Retinol | Your Skincare Must Have
Retinol is a popular skincare ingredient that you’ve definitely seen when browsing for anti-aging products. It’s been around for a while, with plenty of research to back up the effectiveness. So is it really worth all the hype? Absolutely!
While there are multiple factors that go into great skin, if I had to pick one skincare product ingredient must have - it would be retinol! I encourage everyone to incorporate a retinol product into their skincare regime. It’s a tried and true product for reducing the signs of aging.
What is Retinol and What Does it Do?
Retinol is derived from Vitamin A, which is a crucial nutrient for skin health. Studies have shown that people with a higher amount of Vitamin A in their skin look younger than those with a lower concentration. So Retinol definitely has anti-aging powers - but what's the science behind this magic?
Retinol turns back the clock by doing a couple different things:
Here are the results to static lines to forehead after using ZO Skin Health retinol for 4 months + one treatment with Botox Cosmetic
Creating more collagen & elastin
Boosting cell turnover
Collagen and elastin are the key building blocks of healthy skin. They keep your skin strong and elastic - which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. More collagen means plumper, smoother, younger looking skin. Studies show that consistent use of retinol results in significant reduction of facial wrinkles.
Boosting cell turnover makes your skin’s shedding process more efficient. Once you hit your 30’s - this natural regeneration starts to slow. Not shedding these dead cells as well causes your complexion to be dry and dull.
Retinol ramps this process back up, ditching the old skin cells and letting your fresh, younger skin shine through! This gives you a brighter and more radiant complexion. Reducing rough patches also smoothes out your skin - giving you a great natural look while also improving the look of makeup.
More Benefits of Retinol
As if smoother, brighter skin wasn’t enough - there’s other perks to incorporating a retinol product into your skincare routine.
Here are the results of using ZO Skin Health retinol products. You can see the great reduction in pigmentation and acne scarring after 8 weeks of use
Retinol can help with acne, even if it’s severe and has resulted in scarring. It keeps your pores clear and unclogged - preventing the formation of blackheads and blemishes.
You can also look forward to more balanced skin hydration. The exfoliating effect of retinol controls oily pores, and also removes those dead skin cells that can make your skin look dry and flaky.
Last but certainly not least, retinol can even out your skin tone by reducing hyperpigmentation. It fades signs of sun damage like age spots, and also reduces the appearance of melasma.
Don’t really have skin concerns? Regardless of your skin type - using a retinol will benefit you.
Even if you’re in your 20’s and those signs of aging haven't crept in quite yet - getting started on a retinol is a great preventative strategy. By enhancing collagen production, you can help prevent the formation of lines and wrinkles. Prevention is better than treatment - and you’ll set yourself up for great skin in the future.
Considerations When Using Retinol
First off - don’t stop at your face. Your neck and décolletage show signs of aging too, but they are often neglected.
Here is an example of reactions caused by retinol. Dryness, redness, burning, flaking of the skin is normal and expected
It’s best to start low and go slow when it comes to introducing a retinol for the first time. Redness, dryness, and flaking are EXPECTED, ANTICIPATED reactions! These reactions are minimized as your tolerance builds up to the product. I can give you advice on how to slowly ramp up the product. Always remember, in order for there to be a change in your skin, these anticipated reactions need to occur.
Sunscreen is always important, but you definitely won’t want to forget it when using a retinol. It makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight and puts you at higher risk of getting a burn.
Use the retinol at night, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen during the day. And don’t start the retinol right before your next sunny vaca.
Getting Started with Medical Grade Skincare
I highly recommend getting started with the skincare product line I swear by: ZO Skin Health. I go into more detail about this awesome product line in this blog post. Many of these products are formulated with retinol and effectively reduce signs of aging. If you’re unsure where to start, please set up an appointment with me! I’d love to help you get started with these products and make recommendations for your specific needs and concerns.
