It’s been a while. I blame summer, a few skin issues post a laser treatment (will fill you in another time) and general laziness, but I am back on the Retinol Train and heading high speed to the Glowy Skin Station.
I’m pretty sure you’ll all have heard of retinol, but let’s go over the science bit:
Retinol belongs to a family called ‘retinoids’, which derive from Vitamin A. Proven to increase skin turnover (which means they slough away dead, dull skin cells from the surface of the skin to reveal the newer, radiant ones), cleanse pores and boost collagen production (which means skin stays plumper for longer, something we all need age 30+). They also help to reduce fine lines, pigmentation and acne marks. So in simple terms, retinol is a one-stop-shop, anti-aging powerhouse. The benefits are numerous BUT you have to be consistent, and I haven’t been. But now the mornings are dark, the cold has kicked in and I’m starting to feel sluggish, I want to get my glow back.
THE RULES OF RETINOL
#1: Start LOW and SLOW.
Introduce it gradually into your regime. Don’t go for a high % just because you think it will work quicker.
#2: Apply in the evenings onto cleansed skin.
Start with two nights a week, slowly progressing to every other night.
#3: Add nourishing products into your skincare regime.
Irritation, dryness, flakiness come as part of the initial package when you first start Vitamin A. Adding these in will help to counteract any of that.
#4: Use the recommended amount.
This is usually a pea size. Using anymore is not going to make it work quicker.
#5: DO NOT FORGET SPF.
Retinol increases your skins sun sensitivity, plus you have lots of fresh new skin on the surface you don’t want to damage. If you’re using retinol in the PM, you MUST use an SPF50 in the AM.
MY RETINOL EDIT
Given its potency, it’s important to find a product that suits your skin type and incorporate it gradually into your daily routine. There’s one for every skin type, even the most sensitive.
CLICK TO SHOP: MEDIK8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 1, £45
Retinal, an advanced form of retinol, gives all the results without the risk of irritation, redness, flaking or peeling. Studies show results are 11x faster that clinical grade retinols. Start with this serum (level 1) and climb the ladder. Fast-acting, but without being aggressive on your skin barrier, super sensitive skins may stick here, Gemma is currently on this level, while I am reintroducing retinol into my regime from 3.
CLICK TO SHOP: ELIZABETH ARDEN HPA, £75 (use code THISISMOTHERSHIP to buy it for £59)
HPR, a next-generation High Performance Retinol that offers ground-breaking results without irritating the skin. The really impressive part – it does this without the associated irritation and period of adjustment that can put so many people off using a retinol product – so there’s no easing in necessary. HPR is also photo-stable, so you can use it in the morning and evening. The beauty with this one is that you can be completely confident in the fact that you can wear it in the summer months too. Always SPF though.
CLICK TO SHOP: BEAUTY PIE SUPER RETINOL (1%) + VITAMIN C, £18.50 MEMBERS (£40 NON-MEMBERS)
Skin. in dire need of an ‘everything revamp’? The perfect cocktail; 1% Encapsulated Retinol (resurfacing), Ficucell Vita (antioxidant), Shea Butter (nourishing), vitamin E (elasticity) and Ferulic Acid (brightening). It’s super-smoothing, fine-line and wrinkle tackling, brightening – 91% of people said their skin looked completely revamped after 4 weeks use.
CLICK TO SHOP: L’OREAL PARIS REVITALIFT LASER PURE RETINOL NIGHT SERUM, £31.99 (use code THISISMOTHERSHIP to buy it for £25)
Target lines, wrinkles, uneven texture, visible pore size and even out pigmentation; this light-weight serum-oil is pretty powerful – don’t judge it by the price tag. Start with twice-weekly use and build up.
CLICK TO SHOP: RODIAL RETINOL RESURFACING PADS, £45
It couldn’t be easier; swipe one pad over the skins surface in the evening post-cleaning. Ideal when travelling. From the very first use, you’ll notice a visible improvement in the texture and appearance of your skin. Added niancinamide also helps tackle blemishes.
CAN I USE RETINOL WHEN PREGNANT AND BREAST FEEDING?
Ah, so here is the downside to retinol. Because to begin with, retinol can cause some skin sensitivity, redness, flaking and irritation, and because our skin often becomes temperamental when we’re pre and post-partum, the experts advise that retinol shouldn’t be used when pregnant or just after. Which is pretty annoying because pregnancy and early motherhood is really where the majority of our skincare concerns appear – hands up if you suffered from hyperpigmentation and melasma during your pregnancy and developed a general greige toned, fine-lined, sleep-deprived tone of skin. Yep, us too.
Plant based extract bakuchiol has become something of an alternative in recent years; Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides Serum (£55), is a great one that we used back then, and as it’s also anti-flammatory, it would be great for those with sensitive skin, or skin prone to eczema – it offers similar results as classic retinol based products, at a slower pace.
