Monday's Beauty Tip

Today's beauty tip is an ingredient that has been used for decades to improve the skin's texture, appearance and tone. The ingredient is widely used in many beauty products and basically sells itself. What is it? Retinol. 
The Gold Standard in many dermatologists offices and spas around the world as well as for at-home use. Let's take a closer look at what Retinol can do for the skin.

Retinoids are a derivative of Vitamin A which is useful in the human body beyond skincare but can also be fatal if too much is injected (and harmful to an unborn baby). Retinoids go deep into the cellular level and not only exfoliate the skin but also aid in regenerating skin cells. It takes up to 12 weeks to see the effects of retinol use, and in that time, there will be peeling and redness as the cells are turning over. Although many believe that using retinol will increase your exposure and harmful effects of UV rays, on the contrary retinol has been proven to prevent the rise of collagenase - the enzyme that breaks down collagen - after UV exposure. That being said, it is always a good idea to incorporate an SPF product into your skincare routine (whether using retinoids or not).

Lastly, the best way to use retinol is in conjunction with other skincare products over a lifetime. Johnson & Johnson recently completed a trial demonstrating that over-the-counter retinol smooths wrinkles and fades blotches over 12 months. 

Have you had experience using Retinol (good or bad) that you'd like to share? Post in the comments!

stay forever young

​xo Kaylah Denae