There is a reason why this ingredient is recommended for just about everyone…
This is an old school ingredient that still packs a punch. The benefits are well studied and plenty of clinical trials have proven that it works. There are precious few other ingredients that match it for effectiveness and reliability.
We are talking about topical forms of vitamin A (specifically retinol and retinal here) that are renowned for:
refining pores
helping to clear breakouts
reducing and preventing wrinkles
reducing and preventing hyperpigmentation
supporting smoother, brighter, clearer, more luminous skin
Both retinol and retinal are forms of vitamin A that get converted to retinoic acid (active metabolite that stimulates collagen production and skin cell turnover) when applied to our skin. Retinal requires less converting, so it can potentially work a bit faster than retinol.
You can read plenty of articles online about how retinol is better for sensitive skin while retinal is more active for faster results, but in my experience, so much depends on the formulation of each product (percentage of active ingredients as well as the other ingredients it is formulated with) that you really need to try a retinol or retinal product for a few weeks at least to see what it is really doing for your skin.
Some Good Options Please~
In the spirit of saving you some time (since there are a bazillion vitamin A products on the market), I’ve hand selected a few goodies that have proven reputations for being super effective while also being compatible for most skin types:
This organic, holistic beauty serum is packed with gorgeous, active, nutrient-dense plant ingredients (apricot, carrot, rowan sorb, sea buckthorn, calendula…) as well as a full panel of all the dependable powerhouses (vitamins A, B, C, D and E, hyaluronic acid, bioflavonoids, fruit acids, fatty acids, beta-carotene, plant proteins, minerals, trace elements…) to create a very effective serum that is also gentle, moisturizing and deeply nourishing.
*The exceptional Retinal Moisturizer may be applied over the Retinal .2% Serum. Both the Retinal Serum and Retinal Moisturizer work beautifully layered together and they also work beautifully on their own.
This lightweight serum is not only really effective, but it can also help to calm inflammation and is super economical (especially considering how active yet calming it is).
3) Retinol Antiwrinkle Complex
This uber effective retinol is blended with glycolic acid to enhance penetration, and is also blended with fatty acids and triglycerides to provide potent moisture.
4) Retinal Mask
This hydrating gel mask is so lovely to use in addition to your vitamin A serum! It provides a dose of replenishment for your skin anytime you want to use it (between 1 to 6 times per week is great). This mask can be worn in the bath or shower if you’d like, and it can even be used with the bt-sculpt home microcurrent device.
Tips for getting the most out of your vitamin A product~
Retinal and retinol serums are usually applied between 3 and 6 nights per week. They are applied to clean, bare skin (or over a toner or hydrating mist or hydrosol), then followed with a moisturizer.
If your retinal or retinol serum leaves your skin red, dry, flakey or sensitive, this is a sign your skin is adjusting to the faster skin cell turnover the product is stimulating in your skin. While this is beneficial to your skin, to help mitigate the symptoms you can stop using your vitamin A product until your skin returns to normal, then slowly begin using it again, starting with only two or three nights per week, then gradually increasing to three or four nights per week. (There are some skin types that do not do well with any vitamin A products at all, and if this is you, don’t despair! There are other phenomenal ingredients that can glow up your skin, such as this and this and this.)
Some of us can use a vitamin A product 6 nights per week or more, while others of us do best sticking with 3 nights per week.
Remember to stick with it! It can take weeks and even months before the visual benefits make themselves fully known. Being boringly consistent will pay off.
If your vitamin A product still causes redness, flaking and sensitivity many weeks after only using it two or three nights per week, you may want to try a gentler formulation. (At Rich Earth, the Retinal .2% Serum is the gentlest, and the Rare Retinal Serum and Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Complex are slightly stronger.)
When your skin starts to look more refined, clear, smooth and bright, you’ve found the right vitamin A product for you and are applying it often enough to reap the benefits. Yay!
Important note! Not to sound like an old scold here, but wear your sun protection every AM! All the benefits your skin gains from a good vitamin A product will be lost if you expose your unprotected skin to the ultra violet rays from the sun (or god forbid a tanning bed). Eek and yikes.
A good retinal or retinol product that is a good match for your skin can be a simple, reliable way to improve your skin now as well as keep it looking good into the years ahead.
"Your skin is unique, so customize your routine accordingly."
~Dr. Ellen Marmur
"Consistency is key to achieving great skin."
~Dr. Harold Lancer
"Your skin is a lifelong investment; treat it with care."
~Dr. Shereene Idriss
"Dedication to your skin today is an ode to the beauty you unveil tomorrow".
~unknown
"In the realm of beauty, patience and persistence light the path to radiant skin".
~unknown
"Healthy skin is a necessity, stop considering it a luxury".
~unknown
xoxo marna
Blog written by Marna Herrington with Rich Earth Organic Skin Care Studio
Blog copy editing and polishing provided by Karen-Eileen Gordon (MsGordonLovesWriting@gmail.com)
This blog is not intended to take the place of in-person consultations with qualified skin care and health care practitioners. This blog is for the purpose of education and fun only.
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