Anti-aging: What is retinol for?
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Retinol is a powerful ally for your skin due to its extraordinary anti-aging action. Sometimes criticized but so acclaimed, we reveal all its secrets and how to use it for optimal effect on your skin!
What is retinol?
Retinol is one of the most powerful anti-aging active ingredients that you can find in cosmetics. This is the active form of Vitamin A. It is the ideal companion for mature skin looking for a rejuvenating effect to smooth wrinkles and prevent skin aging. It is also a component naturally present in the animal kingdom, especially in fish liver, which you can consume in the form of food supplements, or synthetically in the retinoid family.
Often considered too powerful and too harsh on the skin, you can now find retinol in a number of products in a gentler formula that is better tolerated by your skin. In its purest form, retinol is indicated under the mention retinol in the INCI list of its products. You can also find some of its derivatives, such as Retinyl Palmitate (found in KIEHL'S - Pro-Retinol Youth Dose Anti-Aging Eye Cream) or Retinoid Acid Ester (found in SUNDAY RILEY - Coconut Oil). Night Retinol Luna, often less expensive and less concentrated.
What are the benefits of retinol?
It is no longer necessary to test the properties of retinol! It allows you to give your skin a real boost according to its problems and needs and according to your age. Its reputation as an excellent anti-aging agent makes it one of the reference active ingredients in the treatment of the signs of aging and the first wrinkles. It allows to smooth the skin, stimulate its production of collagen and elastin and provide a lifting effect.
Retinol penetrates very well into the heart of the skin, allowing it to act both on the surface of the epidermis and in depth, beyond the skin barrier. It also has exfoliating properties, thus reactivating cell renewal. The texture of your skin is smoothed, your complexion is lightened, your wrinkles are smoothed and the quality of your skin is improved. Retinol will then help you fight against many external and radical aggressions to which your skin is subjected on a daily basis, such as tobacco, alcohol, pollution, UV rays, the latter being factors that aggravate skin aging and poor quality and elasticity of the epidermis.
In short, thanks to the action of retinol, your pores close and uncover. It prevents and reduces the appearance of brown spots (by regulating melanin), it can regulate excess sebum in oily skin and limit the appearance of blackheads and pimples.
In addition, its keratolytic action (which regulates the production of keratin in the skin) improves its general texture and refines it. That is why it is essential to apply an SPF in addition to the use of retinol and not expose yourself to the sun! Because your skin barrier is less thick, more UV rays would pass through your skin. The ideal alternative is to apply your retinol products before bed for an overnight effect.
How to use retinol?
Retinol-based treatments are mainly recommended for mature skin or skin prone to the first wrinkles and for acne-prone skin. The reason for the appearance of wrinkles is simple: over time, the skin naturally produces less collagen and elastin, which favors the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and the loss of skin tone. This is where precious retinol comes in, boosting collagen and elastin production so your skin gets that coveted boost of energy and tone. You can find and use retinol in different products to integrate into your skin care routine: eye cream, night cream (for example: REN – Bio-Retinoid Youth Moisturizing Cream ), serum (for example: REN – Bio-Retinoid Youth Serum ), peel, day cream (for example: IT COSMETICS – Serum-in-cream anti-wrinkle facial treatment with retinol for daily use).
First of all, we advise you to use your retinol-based treatments 2 to 3 times a week depending on the sensitivity of your skin to check its tolerance. If all goes well, you can move on to daily use! Use your care as a cure and not continuously. If your skin tingles, feels tight or redness appears, stop your treatment immediately.
What precautions should I take with retinol?
It is mandatory to use an SPF in addition to a retinol-based treatment.
Do not expose yourself to the sun.
Retinol is not recommended for pregnant women as a precautionary measure.
If you have sensitive skin, avoid pure retinol and opt for mild formulas or derivatives.
Prefer vacuum packaging to avoid oxidation of the active ingredient.
Some retinol products:
LA ROCHE-POSAY - Retinol B3 regenerating resurfacing anti-wrinkle facial serum: the anti-wrinkle serum with a regenerating formula concentrated in Retinol, Vitamin B3 and Glycerin.
KIEHL'S - Retinol Anti-Aging Serum - The daily serum that delivers the perfect dose of retinol for optimal efficacy!
DERMALOGICA - Purifying oil and first signs of aging Retinol Clearing Oil: the ideal formula to treat acne and skin aging.
REN - Youthful Bio-Retinoid Oil Concentrate: 99.9% naturally derived oil that seals in moisture for your rejuvenated skin.
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