Do you notice wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation on your face? Well, we know that it is a nightmare for every person, but it is an aging process. And everyone has to go through it. But if we say that sometimes you can age before that you ought to? Yes. With regular exposure to UV rays and environmental pollution, your skin can age faster than the body, and you may appear older than your actual look. But before you start panicking, we have a solution for you. We present our hero ingredient and one of the most popular skincare serums in the USA- Retinoid. Or what are commonly known as Retinols.
In this article, we will explain everything about retinol serums and how you should use them as beginners to prevent aging signs.
What Is Retinol Serum And How To Use Them?
Retinol was discovered back during world war I. Since then, it has evolved significantly. It has nowadays become a significant part of our life, and we can easily find them in our daily skincare products. They are popularly used to treat acne, pigmentation, wrinkles, and fine lines. It has collagen-boosting properties that make it a top-class anti-aging ingredient.
Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that are used to treat acne and wrinkles. It works best on the outermost layer of the epidermis and stimulates collagen and new skin cell production. It also contributes to speeding the cell turnover cycle, providing you with youthful and bouncy skin.
As our skin absorbs retinol, it breaks into retinaldehyde. And then into retinoic acid, which is commonly known as tretinoin.
And this doesn’t end here. In the market, while looking for retinoids, we come as retinol and retinoic acid. If you also are confused about both, let us explain the difference in simple words.
Retinoids And Retinoic Acid- Difference Explained
Retinoids are used in the cosmetic industry. It is widely present in our skincare products, and we don’t need any prescriptions. They work on the outermost layer of the epidermis and stimulate collagen products.
They also speed up the skin turnover cycle providing you with a youthful look.
Note:
If you want to confirm if your skin care product has retinoids, you should look for these ingredients- retinyl palmitate, retinol, or retinal.
On the other hand, retinoic acid, or tretinoin is a derivative of retinoids. They have a higher concentration of retinoids and are 10-20 times stronger than retinoids. They work faster on the skin but can harm it too. Its continuous use can cause itchiness, dryness, and sensitive skin. And therefore, it is recommended to use this after consulting your doctor.
Different Use Of Retinol Serum
Now let us talk about the different uses of retinol serum.
Retinol Serum For Wrinkles
As our skin ages, the dermis layer of our skin begins to thin. It becomes difficult for them to hold moisture. And the breakdown of collagen causes wrinkles and fine lines on your face.
Retinol serum improves the state of your epidermis and increases collagen synthesis. It also removes the denatured elastin and strengthens your skin’s elasticity.
Retinol Serum For Hyperpigmentation
Do you know retinol serum is also great for hyperpigmentation? Yes, this is true. A recent study of NCBI found that continuous use of retinoids decreases melanin production by melanocytes. And this is why retinol serum is considered one of the best brightening serums.
Retinol serum also increases the skin’s oxygen supply to speed cell metabolism. Eventually, it accelerates the cell turnover cycle and improves skin discoloration.
For best results, you should use niacinamide serum and retinol serum together. The niacinamide shooting effect protects your skin barrier. It also helps in minimizing the side effects of retinol.
Retinol Serum For Stretch Marks
You can also use retinol serum to prevent and treat stretch marks. Retinoids regenerate the dermis layer of your skin. It boosts collagen production, which takes four months in general to 1-2 weeks.
The retinoids further strengthen- the dermis and epidermis layer of your skin and prevent lumpy skin and uneven skin.
Precaution:- Retinols or its derivatives are not recommended to be used by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
Retinol Serum For Acne
While retinol serums are popularly used to treat aging signs, they are also best for acne. They work on the outermost layer of the epidermis and stimulate the production of new skin cells. It also speeds up the skin turnover cycle of dead skin cells.
Also, if your acne is caused by clogged pores, then retinol serum would work magically for you.
How To Use Retinol Serum On Face?
Retinol serums seem intimidating, but if you follow these simple steps, you can easily include them in your skincare routine.
Step-by-step process:
- Cleanser
Start by using a gentle cleanser to clean the dirt, sitting on your skin’s surface.
- Eye cream
Now pat your skin dry. After that, apply your eye cream around your eyes to protect them from retinol.
Alternatively, you should use Vaseline jelly, around your mouth and nose to protect them.
- Serum
Now you should apply your favorite hydrating serum. You can either use niacinamide or hyaluronic acid serum. Never layer it with vitamin C serum or any other similar exfoliator.
- Retinol Serum
Now wait till your skin is dry. Take a pea size amount of retinal syrup. And apply it evenly on your skin’s surface. Don’t rub or massage the serum, as it will do more harm than good on your skin’s surface. Also, avoid using it near your eyes, nose, and mouth area.
- Moisturizer
Apply a thick layer of moisturizer on your face after using retinol acid. Why? Retinol can make your skin extremely dry and cause flakes if you do not follow up with a good moisturizer, it can cause skin irritation.
Final Words
Retinol serums are the best way to include retinoids in your skincare regimen, as they are gentle and do not harm your skin. Also, you should start by using a low concentration for better results. If you have oily skin, then one person of retinol serum is best for you, and if you have dry, then 0.5% is good enough.
Also, if you want to include tretinoin in your skin care regimen, you should start by using 0.025% of it. And, don’t forget to consult your skin doctor before using it.
A retinol serum takes 12 weeks to improve your skin quality. But you can see visible results in a few weeks.
These were some simple tips on how to use retinol serum. We hope you can now include retinoids in your skincare routine with a better understanding.
