The 5 Minute Guide to Retinol Anti Aging Skin Care Products
'Retinol' is a term bandied about to describe what is most commonly retinyl palmitate within over-the-counter beauty creams.
Providing the concentration contained in the product is high enough, retinyl palmitate reacts with natural enzymes in the skin to convert to trans-retinoic acid.
The acid is essentially a usable form of Vitamin A for the skin.
The effects The creams claim to make the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles less visible, less deep-looking, the skin more radiant and the skin more youthful looking.
How does it work? Providing the concentration contained in the product is high enough, retinyl palmitate reacts with natural enzymes in the skin to convert to trans-retinoic acid.
The acid is essentially a usable form of Vitamin A for the skin.
Skin reacts by producing more new cells and collagen.
The collagen makes misshapen old cells rounder and fuller.
The new cell production makes older cells rise to the surface where they are exfoliated (sloughed off).
This is what makes the 'radiance' bit happen - new cells are less pigmented due to less exposure to UV rays.
Most OTC creams contain 2 - 10 % and so far there is no single 'established' standard for concentration.
Side effects & Controversy Regular use of retinol over the counter creams may make skin more photosensitive(1).
If using, always use a sunscreen cream with a properly evaluated high protection factor.
Sensitive skins may react initially to the products.
One of the best selling is UK drug store giant Boots' No.
7 Protect and Perfect.
Their spokespeople advise retinyl palmitate containing products like the brand should be slowly introduced to the skin.
The best idea is certainly to get professional advice if purchasing any.
(2) One very outspoken critic is Giselle Mir, a former lawyer turned Cosmetic Scientist with her own line of non-retinol products.
Mir says the irritation to the skin from using these products is likely to cause premature aging due to moisture loss at the outermost layer of the skin (3).
Important Disclaimer: None of the above advice can be a substitute for medical or professional skin care advice - please only consult qualified general medical and/ or dermatology physicians for serious skin complaints.
The information is not sponsored by manufacturers here but may reflect their claims and this site cannot be held responsible for such claims made.
References (where [online] these are linked from our website): 1.
Food and Drug Administration.
(2008) Photocytotoxicity of Retinol and Retinyl Acetate.
[online].
2.
Daily Mirror Retinol (2007).
Retinol: Is It Really A Miracle Cream?.
[online].
Daily Mirror.
3.
Mir, G.
[undated].
Anti ageing and sun care.
[online] Mir.
Available at:
Providing the concentration contained in the product is high enough, retinyl palmitate reacts with natural enzymes in the skin to convert to trans-retinoic acid.
The acid is essentially a usable form of Vitamin A for the skin.
The effects The creams claim to make the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles less visible, less deep-looking, the skin more radiant and the skin more youthful looking.
How does it work? Providing the concentration contained in the product is high enough, retinyl palmitate reacts with natural enzymes in the skin to convert to trans-retinoic acid.
The acid is essentially a usable form of Vitamin A for the skin.
Skin reacts by producing more new cells and collagen.
The collagen makes misshapen old cells rounder and fuller.
The new cell production makes older cells rise to the surface where they are exfoliated (sloughed off).
This is what makes the 'radiance' bit happen - new cells are less pigmented due to less exposure to UV rays.
Most OTC creams contain 2 - 10 % and so far there is no single 'established' standard for concentration.
Side effects & Controversy Regular use of retinol over the counter creams may make skin more photosensitive(1).
If using, always use a sunscreen cream with a properly evaluated high protection factor.
Sensitive skins may react initially to the products.
One of the best selling is UK drug store giant Boots' No.
7 Protect and Perfect.
Their spokespeople advise retinyl palmitate containing products like the brand should be slowly introduced to the skin.
The best idea is certainly to get professional advice if purchasing any.
(2) One very outspoken critic is Giselle Mir, a former lawyer turned Cosmetic Scientist with her own line of non-retinol products.
Mir says the irritation to the skin from using these products is likely to cause premature aging due to moisture loss at the outermost layer of the skin (3).
Important Disclaimer: None of the above advice can be a substitute for medical or professional skin care advice - please only consult qualified general medical and/ or dermatology physicians for serious skin complaints.
The information is not sponsored by manufacturers here but may reflect their claims and this site cannot be held responsible for such claims made.
References (where [online] these are linked from our website): 1.
Food and Drug Administration.
(2008) Photocytotoxicity of Retinol and Retinyl Acetate.
[online].
2.
Daily Mirror Retinol (2007).
Retinol: Is It Really A Miracle Cream?.
[online].
Daily Mirror.
3.
Mir, G.
[undated].
Anti ageing and sun care.
[online] Mir.
Available at:
Source...