You have probably heard the word Retinol bandied about in magazines, on blogs and on the back of your skin care purchases for years but what exactly is it and why is it so effective? skincare Often described as the holy grail of anti-aging ingredients, Retinol is more than just a one trick pony. It can help with a wide range of skin issues from acne to hyperpigmentation and is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Retinol is the purest form of Vitamin A, a powerful skin healing and rejuvenating antioxidant that is converted into Retinoic Acid in the body. Since it was first discovered over 80 years ago, Retinol has become one of the most important ingredients in anti-aging skin care thanks to its ability to go deeper into the skin where collagen and elastin are stored instead of just sitting on the top layer of the skin and not really doing much. Collagen and elastin are what give the skin its firmness and elasticity but excessive sun exposure and ageing mean the natural levels of these proteins decrease, leaving the skin prone to wrinkles and sagging. Instead of adding extra collagen back into the skin, Retinol works by telling the body to increase collagen production, so the skin is effectively correcting itself. Increased collagen levels help smooth out any fine lines and wrinkles for more youthful looking skin that feels stronger. This sounds pretty impressive in itself, but Retinol doesn’t stop there. Being an antioxidant means it attacks and neutralises free radicals before they can do any damage to the skin, providing it with another means of preventing and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It has a remarkable ability increase cell renewal. This is not only essential to keep skin looking youthful and glowing but it also works wonders on acne prone skin, as Retinol encourages the removal of dead skin cells from the epidermis. This prevents the pores from becoming blocked and therefore limits the possibility of breakouts. If you have enlarged pores or your skin is prone to blackheads, then adding a Retinol based product into your routine could help clear the skin and make obvious pores less visible. This ability to increase cell turnover can also help lighten any discoloured areas of the skin, especially post-acne marks that can appear on the skin once a spot has healed. By naturally getting rid of the darker cells, skin can start to look brighter and more even in tone. Unfortunately Retinol does not work its magic on all skin types, so avoid it if you have very dry skin, sensitive skin or suffer from rosacea. First time Retinol users may experience some mild skin irritation and dryness which subsides once the skin gets used to the ingredient, but this may prove too uncomfortable for already delicate skin types so use with caution. If you experience any severe burning, stinging or redness you should stop using it immediately. Retinol can also make the skin photosensitive, meaning it doesn’t react well to sunlight. This is why a lot of Retinol based skin care products are designed to be used at night when it won’t be disturbed by any UV rays. When using Retinol, make sure that you apply a sunscreen every day to protect the skin, as you will find it is more prone to UV induced redness and irritation. The final point to remember for Retinol first-timers is to gradually increase your skin’s tolerance by starting small. Try applying a 0.1% Retinol based cream to the face every other night to see how your skin reacts and as its tolerance increases, you can think about upping the concentration depending on your skin type and the issues you wish to correct. Retinol is not just a skin corrector; it also works as a preventive ingredient, so the sooner you start including it in your skin care routine the better. We recommend Aestheticare Retriderm
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:40:20 +0000