Besides a broadband SPF, perhaps no other skincare ingredient is more effective for treating a number of skin conditions, such as wrinkles, acne, and skin discoloration, as retinol. For most dermatologists and skin care professionals, Retinol is a godsend. Big name beauty magazines pay tribute to retinol in numerous articles, such as this one from ELLE that opens “While it’s true there is no magic bullet when it comes to perfecting skin, one ingredient comes pretty close-retinol.”
Read on to discover the many benefits of retinol for your complexion and learn why many of the best skincare products are formulated with Retinol.
The Benefits of Retinol
What is Retinol? Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A and is a hugely popular ingredient in numerous skin care products. It has been utilized as an effective acne treatment for nearly 5 decades. Additionally, retinol has been proven to be effective in benefiting skin in numerous other ways, making it the active ingredient in high end cosmetic products marketed for anti-aging and improving skin health and appearance.
How Retinol works: Retinol provides numerous mechanisms of action that benefit the skin. Beginning with the very DNA within skin cells, Retinol is shown to stimulate many of the functions that breakdown as we age, including cellular turnover and the production and preservation of collagen and elastin. But what exactly does this mean for your skin?
Retinol Stimulates Collagen and Elastin
When absorbed by the body, retinol is converted into the active form of Vitamin A, retinoic acid. The body uses retinoic acid to stimulate collagen and elastin, the proteins responsible for maintaining the strength, flexibility and elasticity of skin. This provides impressive anti-aging results, helping skin look healthier, younger, firmer, and more supple.
Retinol Exfoliates
Retinol is a great exfoliate. Cellular turnover triggers the body to slough away dead and damaged skin cells that accumulate on the skin’s surface and replace it with new skin cells. This exfoliation helps the appearance and health of skin by triggering collagen and elastin production, cleansing the skin of debris that clogs pores and leads to acne, revitalizes complexion by getting rid of dead and damaged skin cells that leave skin looking dull and splotchy. Exfoliating also minimizes the appearance of aging by smoothing fine lines and diminishing sun spots.
Using retinol may help get rid of Acne
Retinol is fantastic tool for helping get rid of acne, and has been one of the main ingredients in acne products, from over the counter to prescription strength acne medications, for nearly 5 decades. Retinol can combat acne on many fronts. First, it stimulates cellular turnover, causing the skin to slough off dead skin cells that comonly accumulate on the skin and become trapped in pores and leads to breakouts. Retinol also has effective anti-inflammatory properties, targeting another comon culprit of acne: inflammation. There is even evidence that retinoids decreases the production of sebum, drying out the oily skin that is prone to acne breakouts. While retinoids can cause skin reactions, when used under the direction of a dermatologist, it can be a good solution for those who cannot get professional acne treatment from a distinguished skin and medical spa in NYC.
Corrects Hyperpigmentation and diminishes sun spots
Retinol can help correct hyperpigmentation as well as brown spots that result from UV exposure. Retinol’s ability to stimulate cellular turnover exfoliates minor discolorations away. It also contains a photo protective antioxidant that also helps protect against brown spots from forming in the future.
Brightens complexion and leaves skin looking radiant
Retinol can transform dull, lack-luster complexions into glowing radiant skin in two ways. First, it stimulates cellular turnover. This allows the skin to slough off the outer layer of skin that is dead or damaged and dull looking and replace it with a newer layer of skin that is healthier and more vibrant. Retinol can also provide radiance by thinning the top layer of skin known as the stratum corneum and strengthening the underlying layer of smooth skin, known as the epidermis. This helps illuminate the skin and make it look supple and firm.
Anti-Aging
Retinoids are incredible at diminishing the signs of aging, and are comonly found in high end anti-aging skincare products, as well as prescription strength wrinkle creams. They target the signs of aging in numerous ways. Triggering cellular turnover acts as a natural exfoliate. Superficial fine lines are smoothed out when the skin sloughs off its dead or damaged outer layer and replaces it with the fresher, healthier layer of skin that lies below. Exfoliation also improves radiance, another characteristic of young, healthy skin. Cellular turnover also stimulates collagen and elastin production, helping the skin become stronger, more flexible, and firmer.
Laser Resurfacing in a Bottle with Retinol
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