Retinol Benefits – One Cure-All For Skin Problems

After sunscreen, retinol is the skin care ingredient that is often recommended by dermatologists for smoother and vibrant skin. So if you’ve been constantly looking for the secret for clear, healthy skin, read on for information on the benefits of retinol, a form of Vitamin A, to your skin.

How Does Retinol Work To Improve Skin Texture?

Vitamin A is a powerful ingredient that reduces the appearance of aging, pigmentation, wrinkles, and dark spots. Many skin care products contain retinoids in one form or another; they get converted via various steps to the active form (retinoic acid) that has effects at a DNA level within skin cells’ nuclei and mitochondria. But you don’t need to get bogged down in the science; rather, know that just some of the effects of Vitamin A are as follows:

• Normalizes and regulates cell turn over (i.e. reduces it in conditions where skin cells are renewed too fast, like acne and eczema; increases it in aging skin, where cell renewal is slowed down)
• Reduces inflammation in the top layers of the skin (epidermis)
• Reverses the damage caused by UV light (by repairing DNA)
• Increases collagen, by reducing preventing its breakdown and also stimulating its formation – causing the appearance of fine lines to be reduced
• Regulates oil by reducing oil gland size (and therefore secretion) – important for acne sufferers
• Curbs the production of melanin (pigment).

In fact, retinoids are used to treat over125 skin disorders – and we consider vitamin A to be an essential serum to use every day.

What About All The Different Forms Of Vitamin A? Which Should I Use?

Vitamin A derivatives used on the skin are called retinoids, and there are both naturally occurring and synthetic types. Back in the 1950s it was discovered that vitamin A produced positive effects on aging skin and 20 years later, scientists realized retinoic acid was the active form of vitamin A that has effects on skin cells’ DNA. Soon after, retinoic acid prescriptions (e.g. Tretinoin) were being used for acne and other skin issues. Unfortunately, retinoic acid can be irritating and drying, so non-prescription alternatives were sought. In the 1990s, other retinoids started being used in skin care, such as retinyl palmitate and retinaldehyde (retinal). However, the most effective form was found to be retinol – but not only could it be mildly irritating, it is also unstable in heat, light, and oxygen. What’s needed is a stable form of retinol that allows it to penetrate the skin cells and get effectively converted to retinoic acid, without being degraded or causing irritation.

Thankfully, you can get just such a form with Synergie’s Ultimate A retinol serum, in which the retinol molecules are stabilized by surrounding them with a protective layer of liposomes that spread across the skin and allow the retinol to penetrate to their targets within the cells. The serum also contains witch hazel and other ingredients to nourish and benefit the skin. And because it’s formulated according to Synergie’s Clean Science^® principles, you can be certain it doesn’t contain any questionable ingredients that may cause irritation or worse.

Get Multiple Retinol Benefits For Your Skin

Say Goodbye To Your Acne

Retinol has long been recognized as an acne-fighting product. The ingredients in Ultimate A Retinol Serum stops the overactive skin cells that produce oil and clog pores from renewing too fast.  This lets your pores ‘breathe’ and also allows other products to penetrate your skin better. It regulates oily skin and minimizes breakouts. What’s more,  if you have acne scars on your face, retinol may help reduce the scarring and give you cleaner and smoother skin.

Welcome Radiant And Renewed Skin

We all are afraid of getting old. Right? Well, retinol can’t actually stop the natural process of aging, but it can prevent the effects of aging. Whether you’ve reached the later years of your life or not, you need retinol for vibrant skin. The formula is a great fit for everyone. As we age, our skin cells are not renewed as quickly; however, retinol restores cell renewal in aging skin, making it look more radiant. It also boosts collagen production and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Say Hello To Brighter Skin

If old dead cells are allowed to sit on the skin’s surface, the skin looks dull and tired. We’re pretty sure that no matter your age, you’d rather have a bright and glowing complexion. The concentrated retinol in Synergie’s Ultimate A Serum helps give you that by renewing the skin cells at a normal rate and not allowing old cells to linger. With regular use of this essential serum you’ll see healthier, smoother, brighter and blemish-free skin in the mirror.

Help Other Skin Issues

The benefits of retinol are not limited to making your skin look brighter and more radiant. We’ve mentioned how great it is for those with acne, but it can also be helpful in treating other skin problems, such as eczema or psoriasis. Both these conditions are also characterized by skin cells renewing too rapidly, something that can be normalized by retinol. What’s more, retinol has also been used to treat warts, because it disrupts the wart cells’ growth. Of course, for any conditions like those mentioned here, we recommend you consult a dermatologist.

Expert Recommendations For Safe Retinol Treatment

Many experts have shared their advice on mixing retinol ingredients with various other cosmetic products.

• Effective vitamin C products (like ascorbic acid, which is more active than other ascorbate or ascorbyl forms) have a low pH level of around 3.5, while retinol works best at a pH level of 5.6. So, these two vitamins both work best in different pH environments, and therefore, they should not be combined. That’s why we recommend that you use vitamin C products in the morning, and vitamin A at night. (Note: it’s fine to apply a Vitamin B serum when you use your vitamin A; these two “play nicely” together.)
• Avoid using more than one topical retinol treatment at the same time. Too much use of Vitamin A can result in toxicity and serious after-effects.
• Excessive use of retinol can cause dryness and lead to flaky skin. The great thing about Synergie’s Ultimate A serum is that the retinol is delivered directly to the cells without activating other receptors that cause such side effects.
• While retinol doesn’t actually increase your risk of sunburn (despite the common mistaken belief that it does), sun exposure will break down retinol, making it inactive. What’s more, excessive sun exposure increases damage to the skin’s DNA, making more work for your retinol products. Make sure that you apply sunscreen to protect the effectiveness of retinol treatment.
• Facial waxing during retinol treatment can take a toll on your skin. Talk to your dermatologist before going for any facial waxing.
• Do not use a retinol product if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How To Start With A Retinol-Based Product

When it comes to skincare advice, most dermatologists recommend using retinol for its skin-boosting benefits. So, if you’re in your 30s, it’s a good time to start using retinol products to strengthen your skin and reverse the previous damage caused by sun exposure, pollution, and lifestyle. Here’s how to use retinol for the best results:

• Wash your face and use an eye cream to protect the delicate skin around your eyes.
• Let your face dry for a few minutes. Take a pea-size drop of Synergie’s retinol-based serum (Ultimate A or Acceler-A) and apply it on your face and neck slowly in an outward and upward direction. Because Ultimate A contains retinol as stabilized Rovisome™, it’s fine to use it every night – though if you have very sensitive skin, you should always test patch it, then start by using it every alternate night for a week or two.
• Apply moisturizer on your face to finish the process. Use sunscreen lotion next morning to protect your skin from sun damage.

Next Steps

Once you’ve been using Ultimate A for at least 3 months (or 6 months if your skin is sensitive), then you can consider moving to the even more powerful Acceler-A retinol serum. Acceler-A is formulated with Synergie’s proprietary blend of 6% RetiGen™ complex, which contains the closest form of retinoid on the market to prescription vitamin A along with CoQ₁₀ and green tea. It’s a super-powerful retinoid, but with improved stability and low irritation, and also contains essential antioxidants and anti-inflammatories for optimal skin benefits.

From stimulating collagen production to fighting blemishes and acne, retinol products are a worthy addition to your skincare routine. Remember though: retinol does not deliver visible results quickly. You can start to see textural changes after about 2-4 months. The key is to use it consistently for ongoing positive changes.