Retinol, which is frequently mentioned as a “super power” in skin care, has been accepted as the gold standard for years by dermatologists with its strong anti-aging effects and successful results in acne treatment. However, since it is also known to be an aggressive ingredient that can cause sensitivity on the skin, it can sometimes lead to indecision in the individual about whether to use it or not, despite the positive results.
All your questions about retinol, such as how to adapt retinol to your skin care routine, how to use it at what age, in what form and with what care, how to choose the most suitable formula for the individual , find answers in this comprehensive document.
What is retinol?
Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is in the cluster of retinoids that increased collagen production in the skin. It is known to be more powerful and effective than retinyl palmitate, another type of retinoid. Since it activates the skin to produce new cells, when added to the skin care routine, it offers powerful anti-aging effects from reducing the appearance of wrinkles to giving the skin firmness.
Retinol, which also plays a valuable role in the treatment of acne and provides solutions to almost every skin problem; It helps tighten pores, brighten and even out skin tone, reduce the appearance of dark spots and control hyperpigmentation. It also acts as an antioxidant, fighting free radical damage, which is one of the causes of skin aging signs.
How does retinol work?
Skin enzymes convert retinol into retinoic acid, which promotes cell regeneration, thus reducing cellular aging and improving skin appearance. A study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology concludes that retinol acts on the skin at a molecular level, increasing collagen production and obviously reducing the appearance of wrinkles on the skin after 12 weeks of regular use.
At what age should one start using retinol?
Here, the reason why you want to use retinol becomes important here. Is it to alleviate the visible signs of aging on your skin, to take early measures against wrinkles and loss of firmness that will occur in later years, or for non-age-related complaints such as acne, blemishes or color inequalities?
Cell renewal and collagen production of the skin begin to decline in the early 30s. However, the formation of signs of aging differs from person to person due to genetic/environmental factors and the variability of life style. If a precautionary application is to be made for anti-aging care, it is recommended to start using retinol in the late 20s or early 30s. However, if complaints such as acne, spots or color inequalities are the subject of words, retinol can be included in the skin care routine at an earlier age.
What should be considered when using retinol?
Since applying frequently and choosing strong formulations can cause irritation on the skin in the first place, it is very valuable to start by accustoming the skin to this ingredient and gradually increase the amount of retinol you use. Choose it and start by applying it 2 times a week. Depending on your skin’s tolerance, increase the frequency of application over time, 3 or more days a week.
Retinol increases the skin’s sensitivity to the sun and UV rays reduce the activity of retinol. For this reason, include retinol only in your night care and apply a skin conditioner with a high SPF content to your skin during the day. Avoid using retinol during summer holidays when you will be exposed to sunlight frequently.
How to apply retinol?
After cleansing and drying your skin in the evening, distribute the pea-sized product evenly over your entire face with the 13-point technique (3 points on the forehead, 3 points on the cheeks, 2 points on the nose, 2 points on the chin).
If your retinol-containing work is in serum form, use it before your night cream, if it is in cream form, use it after your night serum. Do not forget to apply the product to your neck and décolleté area, where signs of aging are most noticeable. Keep in mind: always start your skin care routine with light texture products such as lotions, serums, leave heavy textures such as creams to the last step. To increase its anti-aging effects, you can combine retinol with antioxidant-containing products in your care routine.
How long should I use retinol?
Studies show that the cell renewal effect of retinol decreases after 3 months. For this reason, after 3 months of systematic use, it is recommended to give medium for 3 months.
With which ingredients should retinol not be used?
Since products containing exfoliating acids such as alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and poly hydroxy acid (PHA) will increase the sensitivity of the skin, these acids should be given medium when using retinol . Benzoyl peroxide, an ingredient used in acne treatment, is not used with retinol because it reduces its effectiveness.
Remember that as long as you add retinol to your skin care, your skin’s tolerance will decrease to some extent, and do not make applications such as chemical peeling and laser while you are using retinol.
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What are the side effects of retinol, how can precautions be taken?
Dryness, tightness, tenderness and slight peeling are common side effects in the first weeks when the skin tries to adapt to retinol and can last up to 6 weeks. However, if your skin shows severe reactions such as flaking, severe irritation, redness and prolonged burning sensation, stop using retinol and apply only a skin barrier-repairing, fragrance-free moisturizer for a few weeks.
, fortunately, the new generation care products, which have been redeveloped compared to the latest technologies, are more properlyd by the skin thanks to their slow-release formulas. When skin soothing ingredients are added to the formula, side effects are minimized.
Use gentle cleansers when washing your face to help your skin get used to retinol more comfortably. Additionally, include moisturizers in your care routine with ingredients such as ceramide, hyaluronic acid that repair the skin barrier and keep the skin hydrated for a long time.
Who is retinol safe for?
The use of retinol is not recommended for individuals with sensitive skin, those with inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and pregnant women.
How to choose a care product with retinol?
When choosing the most suitable product for you, you can decide according to your skin type, skin fuss and whether you have used retinol before. Creams for dry skin, lotion for normal and combination skin, serum or gel for oily skin can be preferred. In serum forms, the content penetrates the skin more heavily and faster. If you prefer the product to have a strong formula but a light structure, you can turn to serums. If your skin is sensitive, you can apply it by mixing it with your moisturizer.
If you are going to use retinol for the first time, choose low concentration artifacts. If you’ve used it before, or if it’s been a few weeks since you added retinol to your care routine, you can turn to formulas with higher concentrations.
Also pay attention to the packaging of the work. Retinol loses its effectiveness when exposed to air and light, so avoid translucent bottles and jars. Opaque packages with an airtight pump mechanism and works in the form of tubes or capsules are the most ideal.
When do the effects of retinol begin to be seen?
After starting the use of retinol, effects such as pore tightening and shine are the first results seen after about 4 weeks, with the expulsion of dead cells from the skin. Full recovery in acne treatment occurs after 2-3 months on average. Just as after a while, signs of aging and pigmentation problems begin to lighten. However, the most obvious results in fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots are seen after 6 months, when the new collagen and elastin production process is completed.
Known misconceptions about retinol
Although it is thought that retinol thins the skin, it is actually the opposite. Many people think that their skin is thinning, as peeling is observed in the first weeks of retinol application. But retinol helps to improve epidermal thickness by triggering collagen production after regular use, so it actually thickens the skin in the long run. Thus, the thinning of the skin, which is a sign of aging, is reversed and the skin becomes more robust against environmental factors.
(oggusto.com)