RETINOLS FOR BEGINNERS

Keep hearing everyone talk about retinols but have no idea what they are? We asked aesthetic therapist and surgical coordinator Chloe to put together a beginners guide to retinols.

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a type of retinoid, derived from a class of synthetic and naturally occurring Vitamin A compounds boosting cell turnover and stimulating collagen and elastin production which can help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The best age to start is anything over 25, this is when elastin production starts to slow down and you start seeing dynamic wrinkles, the lines you get when your muscles contract such as frown lines, crow’s feet or laughter lines.

What strength should I use?

​​Most of the time we advise you to start on a lower strength and work up to the higher strength. But it also depends on your skin condition and if your willing to have more down time.

How will my skin look?

most clients start on a standard protocol, using the product every night, this will give mild to moderate flaking and redness lasting up between 6-8 weeks, if skin does get to dry then we advise to cut the product down to every other night or even 3 times a week depends on the clients skin and which retinol product they are using.

We hope Chloe’s guide has helped you learn the basics about retinols. A last top tip with products such as retinols is to look for a reputable professional skincare brand such as Neostrata who have several retinol products or Obagi who offer a range of retinols in different strengths, both these brand are backed by clinical medical research and recommended by our dermatologist Doctors so you can be sure the product you’re using is safe for your skin. We love using the NeoStrata Skin Active Retinol + NAG Complex for an intensive advanced anti-ageing skincare product which is very effective at smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.