Retinol is THE product to take your skincare routine to the next level.
Building a skincare routine can be a big undertaking and trying to figure out what products you actually need is a daunting task. One skincare product that skincare experts all agree rounds out any regimen is RETINOL.
What is retinol?
Retinol is a form of vitamin A. It is a member of a larger family of vitamin A compounds called retinoids. Retinol is the most commonly used retinoid because it can be sold over the counter. Other retinoids tend to be a lot stronger and need a prescription. This doesn't mean that retinol doesn't work, it does! It just takes a little longer to see the results compared to the prescription products. It is also perfect if you want to see how retinoids affect your skin or if you have sensitive skin.
We like to think of it as an anti-aging Swiss Army Knife because it is great for so many different skin conditions, skin types, and skin tones. You don’t even necessarily need to have a skin problem, it makes for a great preventative product as well.
Retinoids work on different levels of the skin, at the surface they help with cell turnover, stimulating cell division and growth. This helps eliminate wrinkle patterns in the skin and eliminates fine lines and wrinkles. It can also thicken the top layer of the skin, which addresses thinner and more translucent aging skin.
At a deeper level, retinol stimulates the skin's collagen and elastin production. Those are the proteins in the skin responsible for its structure and elasticity. This is amazing for keeping skin plump and firm.
You can find retinol in gels, creams, and serums. No matter what delivery method you prefer, the two things that matter the most are consistency and retinol concentration. Retinol works best if you are consistent with the application. You should start with a low concentration (such as .25%) applying it every other day, working your way up to every day if your skin allows and increasing the retinol strength. Redness and skin sensitivity are normal at first and will usually go away as your skin adapts.
Concentration of retinol is also very important. This specific retinoid starts to generate results at around .25% concentration. You can safely use up to 1%, although anything above .5% is not recommended for darker skin tones.
What retinol can be used for
-Acne
-Acne Scars
-Dark Spots or Hyperpigmentation
-Large or Clogged Pores
-Fine Lines and Wrinkles
-Stretch Marks
-Skin Texture
-Uneven Skin Tone
While retinol is an amazing tool, there can be some side effects. Dry itchy skin, redness, peeling, or sunburn are all common reactions. If you do start to get them you may be using too high of a concentration of retinol or need to use it every other day or every two days.
The most important side effect is that retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. It is vital to wear sunscreen every single day while you are using and for at least a week after.
One important thing to note with retinols is that if you are planning to do any skin treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing or RF microneedling, you should stop using retinol for a week prior and through your recovery process.
Our favorite retinol is made by Alastin, and we swear by it. Their Renewal Retinol comes in both a .25% and .5% concentration, so it’s good for both beginners and long time retinol users. We do sell this at our store location in Brighton. If you have any questions about how to incorporate retinol into your skin regimen, you can call or text us at (810) 852-2514 or send us an email at spa@brightonaesthetics.com for more information.