Retinal 101: What You Need to Know
Retinoids are now found in a lot of skin care items. Some of them might be made with retinol as the main ingredient, while others might be made with retinal. What about these two ingredients, though? Are they really different?
What Makes Retinal Stand Out
Retinoids (which include retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid) are a wide range of vitamin A derivatives, and they’re used in many skincare products because they offer many benefits. For one thing, they prevent pores from clogging, which is greatly helpful for people who have acne as well as those who are prone to developing sebum plugs and sebaceous filaments. They also help reduce pigmentation and can give your skin a smooth, even glow while fading acne scars and making fine lines less noticeable.
Retinol is the most common form of retinoid and is used in over-the-counter products. Retinoic acid, on the other hand, is available only as a prescription due to how much more potent it is than other derivatives. Retinal sits in the middle in terms of efficacy, making it the ideal choice if you’re looking for a more powerful form of retinoid but don’t want to get a prescription.
How to Properly Use Retinal Products
You shouldn’t just purchase a retinal cream or lotion and apply it to your skin. To get the desired results, use the following tips:
Start slow with mild products
Since retinal is highly potent, you must introduce it slowly to your skin care routine. Otherwise, your skin will become irritated and your acne or other conditions might even worsen. Start with products that have low retinal concentrations (around 0.1% to 0.3% will do), then progress to a stronger formulation once your skin develops tolerance.
Stay away from sunlight
Just like other retinoids, retinal is highly photoreactive and can lose its potency when exposed to UV rays. It can also make your skin more sensitive to UV rays and increase the possibility of getting sunburn. With these mind, you’ll want to apply retinal products at night
Never combine retinal with other products
You might think that you’re saving time when you apply multiple skincare creams, lotions, and serums on top of each other. This might work with other products, but it’s definitely a no-no with retinal since it reacts with a wide range of substances. Specifically, it shouldn’t be used with benzoyl peroxide, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), and other ingredients that may irritate the skin. If you love using products with these ingredients, limit them to the mornings and reserve your nighttime beauty routine for retinal products.
Use retinal in serum form
Retinals can now be found in different applications, but experts agree that the best way to deliver this derivative to your skin is through serums. This is because, unlike moisturisers and toners that are meant to sit on upper skin layers, serums are formulated to sink further into the skin and reach the deeper dermal layers. As a result, you can maximise the effects of retinal and ensure that it will improve your skin from the inside. Don’t worry since it’s easy to find a retinal serum in Australia that has the right concentration and is formulated to deliver top-tier results.
Don’t forget your moisturiser
One of the side effects of retinal is that it can leave skin dry. Fortunately, you can easily mitigate this by using a good moisturiser that will hydrate your skin and make it plump and soft again.
Start Using Retinal Today
Adding retinal to your skin care routine can help you slow down the ageing process . Invest in high-quality retinal products now to keep your skin smooth and supple and minimise wrinkles and fine lines!
