The lowdown on retinol

SKIN HEALTH TIP 💡

The retinol market is booming.

There are countless nightcreams, moisturisers and serums that contain this so-called miracle ingredient in supermarkets and pharmacies.

Still, do you wonder if retinol is really effective or if it's just marketing hype?

What's the best frequency for using it?

Perhaps you use retinol, but sometimes you feel your skin is irritated?

Here's our quick lowdown:

A vitamin A derivative, retinol is used for mild to moderate acne and skin aging.

Its tiny molecules reach deep beneath the epidermis (outer layer) in your dermis. As soon as it reaches this layer, it neutralises free radicals. The result is a "plumping" effect that reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores, treats mild acne scarring, and boosts collagen and elastin production.

But there's a limit: you can overdo it.

The skin of people who overuse retinol usually becomes dry and irritated. Redness, itching, and peeling are other side effects.

To lessen these side effects, use your retinol every other night or every third night. We also suggest applying it 30 minutes after washing your face to reduce irritation. Also, retinol makes your skin much more sensitive to UV rays, so back it up with sunscreen if you apply it in the morning.

A good over-the-counter retinol serum contains 0.1-0.3% retinol (ideally around 0.3%). Most supermarket brands fall short of this.

Two of our top product suggestions are the Vitamin A Nanoparticles from Dermaviduals, or Ultimate A from Synergie Skin.

Both are gentle, non-irritating yet highly effective forms of vitamin A that regulate cell renewal, even skin tone and reverse sun damage, reduce breakouts and congestion and stimulate collagen to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

As a final note, we do not recommend using more than one retinol-containing product at a time. It is possible to have too much of a good thing!

If used properly, it's an incredibly effective and evidence-based skincare product.

Get in touch if you have any questions about retinol, your home routine, and what works best for you - we'd be happy to help.