All About Retinol - The Skin Care Ingredient You May Be Missing

One of the best secrets to youthful skin is the powerful ingredient retinol. Retinol is one of the most prominent skin care ingredients out there, yet many don’t know what it is or how to properly use it.

To start, there are prescription retinoids and then there are retinols. Prescription retinoids are a form of Vitamin A and are prescribed to help treat more severe acne and discoloration or skin conditions like psoriasis. 

However, retinols are not the same products as prescription retinoids, which act more quickly and metabolize faster. Over the counter retinol still packs quite a punch and offers a variety of benefits to your skin health. When looking to upgrade your skin care routine, a retinol product is a common and effective solution. 

Retinol is a type of retinoid, which is also made from vitamin A. Retinol works differently than many other products as it does not remove dead skin cells but rather the small molecules that make up the retinol go deep beneath the outer layer of skin to your dermis. Once in this middle layer of skin, retinol helps neutralize free radicals. The impact from this is that it helps boost the production of elastin and collagen. Elastin and collagen help you to keep clear skin and have anti-aging results. It helps to improve fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores. 

Retinol is mainly used to treat the following skin conditions:

• fine lines

• wrinkles

• sun spots and other signs of sun damage

• uneven skin texture

• melasma and hyperpigmentation

Retinol also has an exfoliating effect on the skin’s surface that can help improve texture and tone. When people first start using retinol on their skin they may find an increase in dryness and flakiness. This is normal to an extent and shows that it is doing its job. However if you find this to be extreme, you should reduce usage, but stay consistent. Retinol will work to shed the top layer of cells of your skin to leave a bright and firm face underneath. 

Many dermatologists suggest using retinol daily and sticking with it for more than four weeks to see its full potential of benefits, as its true results don’t often show until 12 weeks of usage. As time goes on and your skin adapts, you will see less irritation. 

To work retinol into your skincare routine with minimal side effects, it is good practice to mix your retinol product with a moisturizer or use a product that has retinol as one of its ingredients, like our Alpha C Serum which has sustained release retinol (tretinoin) and is proven to rebuild collagen.

Try it out and enjoy your new glow!