Skincare enthusiasts must be no stranger to retinol, which is well-known in the skincare industry and is known as a panacea against wrinkles and acne, so what exactly is retinol?What exactly does it do?How is retinol used in cosmetics?What should we pay attention to when using it?
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A, also known as A-alcohol, mainly found in the liver, retina and other organs of animals, is one of the essential vitamins for our human body, it can maintain vision, promote bone growth, help epithelial cell regeneration, and promote the synthesis of immunoglobulins. If the human body is deficient in vitamin A, it may cause health problems such as dry eyes, blindness, stunted growth in children, and dryness.
What are the main effects of retinol?
If retinol is added to skincare, its effects on the skin are very powerful:
1.Promote the metabolism of the stratum corneum, thicken the stratum corneum and thus increase the water storage capacity.
2.Promotes collagen production in the dermis, effectively reduces wrinkles and facilitates fine lines.
3.Has a whitening effect. Retinol can accelerate the metabolism of keratinocytes and inhibit the production of melanin, so the effect will be better if it is combined with skin care products with whitening ingredients.
How is retinol used in cosmetics?
Consumers should consider the strength, type and composition of the product when choosing cosmetics containing retinol, most skin care products add different concentrations of retinol, we need to choose the right product for ourselves according to our own **state, it is recommended to start with a low concentration, adjust the dosage and frequency according to the reaction to the product, because retinol has natural irritation, it is recommended to start slowly, let** Xi gradually increases to daily use, and the moisturizer can be applied in front of the retinol product to minimize irritation and not interfere with retinol absorption.
How to use retinol safely?
Retinol needs to be converted into tretinoin to be effective, but the ingredients are not stable enough, and there is a certain irritation, usually manifested as redness, burning and scaling, the greater the concentration, the greater the irritation, so it is not recommended to use high-concentration retinol skin care products at the beginning. It is photosensitive and prone to oxidation, so it is not recommended for daytime use. If you have dry sensitive skin, hormone face, **sensitive people should use retinol with caution.
Since everyone reacts differently to different skincare products, if you are using it for the first time, it is recommended to start with a low concentration, 025% concentration can be started, the frequency should not be too frequent, once a week can be, slowly build up tolerance, after a period of use, you can use twice a week or once every other day. If you have dark circles, dry lines, fine lines, dark spots, etc., it will still have a significant improvement effect after using it for a period of time. Studies have shown that consistent use of retinol products can improve the appearance of cheek wrinkles.
Conclusion
Retinol is irritating to ** and there may be some mild reactions after using it, such as mild irritation, dry skin, scaling and redness.
An An reminds that people with sensitive skin should not try retinol products easily, and if you want to try retinol products, you can do a skin test behind the ear. If the symptoms of the reaction are severe, you need to stop using it immediately and seek medical attention at a regular hospital if necessary.
References: 1Zhao Bingyi, Cong Lin, Li Xuezhu. Research on the application of retinol and retinol esters in cosmetics[J].Journal of Contemporary Chemical Industry and Engineering Research, 2020(18):112-116
2.Liang Yanfen, Tan Chengkang, Zhang Dayong, etc. Evaluation of facial anti-aging efficacy of essence product group containing retinol derivatives and other compositions[J].Journal of Cosmetics Science,2022,45(02):36-39