Want to look younger? Just say the magic word! Retinol!

Crystal Leochko

Posted on June 05 2019

Want to look younger? Just say the magic word! Retinol!

We are so excited as we have an amazing lady, Klara Zaeni, a skincare specialist teaching us about retinol and how we can use it in our skincare routine. 

What’s the magic word?
It’s truth time for me. I just turned 46 and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m not a Botox gal and haven’t used fillers (at least not yet!) and I think I can confidently say that while my skin isn’t perfect – it looks pretty good. There are lots of reasons for this but one of the big ones is my commitment to the magic word. What is it? RETINOL.

 

Retinol Regeneration Cream

 

The “Best of the Best.”
If you are looking for the very “best of the best” cosmetics ingredients, look no more because I’m happy to share with you that there is pretty much nothing better than RETINOL and it really does work like magic! First of all, I must also say – of course – that my commitment to a healthy diet, a healthy lifestyle, a great skin care routine and staying away from the sun, are all a very important part of forming the foundation for my healthy skin. However, I am equally confident saying that science plays a role too. And science is proving that RETINOL works like magic.

What is RETINOL?
Well – there are about 120 positive benefits to using Retinol. I’m not kidding. The science behind this stuff is strong. Retinol is actually the technical name for Vitamin A. Retinol, hydroxy acids and Vitamin C are the only ingredients that have been proven to help with wrinkles and of these three, Retinol is “king” so it’s really a good thing for your skin. As a cosmetic ingredient, when Retinol interacts with your skin it converts it to the more active form “retinoic acid” and this is the strongest alternative you can obtain (outside of prescription options such as retinoids which are only available through a dermatologist or physician.)

Bloomiss Retinol Cream - Skincare

What does RETINOL do?
• Retinol communicates with your cells. Retinol helps to “upregulate” the genes that make collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin and also activates the fibroblast cells that in turn help make collagen. At the same time, it helps turn down the gene that makes collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down collagen. In other words, with regular use of retinol you should see fewer wrinkles, fewer fine lines, and less hyperpigmentation. Your skin will look brighter and smoother.
• Retinol also exfoliates. As our skin ages, so too does cell production. Retinol has great exfoliating properties that help rid the body of old skin cells and replace them with new ones, quickly! This too helps to improve wrinkles, skin texture and acne.
• Retinol will help to ensure that new collagen is being formed, helping your skin to become healthy and strong.
• Retinol is also antioxidant. It helps to neutralize the free radicals that destroy healthy cells.

Now that you know the magic word – considered the “gold standard” of skin care, you’re probably also thinking it’s time to introduce RETINOL into your skincare routine.

we talked all about Retinol, calling it “the best of the best” when it comes to skin care. Superb for fighting wrinkles and acne, I thought it was important to share a little bit more on the topic again this month since it really is such a powerful tool in your skincare regime. Today we’ll look at how best to use it, other names for retinol and where else you might find it (Hint – fruits and veggies can be an excellent source!

Let’s start with identifying some of the other names Retinol goes by. These include Retinoids, Tretinoin, and Retin A. How do you know “what’s what” and what is best for you? That’s what I am here for my friends, to help you understand your skin, the purpose of Retinol and how best to use it in your life.

Bloomiss Retinol Cream

Retinoids belong to a group of chemicals that together are related to Vitamin A. They can be found in topical applications such as retinol, retinyl palmitate, and retinaldehyde. There are also prescription retinoids such as renova, retin-a, Differin, and Tazorac. Finally, retinoids can also be found in our food. That’s because retinoid chemicals include beta-carotene and different carotenoids are found in many of the brightly coloured and/or leafy dark green vegetables that we consume. Since I have often talked in the past about the importance of a healthy diet full of natural nutrients, and the powerful role diet can play in both your overall health and in your skin care routine, I won’t address that today. Additionally, prescription retinoids are another area I won’t discuss for the simple reason that you would have to obtain prescription products from your treating Dermatologist and this is outside my scope of practice. What I CAN talk about today are the group of retinoids that you will find in over the counter skin care products or those you can obtain from a skin care professional like me.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Retinol!
Retinol comes in a variety of strengths but you would want to look at a product that contains between 0.2 and 0.5% to start. This will help to avoid any potential for inflammation. Retinol is really like “medicine for your skin” and so, like when you use medications, I also like to provide some instructions on how to use retinol. It can be an irritant for some people and also, can dry out the skin. For this reason, I suggest a slow start, using retinol just once every third day for a couple of weeks. If all goes well, use it every second day for another week and if you experience no irritation – go ahead and start using it every night as part of your routine. I also strongly suggest that this product only be used from October to May. That’s because retinol can make your skin photosensitive so it’s a good idea to give your skin a break over the summer months and to make sure that you use an SPF during the day to help provide additional protection to your skin. Using this product at night also means you don’t need to use anything else – it becomes your night cream and no other nighttime exfoliant is needed!

Is Retinol for everyone?

There are several other important things to remember when it comes to retinol use:

• You will need a proper cleanser that leaves no waxy residue on your skin. This is so the retinol can absorb fully and work properly!
• Retinol can dry the skin. In fact, some studies have shown that prolonged use can even cause thinning of the dermal layer. This is another reason why I recommend taking a break from it for several months, typically during the summer.
• To help protect your skin and keep it hydrated, ensure retinol is just one part of your full skincare regime. Use moisturizers daily with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerine to help protect your skin for best overall results. 
• For my clients who have either rosacea or psoriasis – I don’t recommend the use of retinol. Of course, it’s always best to go with your Doctor or Dermatologist’s advice but in my practice, I will not use retinol on clients with these medical conditions.

Is retinol the “best of the best?” Retinol is indeed a wonderful product that promises excellent results WHEN it is used properly. I hope today to have provided you with some good suggestions on when and how to use retinol and when to take a break from using it! If you’d like to know more, make an appointment for a consultation with me anytime.

Retinol night cream

You can try our Bloomiss Regeneration Retinol Cream

Our guest post was written by Klara Zaeni, a Skin Care Professional with over 13 years of experience researching, working with and understanding the science behind healthy skin. Cutting through jargon, Klara brings "klarity" to helping women over 40, offering sound advice that's based on scientifically proven medical products and expertise. Klara accepts no money from cosmetic companies, personally selecting only those products she is 100% confident in using. Choosing to empower and educate her clients, and as a woman over 40 herself, Klara is the "real deal" when it comes to understanding how to help you both look and feel great.

Klara

If you have questions for Klara please connect with her on Instagram at @skincarewithklara 

You can try our Bloomiss Regeneration Retinol Cream here.

 

 

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