Retinol is a skincare ingredient that became popular at the end of the 1950s. In the beginning, retinol was an effective dermatological treatment for people who suffer from skin breakouts, such as acne. But through the years, retinol presented several other benefits as a topical dermatology product.
What is retinol?
Retinol comes from vitamin A and is an ingredient added to various skincare products such as serums, lotions, and creams. Retinol has anti-ageing effects, clears acne, and helps neutralise free radicals, which reduces the appearance of enlarged pores and wrinkles. The beneficial ingredient is suitable for mature-looking skin. Most products containing retinol are available over-the-counter.
How does retinol work?
Contrary to popular belief, retinol does not exfoliate or remove dead skin cells because it cannot break the bonds holding the dead skin cells to the epidermis.
Instead, retinol is an antioxidant composed of tiny molecules that go deep under the epidermis and into the dermis. Once the retinol reaches the dermis, it will help neutralise free radicals, promote skin renewal, and increase the production of collagen and elastin production, making your skin look plump. Plumping reduces the appearance of enlarged pores, wrinkles, and fine lines.
Aside from minimising the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines, retinol-containing skincare products like SkinCeuticals Retinol are effective in treating sun damage, sunspots, uneven skin texture, melasma, and other hyperpigmentation problems.
Effective and safe ways to use retinol
You are not going to see results immediately after using retinol. You will achieve your desired results by using the product every day. You can expect to see results after 12 weeks of regular use. Because of the weaker potency, it is not as irritating as other ingredients and is gentler on your skin.
Professional dermatologists say you should apply retinol after washing your face at night. Using retinol during the day is not advisable because you may develop more skin issues due to sun exposure. Aside from deactivating the retinoic acid in retinol, exposing your skin to the sun after retinol application can cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight.
Skin treated with retinol becomes thin and delicate. Thus, you should protect your skin in the morning by applying sunscreen with high SPF to provide ample protection and reduce sensitivity.
According to professional dermatologists, you should build up your skin’s tolerance to retinol by starting with a product with low strength because it can cause dryness, irritation, and redness. The lowest concentration of retinol is 0.3 per cent.
Another way is to apply the product at a limited frequency initially. For example, apply retinol to clean skin and leave it for one to two hours before rinsing it with water and applying moisturiser for the first two weeks. After that, you can gradually increase the application to every other day until you can use it daily.
Make sure that you consult with a professional dermatologist if you plan to add retinol to your daily skincare routine. Moreover, you should start using retinol if you’re in your mid-20s or early 30s when you see signs of early ageing.
