The Active Edit

One word, Seven Letters: Retinol

written by: Maddie - Beauty Editorpublished on 18 Oct, 2022

We chat to our beauty therapist about retinol and why we need it in our lives.

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a synthetic derivative of Vitamin A and it is applied topically to the skin.

What are the benefits of using Retinol? 

Retinol uses small molecules that go deep beneath the epidermis, which is the outer layer of your skin, down to the dermis. Below we have listed a few of the many benefits retinol has to our skin: 

Targets congestion and acne

Increase the skin's cell production, which improves the way your products penetrate into the skin and therefore maximise their effectiveness.

Great for anti-ageing and improving uneven skin tones. 

Retinol stimulates cell turnover, therefore it has an exfoliating effect, which results in a brighter and more even complexion. 

Retinol and Vitamin A

What are the side effects of Retinol?

Retinol can cause redness, dryness and flakiness in some skin types but this will subside over time. Therefore, we recommend introducing retinol into your regime slowly and follow with the correct moisturiser. This is to ensure that your skin has time to acclimate to retinol. We will warn you that until your skin does acclimate to the retinol, you may find that any existing acne may worsen, your skin may feel dry and flaky but it will improve over time. 

Other side effects from retinol are:

Photosensitivity to UV light - retinol should be used at night and it is recommended to use spf daily. 

Retinol is generally not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

How do I know which Retinol product to buy?

We would recommend you consult with a skin therapist before using a Retinol product as they will be able to recommend the best product to suit your skin type.

SHOP RETINOL AND VITAMIN A