Dear Ladies,

Whether or not you have already had the opportunity to use retinol, you probably know how important it is to apply it correctly. However, if you don’t know this yet, it’d be better for you to learn the retinol how-to, because applying vitamin A to skin in a wrong way may be pretty bad for you.

Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?

Retinol. What is it and how does it work?

A lot is being said about retinol in the context of acne skin, discolored skin, mature skin and aging skin. It’s because of the retinol’s strong exfoliating effect.

What exactly is retinol? This is an organic compound, a vitamin A derivative, commonly known as the vitamin of youth (it takes the podium together with vitamin E).

Retinol provides a whole range of amazing benefits. For example, it

• stimulates collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production
• delays ageing and helps skin remain youthful-looking
• is responsible for keeping skin supple, resilient and smooth
• speeds up cell turnover and repair
• aids in fighting acne, alleviating most of its symptoms
• brightens skin up and deals with discolorations/pigmentation spots

Retinol in skincare

The truth is, you can enjoy all the benefits I’ve just mentioned above by using various forms of retinol. There is one thing to realize though – each form of retinol delivers a slightly different effect.

1. Retinol cream – the concentration of retinol is the lowest in creams, therefore you can use such products safely without following any strict rules. For the same reason, you can’t expect it to give you strong effects.
2. Retinol serum – it copes with more serious skin concerns, such as discolorations or wrinkles, meaning that it works where the cream fails mainly because the concentration of vitamin A is higher in face serums, and the product itself is more suited to penetrate deeper to revive and repair skin from within.
3. Retinol ampoules – they offer the highest concentration of vitamin A, so they deliver the strongest effects among all the retinol products. Retinol ampoules are recommended to treat widespread pigmentation spots or acute acne. This form of retinol is commonly used in beauty salons.

How to apply retinol to face

Choosing one of the forms of retinol is just a half the battle. Apart from having a retinol product in your hand, you should also be aware of its correct use to steer clear of adverse effects that it may trigger. This is a potent exfoliant, and you don’t want to hurt yourself.

(!) Apply retinol only at bedtime

This vitamin increases sun sensitivity in the skin. In other words, it may make your skin barely tolerate sun exposure. This may lead to redness, broken capillaries, irritation, tight skin and prickling. To avoid all of that, it’s suggested using retinol cream or serum at bedtime.

(!) Wait until autumn and winter to start with retinol treatment

For the same reason all retinol treatments should be carried out in autumn and winter, when there is less sun exposure. Skin treated with a huge portion of vitamin A may be sensitive to the sun and irritated, which can be hard to bear during the summer.

(!) Pick the most suitable concentration of retinol to your skin

It should be also realized that the effects delivered by retinol, as well as their strength, depend on the concentration. When used in low concentrations, retinol will hardly cause irritation in the skin, than when applying retinol-dense ampules. That being said, choose a product offering just a necessary minimum to satisfy your skin’s needs and get the desired results. It’s better not to go overboard with retinol and don’t end up with over-exfoliated skin because this won’t be pleasant.

Good luck!