figure out is where there are so many different forms with so many different names, retinols, retinoids, retinals, retin-a... They sure don't make it easy to figure out.
Thanks for the helpful post!