Retinol – the magic ingredient
Especially when you’ve only booked a brow wax?
Let’s start with Retinol – the GOLDEN ingredient when it comes to reducing wrinkles, fines lines, sun damage and improving skin texture.
Retinol is a pure form of vitamin A and when applied to the skin creates retinoic acid which has amazing benefits, not only anti-aging but also to help fight acne, repair sun damaged skin and normalising the skin’s natural functions.
Actually, by saying retinol supports your skin, it actually means that every cell in your skin can function optimally and not to work harder in fighting inflammation caused by acne (which increases the aging process) or constantly trying to protect itself against the sun by forming pigmentation, etc.
It is allowing your skin to focus on being healthy, to have a proper functioning immune system and produce collagen, elastin and all the needed substances to prevent pre-mature aging.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a pure form of Vitamin A and is a highly reactive molecule that, when not of a high quality, can easily break down and lose its potency when coming into contact with sunlight, heat or air.
It is for this reason to make sure to purchase this product from a well-formulated and trusted brand to ensure that you obtain the best and highest quality of vitamin A/Retinol.
Why should I use Retinol?
The reason why we should use Retinol in our daily skin care routine is to slow down the aging process as soon as possible.
Retinol will increase your skin’s natural cell renewal and slow down aging by producing new fresh plump cells.
As it increases cell renewal it will also assist in diminishing the appearance of pigmentation, as the pigmented cells are brought to the surface and will then eventually flake off.
Not only does it have benefits towards anti-aging properties and reduction of pigmentation it also improves skin texture, to eventually provide a softer and much smoother appearance. It will stimulate the blood flow to bring more oxygen and nutrients to skin cells thus ensuring a healthier functioning skin.
Some side effects can occur when using Retinol or vitamin A, such as temporary redness, flakiness, sensitivity and slight peeling. When this occurs it is called a Retinoid Reaction and the use of the Retinol product must be stopped till the reaction has subsided. Only then can you slowly start to introduce the product again in smaller amounts until your skin is strong and familiar with the higher levels of Retinol.
To minimize the risk of side effects it is necessary to introduce the product gradually on the skin. Start by using it twice a week at night, building up to three times a week and keep adding as your skin gets familiar to the Retinol, until you are able to use the product every night.
In addition to using Retinol products you must apply SPF during the day as your skin is very photo-sensitive. It is imperative and as per directions to only use the Retinol Serum at night.
All of this means you MUST tell your therapist if you are using retinol products. Everything from eyebrow waxing to LED treatment will be affected by your retinol use. Trust me when I say that you don’t want bleeding, grazed skin on your eyes due to thinning skin or aggravated photosensitivity!
If you need to book these treatments….and if you tell us on our consultation forms… we can advise when to stop using any products in the lead up to your beauty treatments for the best results.
You can start using Retinol on your skin when aging or wrinkles starts to concern you. This will most likely be somewhere in your twenties or thirties and then to continue using it according to your requirement.
Apply the serum at night after you have cleansed your skin and then apply your moisturiser. Slowly build up your skin with the applied Retinol and gradually increase the use to three times a week to eventually use it every night.
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