Everything You Need to Know About Retinol Serum

Everything You Need to Know About Retinol Serum

Retinol is a great addition to your skin care regimen. We're sharing everything you need to know about retinol serum in this post. Learn about it here!

We all wish we could turn back the hands of time.

As we age, so does our skin.

You may start noticing that your skin is not as smooth or tight as it once was. 

While we can't drink from the Fountain of Youth, you can take steps to prevent wrinkles and keep your skin looking as youthful as possible.

We're showing you how you can add retinol serum to your skin care regimen to keep your skin healthy and beautiful as you age.

What is retinol serum?

Retinol is also known as Vitamin A. This vitamin is found in many foods and can also be used as a supplement.

Retinol can be found in the following foods:

  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Cheese
  • Liver (from beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and fish)

Vitamin A has also been known to treat things such as acne, measles, and sometimes even leukemia

What does this have to do with skin care?

You may have seen the many commercials promoting retinol serums that can help reduce wrinkles and shrink your pores.

These anti-aging commercials aren't far-fetched. 

Retinol, or Vitamin A found in animal products, can greatly affect how your skin looks as you age. 

Retinol serum has been used as a skin product for over 40 years. First used as an acne treatment, it was discovered that retinol also helped keep skin smooth and even reduced imperfections in the skin. 

Retinol is now used in tons of skin products, whether they be moisturizers or acne treatments. 

They can come in over the counter products, as well as prescription based creams from your dermatologist.

The science behind it

So how does it work?

Retinoids are capable of helping your skin replenish its cells.

They are used as a natural exfoliant. Retinol works to quickly replace old skin cells to create much smoother skin. 

But what's the most important part of retinoids?

They produce collagen that keeps your skin naturally firm. 

Because they help with replenishing your skin cells, they prevent cells from entering your pores and clogging them. This helps prevent skin conditions such as acne. 

The collagen that is produced by the addition of retinol causes your skin to smooth out and reduce wrinkles. 

Retinol reworks your face's skin cells, and it will also assist in reducing the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation. 

When should you use it?

retinol moisturizer

There are certain guidelines when using retinol serums. Unlike other types of skin creams and serums, you shouldn't use them during certain times or during certain situations.

What age should you start using retinol?

It is never too soon to start using retinol serums.

In fact, there are instances that show girls as teenagers who already used retinol creams and serums. This is mostly for the treatment of acne

The use of retinol serums can be used as a preventive measure. Even if you are not experiencing signs of wrinkles, you can still use this in your regimen to prevent wrinkles later in life.

How often should you use these serums?

Retinol serums are a powerful way to brighten and tighten your skin.

But that doesn't mean you need to apply constantly. In fact, you should take caution when starting your retinol serum routine. 

Actually, the best way to start a regimen is to start slowly and build your way up. You never know how your skin will react to such an intense serum.

Dermatologists advise that you try a small amount of serum over your moisturizer once weekly. You should then note how your skin reacts. 

If you notice any redness or inflammation of your skin with just this small amount, you may want to skip the next day's application. You don't want to overdo it at first.

However, some dryness and peeling will occur as this is how your skin is reacting to the rejuvenation. So don't fear if you start noticing these types of responses. 

It's recommended that you start to use extra moisturizer during this time. It also doesn't hurt to stop using any face wash that may contain things such as alcohol. These cleansers can help dry out your skin even further.

After you've tested how the retinol reacts with your particular skin type, you can start using retinol every other day. You don't want to increase the amount you are applying, however, just the frequency of use. 

This prevents your skin from peeling or becoming too dry. Overuse of retinol can actually worsen your skin.

Who shouldn't use retinol?

As stated previously, retinol isn't something that's for everyone.

Those women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should refrain from using these serums during the duration of breastfeeding or their pregnancy.

Those who are not using an SPF while using retinol should forgo the treatment altogether. Without using a good SPF moisturizer or sunscreen will lose all benefits of retinol. 

If you have severe skin problems such as rosacea, you may not be a good candidate for this type of skin product. Retinol can increase the redness in your skin or irritate the inflammation further.

While retinol was originally used for acne treatment, not all forms of acne can be treated with retinol.

Those who experience red, inflamed acne can actually worsen their skin by using retinol products. Using these products on inflamed acne can result in drier and more sensitive skin. It can actually affect the clearing of your acne. 

It is best to check with your dermatologist first before trying a retinol routine. 

Conclusion

Retinol serums are very popular in the skin and beauty world.

But if you've had any reservations about using these serums, you shouldn't! 

They are known to help you increase good cell production that will naturally smooth your skin.

It can also be used as a way to keep your pores free from blockage. 

There is no great time to start, so why don't you start now?

Take a look at some of the great retinol serums and products you can use to keep your skin happy and healthy! 

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