Watching the skin develop wrinkles and other aging signs is not so pleasant. Luckily for you, there is an effective antiaging product in the skincare market called retinol serum. Retinol serum has several benefits for the skin and its efficiency cannot be overemphasized.
Retinol is an ingredient that is recognized and considered a gold standard ingredient by dermatologists. This is because it works effectively to treat several skin concerns.
Read ahead to read more about the benefits of using retinol serum on your skin. This article also looks into the side effects of using the product as well as proper usage techniques.
Benefits of Using Retinol Serum on Your Skin
Retinol works on several skin concerns such as acne, aging, sun damage, uneven skin tone, and texture. Below are reasons to start using retinol serum in your skincare routine:
1. It helps with acne
Retinol is known to be an effective exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and oil from the pores. Using a retinol serum on the skin will effectively help in unclogging the pores and it also helps to prevent further clogging of pores.
Breakouts happen due to the buildup of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells in the pores. Using retinol serum will help to reduce and prevent further acne breakouts in the skin.
Since retinol works effectively to treat inflammatory and anti-inflammatory acne, retinol serum may help to reduce pimples on the skin and can stop new pimples and other acne blemishes from forming on the skin.
Another way retinol serum may help acne is by enhancing the skin cell turnover rate in the skin. This allows the removal of old skin cells to reveal new ones. Using the serum will also help to reduce the production of oil by the glands. This will help to prevent oil from clogging the pores.
2. Is an effective anti-aging treatment
The skin reduces its production of collagen and elastin as you age. This leads to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and other aging signs in the skin. Collagen and elastin are proteins that the skin produces to keep it smooth and firm.
Using retinol serum will help to boost the circulation of blood to the skin. This helps in increasing the production of collagen in the skin cells. Applying the serum to your skin will help to improve the appearance of aging signs on the skin by restoring the skin’s elasticity.
Not only will the serum help to reduce aging signs, but it will also help with sun damage and dark spots. It does this by enhancing skin cell turnover to rid the skin of damaged skin cells.
A Study reveals that retinol is a truly effective anti-aging treatment. Researchers concluded this after testing the effect of using retinol on 53 aged participants.
After seven days of using the ingredient, researchers discovered that retinol helped in reducing collagen breakdown and increasing collagen production.
3. Brightens dull skin
Factors such as stress, sun damage, and environmental pollution can cause the skin to look dull and dry. Using retinol serum on your skin will help to reduce melanin production in the skin.
Melanin is a dark pigmentation produced by the skin and it can cause a skin condition called melasma. The serum also penetrates the outer layer of the skin to encourage the development of new skin cells.
When new skin cells are developed in the skin, the skin will shed off the old damaged cells. This will help to make the skin look healthy and bright.
4. Clears hyperpigmentation
Another Study reveals retinol to be effective in treating hyperpigmentation. The study checked for the effect of using a 0.5% retinol product in a group of 25 people with mild to moderate hyperpigmentation.
After 4 weeks of application, there was an improvement in the appearance of their hyperpigmentation. This led to the conclusion that retinol works well in treating hyperpigmentation.
Using retinol serum on your skin will help to treat hyperpigmentation to improve the appearance of your skin.
5. Improves skin tone
Retinol works effectively to stimulate the development of new skin cells to take over the old skin cells. Using retinol serum on your skin will help to remove blemishes from the skin. This leaves the skin looking bright and healthy with an evenly toned complexion.
6. Refine skin texture
Using retinol serum on your skin will help to get the skin cells back to functioning in a youthful manner. This includes the speed in the generation of new skin cells and increased production of collagen and elastin.
The production of elastin will help to keep the skin firm while collagen will help to smooth the skin. This results in the improvement of the skin’s texture.
What Are the Side Effects of Retinol Serum?
Even though retinol has several benefits for the skin, it comes with certain side effects. Using retinol serum can cause side effects ranging from mild to severe. Retinol happens to be the strongest over-the-counter retinoid and should be used properly.
Using the serum incorrectly and too often can cause the skin to react harshly to the product. When you start using the product on your skin, you may experience dryness. However, that is normal and doesn’t pose any threat to the skin’s health.
Dryness and increased sensitivity to the sun is the major side effects of using the serum on your skin. It may take a while for your skin to get familiar with the ingredient.
Other side effects that can occur as a result of improper usage or overusing the product are:
- Redness
- Peeling
- Flakiness
- Burning, etc.
When you want to begin using retinol serum in your routine, start with a low-strength retinol product. This will help to reduce the risk of side effects and it will also allow your skin to build up its tolerance for the ingredient.
To avoid sun damage and burns, ensure that you stay away from the sun and also apply a sunscreen of SPF 30 before leaving your home. This is because retinol makes the skin more sensitive to the sun and that makes your skin prone to damage.
How to Apply Retinol Serum in a Skincare Routine
Proper application of retinol serum is important in achieving a youthful glow on your skin. It also affects how the product works to treat that time. It is important to know how to apply the serum properly in your skincare routine.
The best way to add the serum to your routine is by following a four-step skincare routine at night. This will help to avoid mixing retinol with skincare products that don’t match.
Using retinol serum in the evening also saves you the risk of mixing the retinol with an incompatible product. This also helps you enjoy the benefits of using retinol serum on your skin.
Cleanse your skin
It is important to cleanse the skin before applying any skincare product to it. Using your skincare products on unclean skin can cause a buildup of dirt in your pores and that can lead to breakouts.
To do this, use a gentle cleanser or soap to wash your skin. This will help to remove dirt and other buildups from the surface of your skin. Wash your face gently with the cleanser and rinse it off with clean water. After that, dry your skin with a soft towel.
Apply an eye cream
Retinol is an active ingredient that can be harsh on sensitive skin, depending on the strength of your retinol serum. The skin under and around the eyes is thin and sensitive. Using retinol on it can irritate and may cause other side effects.
To avoid messing up your skin, use an eye cream or serum on the skin around your eyes. This will help to protect it from the harsh effects of the retinol product. Simply apply a pea-sized amount of the cream on the skin around your eyes in a circular motion.
Apply your retinol serum
Once your face is completely dry, go ahead to apply your retinol serum to your skin. Squeeze a drop of the serum into your palm and rub them together. Apply the serum on your skin or face in a circular motion.
Moisturize your skin
After applying retinol to your skin, let your skin absorb it for about 30 minutes. Once your skin is completely dry, apply your favorite moisturizer to keep your skin from getting dry. This allows your skin to enjoy the benefits of retinol serum without irritations.
When Should You Use Retinol Serum?
You can use your retinol serum in any of your skincare routines, either morning or night. However, it is important to know that retinol makes the skin more sensitive to the sun. Retinol itself is also photosensitive to direct exposure to sunlight.
Therefore, it is best to use retinol at night, as that will help to reduce the risk of sun damage. Also, ensure that you use SPF 30 sunscreen every day to keep your skin healthy.
How Often Should You Use Retinol Serum?
When you initially start using retinol to treat your skin concerns, ensure that you start slowly with a low concentration and a low usage frequency. Start by applying retinol only once or twice every week for the first month.
After the first month, you can build up more frequent usage. This will help your skin to get familiar with the serum without irritation. You may eventually be able to use it every day if your skin allows it.
Can You Use Vitamin C and Retinol Serum Together?
Retinol and vitamin C are active skincare powerhouses and can work effectively to transform the overall appearance of the skin. You can use vitamin C serum and retinol serum in your skincare routine if you have normal and oily skin.
Combining the two ingredients may be too drying or too harsh for dry skin and sensitive skin. If your skin can handle it, the two ingredients will benefit you greatly. Improper application or combination of the two ingredients can irritate and damage the skin badly.
How to Use Vitamin C and Retinol Serum
There are different ways to apply retinol and vitamin C serum to the skin. You can layer them in a skincare routine, or you can use them separately.
To layer both serums in your skincare routine:
- Wash and remove dirt from your face
- Use the vitamin C serum after washing
- Wait till your skin has completely dried up
- Apply your retinol serum
- Wait for about 30 minute
The best way to use both retinol and vitamin C serum on your skin without messing it up is by alternating between the two products each night. To do this, use your retinol serum to enjoy its full benefits and switch to vitamin C serum the other night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use retinol serum on the face?
Yes, it is. Retinol serum is considered safe to use on the skin for all skin types except sensitive skin.
Avoid using retinol serum if your skin is sensitive and also if you are pregnant, nursing a child, or looking to get pregnant.
Should you apply retinol serum before moisturizer?
Yes, you should. Apply retinol serum on the skin first before using your moisturizer.
This will help to reduce the drying effect of retinol on the skin and it will help to keep the skin moisturized.
Can you use retinol serum every day?
Yes, you can. You can use your retinol serum on your skin daily in your skincare routine.
However, this depends on your skin and the percentage of retinol in your serum. Ensure that you don’t use more than your skin can take and you will be fine.
Conclusion
Retinol serum is a skincare product that works effectively to treat several skin concerns. This includes sunspots, hyperpigmentation, acne, and aging signs. Using the serum on your skin properly will help to improve the overall appearance of your skin.
To enjoy the benefits of using retinol serum on the skin, ensure that you start with what your skin can tolerate and do not overuse it. Using retinol too often can cause retinol burn and can also irritate the skin badly. In addition, remember that your SPF 30 sunscreen is very important.
Thanks for reading.
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