Retinol and all its pros and cons
As we age our skin slows down producing collagen, elastin & hyaluronic acid - these give our skin its plumpness, lift and bounce. As this process slows down our collagen and elastin fibers loosen from a once tight structure and our skin becomes more dehydrated, thin and fragile showing more fine lines, wrinkles, sunspots and other visible skin damage.
Retinol is one of those beautiful things in life that can go wrong if your skin just isn't ready for it or if you are not great with following aftercare. It stays in your skin for 48hrs after application and works by speeding up skin cell turnover.
Retinol's fast exfoliating properties help to clear excess sebum, unclog pores and get rid of acne causing bacteria. Cells divide faster creating even more new cells and thickening our skin's outer protective layer, the epidermis. It also boosts our skin's production of hyaluronic acid which helps our skin’s retention of water keeping our skin plump and moist. Retinol helps to slow down our skin's natural breakdown of collagen as we age and stimulates new collagen production, reversing the signs of natural ageing.
Although retinol can be irritating to some for a variety of reasons, if your skin is in good condition without an impaired barrier then you can slowly build up its tolerance to retinol. I recommend that if starting to use one for the first time dilute it down with your moisturiser 50:50 and start using it only a couple times a week for the first 2 weeks. See how your skin responds, if your skin is ok then slowly add days until using it every night. If your skin seems to tolerate this then try a 25:75 ratio of moisturiser to retinol eventually moving to just retinol once your skin is ready.
I highly recommend Dermalogica’s new Dynamic retinol serum, a 3.5% high dose retinol serum that reduces the 4 signs of skin ageing in just 2 weeks. Gentle enough for nightly use and clinically proven to work faster than a leading competitor, delivering the max benefits of retinol while maintaining the health of the skin’s barrier.
Retinol Cons:
Not for use on pregnant or breastfeeding women
Need to stop 48hrs before any LED treatments or waxing
If your skin isn't ready for it, it can make your skin dry, red and irritated.
It makes your skin more sensitive to the sun so If you go out in the sun unprotected (without wearing a sunscreen) it can easily give you more pigmentation.
Retinol Pros
Builds up collagen and strengthens your skin overtime.
Effective in reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Retexturizes for smoother skin
Reduces the appearance of pores
Evens skin tone
Helps to reduce acne
Those who are wanting help with starting a skincare routine, changing one, or wanting to start a retinol for all these amazing skin benefits, Contact Sharon at A Beautiful U.
I will be more than happy to answer any queries over the phone or face to face.
