Is Retinol The Fountain of Youth?
Today I am writing to let you know all about Retinol and I will hopefully answer the following question; is Retinol the fountain of youth?
If you have spent any time in the beauty space, especially around people that care for their skin, you have likely heard of Retinol, and its amazing rejuvenating properties, since it stimulates and encourages the skin to renew its collagen production.
In this article I intend on answering a few basic questions, such as, what is Retinol and how does it work. I will of course follow that up with a few suggestions of some of my favorite Retinol products.
So let’s dive deep into this story together and find out, once and for all; if Retinol is the fountain of youth, or not.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a fat soluble vitamin in the Vitamin A family, it is an antioxidant that has multiple purposes for use on the skin.
Retinol as an ingredient is converted in our bodies first as a Retinaldehyde, then it is converted into an active form of Retinoic Acid that our body can then process and absorb.
Once the Retinoic Acid is in its active form, it can then get into your skin cells and begin to influence how they behave on a cellular level.
Pure Reinoic Acid is very potent and it can only be prescribed by a doctor, any Retinol product you buy off the counter, is made with Retinol, Retinol esters, which are alcohol-based. This means that any Retinol you are buying over the counter has a small percentage of active Retinol.
What Does Retinol Do?
Retinol has long been touted as a wonder ingredient to soften the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, discolorations, brown spots, enlarged pores and it even fights blemishes as well.
Retinol encourages the collagen production in the skin and thus increases the cell-turnover, allowing for newer, fresher skin to come forward .
The magic of Retinol is in its ability to resurface the skin’s texture for a smoother, more-even appearance of the skin.
Though Retinol is wonderful, and I highly recommend it, a few notes and warnings are worth mentioning.
Retinol does make your skin more sun-sensitive, which means that it is not an active I recommend during the day, I also feel that its use in summer is controversial at best; as it is such a sun sensitize-r, I recommend using it during the fall-winter months.
Retinol is an active ingredient and it should not be mixed with any active acids, such as Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Beta Hydroxy Acids, Salicilyc Acid or any type of physical exfoliant either.
Retinol is a strong ingredient that you should test out first on your wrist to see how you react. I also suggest, alternating your use of it. Think of using your Retinol twice a week, and allow yourself to give your skin some night’s off to recuperate and fully benefit from the results.
Though Retinol can show effects of exfoliation and cell turnover immediately after use, for full effects, it is recommended to use Reitnol for a period of 30 days or more; to allow the product a full cycle within your regeneration cycle.
A Gentle Avocado Eye Cream
Glow Recipe is one of my favorite skincare brands, their gentle, formulated products are always so nourishing and enjoyable on my skin. The Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Cream from Glow Recipe is such a wonderful eye cream, I have finished 2 of these adorable containers thus far and my under-eye area, loves this product.
The Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Cream by Glow Recipe has Encapsulated Retinol, which means that the Retinol is released slowly over time, allowing it to be easier to absorb and process for the skin.
The Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Cream from Glow Recipe also features Avocado Oil and Extracts, which are rich in vitamin C + E, which are wonderful for fighting environmental stressors.
This eye cream does wonders for hydrating and sealing the hydration in the under-eye area and keeping the eye area supple and smooth. this product does wonders and is so gentle, I can’t recommend the Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Cream by Glow Recipe enough, you’ll love it!
Retinol Sticks That Glide On Your Skin
Peace Out makes some of the best products on the market for acne-prone skin and the Retinol Face Stick has appeared several times in my column as it is such an incredible skincare tool.
One of the main reasons I love the Retinol Face Stick by Peace Out is the fact that it is in a Squalane base, allowing the Retinol to be distributed in a oilier substance, allowing for quicker and deeper penetration in the skin.
Peace Out also has a Retinol Eye Stick, which functions in a similar fashion and is designed to be used for the area of the eye.
The Retinol Eye Stick is a balm stick also formulated in a Squalane base and features the Encapuslated Retinol as well as Bakuchiol, a natural antioxidant, known for its rejuvenating properties, I have been using this one for several months now and I love how smoothly it glides under my eyes, to lock in the precious moisture.
Peace Out‘s suggestions do not disappoint and they are super easy to use and spread out over the skin.
Affordable Retinol Solutions
The Retinol Eye Cream by The Inkey List is a super gentle option to introduce the rejuvenating properties of Retinol around the area of the eyes.
This affordable eye cream has Shea Butter and various forms of Hyaluronic Acid and helps to keep the area under the eyes, properly plumped up and smooth. Making the Retinol Eye Cream an excellent purchase for anyone beginning to get concerned by the lack of moisture around their eyes and wanting to minimize the appearance of the fine lines around the area of the eyes.
The Inkey List also makes the excellent SuperSolutions 1% Retinol Serum, which I absolutely adore, its gentle and effective formulation is ideal for improving the texture of my skin and keeping it refreshed; I spoke about the product more at length in a previous story, read about it, here.
A Locally Made Retinol Solution
Marcelle Cosmetics makes excellent skincare and makeup and is based out of Montreal, making Marcelle a home-town hero, always ready with efficient solutions to treat and care for the skin.
Last fall, I received a promo package of the Retinol + Probiotic Night Serum from Marcelle and I was delighted to try it out. The Retinol + Probiotic Night Serum from Marcelle has a delicate formulation that is designed with Probiotics, which are essential for maintaining a healthy level of bacteria on your skin.
Available at any local pharmacy or drugstore, the Retinol + Probiotic Night Serum from Marcelle is an excellent night-time option to rejuvenate your skin and brighten your complexion.
A Smart Serum For Your Skin
I have loved rediscovering CLINIQUE this past year, CLINIQUE was the first skincare brand I ever tried and reconnecting with this brand years later, has truly felt like coming full circle. Though my Mother had her fair share of reminding me to use my skincare when I was young, she introduced me to a skincare regime, that I pleasantly follow daily now.
One of the products I was most curious about is the Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum by CLINIQUE. The product impresses with its researched formula that includes the trademarked CL1870 Laser Focus Complex; which supports natural collagen production in the skin, Potent Retinoids, stimulating natural cell renewal, as well as a Hyaluronic Acid Concentrate that allows the skin to retain hydration, to plump out the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and such.
I was amazed how gentle and efficient the formula felt on my skin, I was beyond thrilled with the results I got from using the Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum from CLINIQUE. This is an excellent Retinol-based product for anyone wanting to improve the resiliency and collagen production in their skin.
A Waterless Pro-Retinol Solution
boscia continues to impress me with their intelligently formulated products and the ease with which , these products help to improve the quality and appearance of the skin.
The 0.6% Pro-Retinol Repair + Renew Waterless Advanced Treatment from boscia is an incredibly effective and gentle Retinol serum, that absorbs wonderfully into the skin.
The boscia 0.6% Pro-Retinol Repair + Renew Waterless Advanced Treatment features Bakuchiol, a natural alternative for Retinol added into the mixture, to add additional rejuvenating properties to the formula. The 0.6% Pro-Retinol Repair + Renew Waterless Advanced Treatment from boscia is rich in Vitamins C & F, it also has Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, which is so soothing on the skin.
I love how well the 0.6% Pro-Retinol Repair + Renew Waterless Advanced Treatment slips on my skin and is readily and greedily absorbed by my skin. An excellent way to introduce yourself to Retinol, allowing you to enjoy the benefits, without any irritation.
A Passionate Cream To Treat Your Skin
The A-Passioni Retinol Cream by Drunk Elephant is an excellent night cream to hydrate the skin and treat it with an efficient percentage of Retinol .
Featuring a Triple-Peptide Blend, an excellent booster to the Retinol, peptides help to firm and strengthen the collagen and improve the skin’s resiliency; I find that the A-Passioni Retinol Cream by Drunk Elephant is an excellent and rich night dream that works well on for all skin types.
The A-Passioni Retinol Cream from Drunk Elephant has a lovely mixture of various oils and extracts, from Jojoba, to Broccoli, Safflower, Rice Bran and Soybean, this cream comes packed with a generous supply of anti-oxidant goodness, designed to improve the complexion and smooth away fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores and diminish the appearance of any discoloration on your skin.
Drunk Elephant makes some of the most well-crafted skincare available today and the A-Passioni Retinol Cream from Drunk Elephant, does not disappoint, this cream will begin working its magic once applied to the skin. Get yours today and fall under the charm of its powerful spell.
An Answer To Multiple Concerns
The reality of Retinol is that it is an excellent active ingredient of the highest order, that has tremendous benefits for the skin. It helps your skin resurface and smooth itself out over time, reduces the appearance of dark spots and discolorations, as it encourages the skin to produce more collagen, making the skin more elastic and supple.
Add to this the incredible anti-inflammation properties for acne and it becomes easy to see why so many people use this ingredient, since its capacity to improve the skin is unparalleled in the beauty world.
Retinol is an ingredient that I begin incorporating into my skincare every fall and I continue using it until early spring, once the sun comes out in more earnest, I put the Retinol away and bring it back out for the following fall.
Retinol’s use has changed over time and it is an incredible active ingredient that can bring about great changes to your complexion and the general texture of your skin.
Though not quite the Fountain of Youth, Retinol remains an excellent ingredient to add to your skincare if you want to experience its amazing resurfacing and rejuvenating properties However, please, do not drink it!
Until next time my Beauties, stay beautiful!
Jackie
xoxoxo
