Retinol, a grow old in style wrinkle-buster

What gets dermatologists all worked up? Vitamin A, a well-known anti-wrinkle active ingredient. The problem is that it can cause irritations and isn't ideally suited to skin. Which is why researchers set off to find a skin-friendly derivative of this powerful vitamin and came up with retinol. It's kinder to skin and doesn't need to be prescribed by a doctor. Hence it's meteoric rise in the anti-wrinkle industry.

So, what's the big deal? Retinol is an anti-ageing powerhouse. It thickens the epidermis, helps cell differentiation, regulates keratinisation, prevents the breakdown of collagen and elastin and increases cutaneous vitamin A levels, so that we reap the benefits of its anti-ageing properties.  In simpler terms, retinol leaves us with skin that's: - smoother, - softer,  - radiant and even-toned.

Retinol is the nightingale of the anti-ageing world. Why? To avoid any problems caused by photosensitisation. By boosting cell renewal, retinol leaves our skin susceptible to UV damage. Which is why retinol-based treatments are a great winter-time option. If you apply an anti-wrinkle cream that contains retinol in the morning, follow it with a cream that contains an SPF 30.Retinol is a slowly but surely anti-wrinkle ingredient. Retinol works best over time, as our skin needs to adjust to its presence. Scientists refer to this as 'cellular memory'.Start by applying your retinol cream two nights a week. If your skin reddens, leave a longer gap between each application. If all goes well, move up to 3 times a week.But even if you have a slight flare-up, don't panic! If your retinol cream causes a tiny reaction, it means that it's doing it's job. It's just getting to work on your lines and wrinkles!  

Back in the day, retinol was known to irritate skin, but formulae have since been re-jigged. Advances in the skincare world have allowed researchers and labs to come up with retinol-based creams suited to all skin types. So even if your skin is ultra-sensitive, you'll still find a suitable retinol anti-ageing cream. This is because the retinol used is slowly released, meaning it won't saturate and subsequently irritate skin.