Retinol by Mindy

This post was inspired by one of my favorite skin care products AND by the number one question I get asked by my clients “what is the best skin care product that will help improve my skin right away?”

The reality for many women is just as they start to see wrinkles on their skin (perhaps around the eyes or on the forehead for example) they still get an occasional pimple. This can be both frustrating and confusing. Yet it isn’t so difficult to find one solution for both skincare issues.

I would like to point out that the skincare phenomena I am writing about here is not adult acne. While adult acne is definitely on the rise, I am referring here to people who are probably in their late 30s, early 40s and are starting to see the emergence of fine lines while still occasionally experiencing breakouts this.

In my opinion what is happening here is simple: you are starting to see fine lines because sun damage from years before is now becoming visible, and you are still experiencing an occasional breakout because of your hormones (especially those related to your period) and/or stress. Just as I see the cause of this skincare issue as fairly straightforward so is, in my opinion, the solution: add a retinol cream to your skincare regime at night, make sure you use sunscreen daily, and use an antioxidant serum/lotion every day. Be sure not to go overboard in order to improve the appearance of your skin. Do not start using anti-acne products meant for teenagers like “grocery store spot treatments”. These products will be much too harsh for pretty much anyone who isn’t a teenager anymore.

Retinol is the ideal skincare ingredient for people experiencing both fine lines and an occasional breakout because it can treat both issues simultaneously. So what is Retinol??

Retinol is a form of vitamin A. Other forms of vitamin A in skincare that you may be familiar with include isotretinoin (better known as Accutane) or retinoic acid (also known as Tretinoin) While these are prescription doses, retinol is the same thing but in a “lower dose”. Retinol does not require a prescription and can give you much of the same results as stronger vitamin A doses without some of the harshness.

Things retinol can help:

– fine lines and wrinkles

– skin roughness and dullness

– skin firmness

– pigmentation from age spots

– acne

Retinoids are skin cell normalizers so that means that they speed up skin cell turn-over which will help clear up breakouts, and retinoids help rebuild collagen so they will minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. As such adding a retinol product to your skincare regime is the perfect solution for both fine lines and breakouts.

Just keep a few things in mind when using retinoids:

Retinols can be irritating to the skin, and cause dehydration. To reduce the chances of this happening, you should introduce it into your routine slowly (don’t use it every day to begin with), and use extra hydrating moisturisers.

Retinol breaks down with exposure to light and air. Pick a retinol product in an airtight, opaque container to improve its shelf life.

Using retinol with other excellent skin treatments like AHAs (alpha hydroxyl acids) and vitamin C can speed up the skin renewal process, fading hyperpigmentation and wrinkles faster.

Retinol, much like AHAs (alpha hydroxyl acids), can make the skin more susceptible to sunburn. Wear extra sunscreen when you use retinol so you don’t completely reverse its beneficial effects!

Lastly, keep in mind that you cannot use Retin-A or retinols when pregnant or nursing.

So how would this anti-aging, anti-acne skincare regime look? I suggest cleansing twice daily with a mild cleanser, applying an antioxidant in the morning (such as a Vitamin C serum/lotion in order to boost the effectiveness of your sunscreen, further prevent the signs of aging, protect your skin from inflammation), and then using a sunscreen with a spf between 30 to 50 (you can also use a separate moisturizer before your sunscreen if you feel your skin needs it). In the evening after cleansing apply a retinol cream followed by a moisturizer.

Pretty simple, right? Come to Clarity and check out some of our favorites! ?

xoxo, Mindy