Why retinol is a life-changing ingredient for me as I journey through my 30s
When I first heard of retinol, I was struggling with major bouts of adult acne that wrinkles and pre-mature signs of aging were the farthest thing from my mind. Even as I was pushing 30, I was fixated on my hormonal imbalance and how I can make my skin smooth and problem-free again. What got me to finally take the plunge and try out this ingredient was an article I found online that said it can also help me when it comes to my breakouts.
I was immediately sold and I ran to the nearest shop where I can purchase it and since then, I haven’t looked back.
It’s a staple in my skincare routine and something I know contributed to small improvements in my skin texture I now enjoy. Like most actives, patience, consistency, and knowing how to use it properly are the keys to success.
What is retinol?
Simply put, retinol is a form of vitamin A that may be used on the skin.
It helps prevent wrinkles and your fine lines become less visible. No, it cannot fully-erase them. No product can. Once wrinkles are there, they’re staying! This is why prevention is always better than cure. Using vitamin A as early as you can (I suggest in your late 20s) can help in preventing wrinkles from even forming.
It brightens the skin, exfoliating on a cellular level and encourages your skin cells to have a faster turnover rate. This is also the reason why it can help fade dark spots.
With faster cell turnover, it can keep your pores from clogging. It can also regulate the oil on your skin, giving you less chances of having breakouts.
If you’re pregnant or lactating, it is recommended to avoid the use of retinol.
Getting started
If you’re someone who’s looking into trying out retinol to have a bit of control on your skin’s aging process, take note that it’s something you should get into slowly especially if you have sensitive skin! It is best to consult with a dermatologist first before venturing into this ingredient.
Start by applying it once a week and once your skin starts to get used to it, you can increase to doing it every other day. I’m at a point where my skin is not bothered by having retinol every night. However, I still like to change up my actives and find that I get more benefits this way rather than piling them up at night.
Retinol favorites
I’ve tried quite a few brands and so far. I have three that I always go back to, switching them up as needed.
First is the French A313 which is touted as the legendary Avibon’s revival – in a more stable formula.
People have noted that A313 has a lower concentration of vitamin A compared to Avibon. However, someone I know who has used them both actually prefer A313. Here’s why: both products use retinyl palmitate which is an ester of retinol. A313 is suspended in polyethylene glycol that allows it to get absorbed well by the skin. Although Avibon had five times the amount of vitamin A, it had a lanolin base that made it a little less easy to absorb.
A313 comes in a no-frills metal tube. It really feels like a medical product with its whole look. It’s unscented and has an oily texture. It’s heavy on the skin and I did worry about possible breakouts but it didn’t give me any. While it takes time to be absorbed, it does sink in well. Most importantly, it does the job.
Next, we have Paula’s Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment. Koreans often come up with a new wonder ingredient that’s derived from nature and for 2018-2019, it was all about Bakuchiol. Branded as natural retinol, lots of brands jumped on the bandwagon promising the same results as lab-produced retinol. However, I find myself agreeing with Paula Begoun’s stance that it’s better as a retinol enhancer.
While this one has a higher concentration of retinol, I find that the addition of Bakuchiol enhanced the effects while keeping the formula gentle on the skin. There’s also some peptides in there that keeps the skin supple.
The third one I often reach for and the most affordable of the three is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion. Retinoids are stronger than your usual retinol but this one did not irritate my skin the way their Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalene did. I think the light, milky formula just agreed with my sensitive skin better.
Some notes on the use of Vitamin A
You may see drastic results after the first use but this doesn’t mean you don’t have to be consistent. Remember – results that come quickly never last. It’s basically just giving you a taste of what your skin can benefit from.
Retinol makes the skin extremely sensitive to the sun. Don’t ever forget sunscreen as it can lead to worse damage.
I have one extremely fine line that runs across my forehead but I was able to nip it in the bud by continuing my love affair with my retinol and retinoid products. I’ve also been training myself not to move my forehead too much. I can show displeasure without having to furrow my brows and give myself forehead lines. It’s hardly visible now.
While it didn’t mean that my skin was finally free from bouts of break outs, it did help in faster skin turn over. On evenings when I’m not using vitamin A products, I would either use a BHA toner to clear pores or niacinamide to improve their appearance.
Don’t forget to moisturize, especially when your skin is not used to retinol yet. Moisturizers lessen the chances of irritation. Now that I’m used to it, I admit that I would sometimes use it on its own. I do this rarely and only on evenings when my skin feels extremely fatigued. I skip my moisturizer and leave retinol on its own to do its magic.
I’m glad I started using retinol when I did and I’ll always recommend it to everyone who’s looking into slowing down the signs of aging.
