The first step to any effective skincare routine is finding the right cleanser for your skin concerns. This could be fine lines, dark spots, dry skin, or even acne-prone skin. Retinol in one active ingredient that addresses multiple different skin concerns making it a great active ingredient in skin care products. However, it is important to note that just because a face wash contains retinol, does not make it the best face wash with retinol. Not all cleansers are created equally. So, let’s talk about it.
What is Retinol
Retinol is a form of vitamin A. It was first discovered in 1913 by Elmer McCollum and Marguerite Davis in butterfat and cod liver oil. In the beginning the primary focus on the use of retinol was in maintaining good vision and overall health. It was not until the 1970’s that the ingredient marked a significant advancement in dermatological treatments. In the 1980’s a synthetic retinoid was approved by the FDA for severe acne. Today, retinol is commonly used in a variety of skincare products and treatments as a topical agent.
Why Should you Use Retinol
Retinol is primarily used for its anti-aging and acne-fighting properties. It is know to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, improving skin texture, and fading hyperpigmentation. It is also known to be effective in unclogging pores and reducing sebum production.
Anti-Aging: Retinol increases skin cell turnover, stimulates the production of collagen, and reduces the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles.
Hyperpigmentation: Retinol can help fade hyperpigmentation, including dark spots, freckles, and age spots by increasing dead cell turnover. This helps to provide the appearance of a more even skin tone.
Skin Texture: Retinol is a powerful ingredient for smoothing the skin’s surface and brightening the skin too. The result is skin that appears more even toned and healthy.
Acne: Retinol products are a great tool for acne prevention and acne treatments. It is effective in unclogging pores and removing acne-causing bacteria. In addition to reducing sebum production to help with excess oil.
Brightening and Smoothing: Retinol is a key ingredient in making dead skin cells on the skin shed faster, while encouraging new skin cell growth. Resulting in brighter and smoother-looking skin.
Other Active Ingredients to look for
Hyaluronic Acid- Hyaluronic acid is an excellent for hydrating the skin. It acts as a humectant, attracting and holding water. This helps keeping the skin moisturized and plump, making it a great ingredient to incorporate into a moisturizer.
Salicylic Acid- Salicylic Acid is a beta hydroxy acid that contributes to the exfoliation of dead skin cells and unclogging pores. This makes it effective for treating acne, blackheads, and other skin conditions. Additionally, it can help reduce redness and inflammation.
Niacinamide- Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that helps to hydrate the skin, brighten the complexion, and reduce the appearance of pores and reduce inflammation. It is also a helpful ingredient in improving, skin barrier function, protect against environmental damage, and even out skin tone.
Vitamin E- Vitamin E is another great ingredient for the skin, especially when used in a moisturizer. Vitamin E can be used for moisturizing the skin, treating eczema and wounds. help combat signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and inflammation. It can also help with the appearance of scars and uneven skin tone.
Azelaic Acid- Azelaic Acid is a dicarboxylic acid that is derived from natural ingredients. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It is also helpful when treating acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation.
People and Ingredients the Retinol may not be Right for
There are a few different rules that must be followed when using retinol. These rules must be followed to avoid damage to your skin or your health.
Who Should Avoid Using Retinol
Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women
As I mentioned earlier, retinol is a form of vitamin A. Excessive vitamin A during pregnancy can be harmful to a developing baby. The same concerns apply to breastfeeding infants.
Sensitive Skin
Retinol can be irritating to sensitive skin. This could cause redness, dryness, and peeling of the skin.
Rosacea or Eczema
People with rosacea may find retinol to be too harsh or irritating. Which can cause additional skin irritation. This is the same for people with eczema. If you have rosacea or eczema and would still like to experience the benefits of retinol you could consider spot treatments and products with lower concentrations of the vitamin.
Children and Teenagers
Young skin does not benefit from retinol, nor does it need it. It is too harsh for delicate skin.
Ingredients to Avoid Using with Retinol
Some ingredients can increase the risk of skin irritation, dryness, and sun sensitivity when used in conjunction with retinol. Alternatively, some ingredients can neutralize the effectiveness of retinol.
Vitamin C
When Vitamin C is used in combination with retinol, it can increase skin sensitivity. However, you can still receive the benefits of a vitamin c facial serum and retinol. We will walk about that later.
AHAs and BHAs
Both retinol and these two ingredients are exfoliating products. When used in conjunction they can cause excessive dryness, skin irritation, and damage to the skin barrier. If you would like to use both, you will need to alternate the days of use.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of retinol. It may also increase irritation and dryness of the skin.
How to Use Retinol Properly for the Best Results
Use it in your Nightly Routine
An effective way to receive the full benefits of retinol is to make it a staple in your nightly routine. Doing this can be effective for a number of reasons.
- Sun Sensitivity and Degradation
- Retinoids are sensitive to sunlight and can be degraded by UV rays. The degradation reduces the effectiveness of the ingredient meaning it will not be as effective when promoting cell turnover and producing collagen.
- Aligns with the Skin’s Repair Cycle
- Slom regeneration and repair are most active at night.
- Avoids Interference with Other Products
- Using retinol at night will allow you to use other ingredients, such as vitamin C serum in the morning, AHAs, and benzoyl peroxide products. I have enjoyed using retinol in the evening and dedicating my morning routine to vitamin C.
The Best Retinol Face Washes
When it comes to cleansing the face, especially in the evening it is recommended to do a double cleanse. The best cleansers to use in combination for an effective routine are to use a oil cleansers in combination with a gel cleanser. Doing this provides your skin with a more thorough and effective cleanse. This is essential for those that wear makeup, oily skin types, or acne-prone skin.
Olay Retinol 24 Face Cleanser
Olay has an entire line of products called Retinol24. The best thing about their products is that they are budget friendly and they are readily available. Olay Retinol 24 facial cleanser contains a combination of vitamin B3 and a retinoid complex is fragrance-free and is the perfect product to prep your skin for your serums and creams. This is a gel based cleanser, so I would recommend first using an oil-based face cleanser or micellar water to remove your makeup and other environmental factors from your skin, then using this cleanser.
Click Here to get Olay Retinol 24 Face Cleanser
Pevonia Micro-Retinol Foaming Cleanser
Pevonia Micro-Retinol Foaming Cleanser is a great product for those that are already experienced with retinol. This is because it is a professional product that does contain a higher concentration of retinol than something like Olay. This cleanser is a sulfate-free foaming gel cleanser. So again, you will want to use an oil-based cleanser in combination with this one, as the first step. Double cleansing is the preferred method for cleaning the skin and effectively prepping for the rest of your routine.
Click Here to get Pevonia Retinol Foaming Cleanser
Dermalogica Resurfacing Cleanser
Dermalogica is an excellent choice for anyone. This is actually the brand that we used when I was in school for Esthetics in Arizona. One way that you can tell you are shopping their anti-aging skin care line is by the red strip in the bottle. This specific cleanser is a dual action cleanser that helps retexturize aging skin. This will assist in achieving smooth, ultra clean skin, while exfoliating and cleansing. You should still be using an oil based cleanser prior to using this product, ensuring everything is off (or most everything) your face prior to applying your higher end products is better for product absorption.
Click Here to get Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser
What Should I be Applying after a Cleanser?
So, I think it is only fair that we also discuss what a complete skincare routine would look like. It does not have to be complicated; in fact, it is rather simple to build an effective skincare routine. Considering this post is focused on retinol, I am going to focus on how to build an effective nighttime skincare regimen. So, what does that look like?
The Ultimate Skincare Regime with Retinol
- Oil Based Cleanser
- Oil based cleansers are effective at removing makeup, excess oil and surface debris while remaining gentle on the skin. There is no need to worry if you have oily skin, this is not going to add additional oil to your skin. Remember we are double cleansing.
- Retinol Cleanser
- Toner
- A toner is used to gently return skin to its natural PH level after cleansing. It can also help prepare the skin for the serums and treatments to come. I like to use on that contains antioxidants for added benefits.
- Serums/Treatments
- This is the area where it can get a little crazy for some people. However, we are going to keep it simple and use only two serums. However, to be honest as long as you are using quality products with good ingredients, two is all you need. My favorite combo for the evening is Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, and Peptides.
- Eye Cream
- The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face. It also has fewer oil glands making the area more prone to dryness and ageing. That is why having a cream specific for the eye area is important.
- Moisturizer
- A quality moisturizer will help lock in all of your serums and treatments, in addition to providing your skin with superior hydration. It is important to use a formula designed for the face to avoid clogging pores.
What about Exfoliating?
You may have noticed that I skipped an exfoliant. Remember, we are using retinol which will act as a chemical exfoliant. Do not let the word chemical scare you, we want retinol. The other option for an exfoliant is a physical exfoliant. These are the exfoliants with a grainy texture.
Okay, What About Masks?
Another product you may want to use is a face mask. For a face mask you will want to follow a routine like this, if you are planning to wash it off the same day.
- Oil Based Cleanser
- Retinol Cleanser
- Toner
- Mask
- Gel Cleanser
- Toner
- Serums and Treatments
- Eye cream
- Moisturizer
If you are planning to sleep in the mask, you will apply it after your moisturizer or in place of the moisturizer. Whatever feels best for you.
Should I do a post on Vitamin C routine? Let me know in the comments.
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