Are You Using Retinol-Based Products?

We have some clients who are using Retinol, Retinoids  or other Vitamin A derivatives (like Tretinoin with brand names such as Renova, Retin-A, Retin-A Micro and Avita) and ask us how it can be incorporated into their Renée Rouleau skin care routine.

For those that use a prescription version, it’s always best to check with your doctor but here’s a way we have found it helpful in enhancing the results and minimize the potential irritating side effects:

Night #1: Retinol /Vitamin A product followed with moisturizer appropriate for your skin type. Our Phytolipid Comfort Cream works particularly well since it’s very healing, repairing, calming and hydrating—everything that a skin being treated with Retinol requires…

Night #2: Serum followed with moisturizer appropriate for your skin type. The specialty serum will ensure that your skin is getting the hydration and comfort it needs for those new cells being exposed. See our collection of specialty serums.

Night #3: Glycolic Acid 10% followed with moisturizer appropriate for your skin type. It’s best to use with our mildest 10% formula since Vitamin A makes the skin hypersensitive. Since it takes two days for the cells to regenerate to the surface from using the Retin-A, the skin can be dry and flakey and the Glycolic Acid Serum used on this night is perfect to remove the dryness that occurs.

Then repeat and do this continually.

Here’s my reasoning behind this method. Because Retin-A and other Vitamin A derivatives cause dryness and flakiness in most skin types, it’s important to not use it every night. The specialty serum on night #2 is meant to give the skin a break using barrier-repair and nourishing ingredients to keep the skin calm and hydrated. Because it takes two days for the cells to regenerate to the surface and cause the skin to get flaky, the Glycolic Serum 10% is perfect to remove the dryness that occurs. Then by starting over and using  Retin-A /Retinol the next night (night 4), it may work even better because now it can penetrate deeper within the skin because of the acid exfoliation the night before.

Note: Retinyl Palmitate is the ester form of Retinol and Palmitic Acid and acts as an effective antioxidant and skin cell regulator. It works differently than the Vitamin A derivatives mentioned above and is safe for even the most sensitive skins.

With all Vitamin A products, it’s important to infuse your skin with stable antioxidants to keep inflammation in the skin to a minimum but some Vitamin C serums can be extremely irritating to sensitive skins. Read why Retinol users should avoid Vitamin C products that sting when applied to the skin.  Our Vitamin C&E Complex is a must!

Have you picked out your skin type yet?

Questions about your skin? Be sure to email us. We’re here to assist!

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Information courtesy of www.ReneeRouleau.com, a website with skin care tips, products based on nine skin types and advice from skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, Renée Rouleau.