Retinol products are wonderfully healing for your skin, if you know how to use them. Everyone can benefit from them, whether you have dry, sun-damaged skin or an oily acne-prone skin type. It can be a love-hate relationship, however, and if you abuse these products, you’ll never see the fantastic results they can achieve.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is another name for Retin-A, a vitamin A therapy treatment. It also has a variety of other names such as Retinoid, Tretinoin, Clindamycin, Differin, and Tazorac. Retinol is used in numerous products to help clear acne, reverse sun damage, help with hyperpigmentation, unclog pores and smooth and refine your skin texture and tone. I prefer to use medical grade retinol products because you will see the effects quicker, and if you are spending the money you should use the best you can afford to buy.
How to Use Retinol
The purpose retinol products is to remove dead skin cells, thus renewing skin texture and tone. Yes, you will peel, but you want to peel to smooth the skin. If you use these products every day and night, however, it will cause excessive redness and irritation, and you’ll hate them. Use retinol products every other day at only at night or just several times a week.
When you first start a retinoid program, begin slowly, alternating days or even going a couple of days between applications. You can use a hylauronic acid hydrating product to lessen the drying effects or apply a moisturizer to your skin if you are a dry skin type. Definitely use a hylauronic acid formula for normal-oily skin types to hydrate and prevent breakouts.
Tips and Cautions
Retinol products can also cause your skin to be sun sensitive, and you can cause more damage by exposing your skin to the sun while wearing a product containing Retin-A.
If you have oily-acne skin, always choose a gel formula; do not use cream formulas. Now if you are a normal-dry skin type, a cream may be your perfect choice, except if you are prone to breakouts. Then you’ll want to use a gel formula.
Final thoughts
Yes, you may break out a little because you are peeling. Any blemishes you already have will come to the surface. Stick to the program and what a wonderful difference it will make to your complexion!
