What Is Retinol And Why Do I Need It In My Skincare

Here at Barbie’s Beauty Bits, we believe aging is a fact of life, but looking your age is not! And that is when good skincare comes into play with anti-aging ingredients like Retinol, aka the fountain of youth. But, What Is Retinol And Why Do I Need It In My Skincare?

Well, more than likely, you heard about Retinol and maybe some of its anti-aging benefits but do not really understand this star ingredient and everything it can do for your skin! So, if you are ready to venture into Benjamin Button's magical elixir of youth, continue reading.

Beverly Hills MD Cosmeceuticals
For this post, I partnered up with Beverly Hills, MD. I was impressed with this brand because plastic surgeons created this cutting-edge skin-care brand.

With their revolutionary line, Dr. Layke and Dr. Danielpour can reach beyond their office walls and offer real cosmetic results to those looking for the best non-surgical options available in the comfort of their own home.

In their selection of skincare products, I noticed that they had a retinol treatment that allows you to experience all the age-defying effects of a high-potency retinol treatment without dehydrating your skin’s surface and no micro-dosing! (You will see why this is awesome later on in this article)

Before I get into some of their products, let's talk about Retinol and why it is one of my all-time favorite skincare ingredients.

What Exactly Is Retinol
Retinol is a retinoid derived from vitamin A and is usually what is found in over-the-counter products. Retinol is not retinoic acid, also known as Retin-A or Tretinoin (that is often used to treat acne)—Retinol works because it converts to retinoic acid.

This game-changing active ingredient works to boost the appearance of collagen-depleted skin and encourages cellular turnover, which is one of the reasons it is the number one anti-aging product recommended by Plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aestheticians everywhere!

How Does Retinol Help With Anti-aging                          

What does Retinol do for your skin? Retinol is your secret weapon to aiding in the skin's renewal process by sloughing off dead skin cells, allowing new, fresher, radiant skin to appear.

You see, as we age, our cellular turnover starts to decline, meaning that our body is slower to shed dead skin cells and produce new ones. This buildup of dead skin cells can harm our skin, leaving it looking dry and dull, or worse, this accumulation can result in excess oil production and clogged pores, leading to problematic skin.

And if that wasn't bad enough, starting as early as your mid 20's, your collagen production begins to slow down. While this is not something, you may see the effects of immediately, it will impact you later in life, with sun-damaged skin,  thinner skin texture, premature fine lines and wrinkles, and elastin loss over time.  

Retinol is the skincare staple that helps reduce these aging issues by stimulating collagen production and accelerating skin turnover. In turn, this helps boost the skin’s surface renewal process and strengthens the skin’s foundation to the look of hyperpigmentation, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, all while improving the skin texture!- WOW, now that was a mouthful.

These are just some reasons Barbie's Beauty Bits recommend incorporating retinol into your skincare routine early to prevent future signs of aging and damage rather than waiting until later in life, trying to undo it. 

How To Achieve The Best Results With Retinol

Like applying moisturizer the right way, there is a correct way to use prescription strength Retinol.

Many people want everything now and think the more I use this product, the quicker I will be on my way to younger-looking skin. But the truth is you, while many want to hop on the anti-aging bandwagon, you need to be patient when using prescription-strength Retinol, as it can severely inflame the skin, cause burning, itching, severe peeling, dryness, redness, and more.

Because of this, Drs. always recommend micro-dosing, starting with a lower concentration and testing how your skin will react. For example, start off using it once a week, if that is ok, then move up two twice a week for two weeks, then three times a week for three weeks. If your skin has a minimal reaction, you can bump it up, but then keep it there for a few months before using it nightly! WHAT seems like a pain, right?

Well, not any longer with Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment, as there is no need to microdose using this retinol treatment because of its micro-encapsulation technology. What??? Find out more below.

Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment™
Unlike most store-bought serums, this retinol serum is not made with ordinary retinol. Instead, it is sourced with micro-encapsulated retinol — a rare form of non-dehydrating retinol that most skincare developers DON’T use. Allowing you to enjoy all of the age-defying effects of a high-potency retinol treatment without the side effects that require the microdosing regimen that most Dr.s suggest helping you avoid dehydrated skin and redness. And the best part about this type of retinoid, no peeling!

Another thing that sets this formula apart is the results. You see, micro-encapsulated retinol actually penetrates much deeper into the skin than regular retinol — which allows it to help combat the appearance of wrinkles, slacking skin, uneven pigment, and other signs of aging far more effectively and quicker, for example...

Additional Benefits Of Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment™

• Stimulates collagen production and accelerates skin turnover
• Ideal for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles
• Combats the look of dark spots and discoloration
• Fades acne marks
• Naturally improves the appearance of sagging skin
• It makes your complexion look fresh, vibrant, and luminous

How To Use Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment
Each application of this retinol treatment penetrates deep down to help combat the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, dullness and sagging, all while leaving all skin types feeling luxuriously plump and hydrated after every nightly use.

Step 1: At night time, our skin goes into repair mode. And this treatment is designed to support your natural cell turnover processes while you sleep, so use it at nighttime, before bed.

Step 2: Wash your face with a cleanser packed with antioxidant vitamins and anti-inflammatory properties.

Step 3: Since this formula works to support cell turnover, it is recommended to apply before using other skincare products — as this will help them penetrate more deeply into your skin.

Step 4: Using your fingertips, apply 1-2 pumps to your face in an upward, outward direction. And do not forget the neck!

Step 5: Retinol products should be used with other anti-aging skincare products containing skin-replenishing ingredients, antioxidants, and restorative ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate, replenish, and nourish resulting in healthier, reinvigorating skin.

Avoid combining with AHA’s & BHA’s as you have already done the work. Doubling up can compromise the skin because mixing acids and retinol can irritate.

I like to wait about 10 minutes to ensure the product is absorbed. I then apply a hydrating serum and finish with a great moisturizer, avoiding anything that includes benzoyl peroxides or salicylic acids to prevent irritation.

Step 6: Using this product for at least 60 days is recommended to see the full benefits. While many may start seeing a visible improvement in their skin’s tone and texture in as little as 2-4 weeks, everyone’s skin responds to retinol differently, and your results may require more — or less — time to kick in.

So beauties, when it comes to results of a non-prescription retinol product, this advanced treatment is genuinely in a league of its own! As not only does it offer the tremendous anti-aging benefits of prescription-strength retinol, it provides something more-some fantastic hydrating effects, which is not common with the use of retinol.

The key with this Beverly Hills MD retinol treatment is continual use, as it is designed to keep BUILDING with each application. So the longer you use this bad boy, the younger, smoother, and more radiant it can make your complexion!

What The Heck Is Retinol And Why Should I Add It To My Fall Skincare Routine?

Crisp autumn air, shorter nights, changing leaves is in the midst right now and with this also comes a change of clothes.  But what some people seem to neglect is the change in their skincare products as well. I mean who wants their skin as dry as leaves?  Plus, a lot of us have done some serious damage to our skin in the summer, so introducing a skincare product that can help with sun damage, sunspots, anti-aging, as well as dry, flaky skin is a must!

So, if you want to find out to get your Autumn skincare on with Retinol continue reading!

For this post, I have partnered up with Valentia Skincare. This company has amazing products formulated with natural and organic cosmetic ingredients that will repair and protect the skin. One of their products, the Night Revive Retinol Serum, is an ideal product to add to get your face, fall ready.

SPONSORED POST: I was given this product to review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 
I only share reviews with you that I feel will be beneficial or informative in some way.

Adding In A Retinol Serum
As the temperature drops, we end up spending less time outside, which means less exposure to the sun.  That is why Autumn is a great time to add a retinol serum to your skincare regimen as when you’re using retinol you want to avoid prolonged sun exposure.  Additionally, the cool air can also leave our skin less hydrated, so having a product that can provide hydration as well, is the key to smoother, rejuvenated skin.

In addition to smoother skin, the Valentia Night Revive Retinol Serum helps to …

• Reduce the appearance of brown spots caused by the sun
• Stimulate collagen
• Improve skin tone
• Manage breakouts
• Condition the skin

What The Heck Is Retinol
Retinol is the principle Vitamin A and can fill some of the roles that Vitamin A plays metabolically. Many Vitamin A effects are hormone-like, influencing the growth and differential of cells.

You see, there are tons of damaging elements that are skin is exposed to every day, like dust, pollutants, sweat, even makeup, all of which can age the skin. Retinol (Vitamin A) is a useful product that helps diminish these signs of aging and visibly contribute to improving the appearance of your skin

Retinol works by speeding up the cellular turnover rate, which allows the healthier cells to work their way up to the surface faster and decreasing the activity of the destructive enzyme collagens.

Therefore, having a retinol like the Valentia Night Revive Retinol Serum in your fall skincare regimen is a necessity.  I mean anything that can help with cellular turnover, lines and wrinkles are a must have on my list of fall skincare products!

Look At The Ingredients
Ingredients are what makes one product’s success stand out from another. And Valentia has specially selected ingredients that work together to achieve optimum results.

KEY INGREDIENTS:

• Retinol (Vitamin A): Works at the cellular level to stop wrinkles, manage breakouts, and evens out skin discoloration.
• Vitamin C: Guards skin against environmental free radicals to prevent premature aging.
• Vitamin E: Provides intense hydration to diminish the drying effects of retinol.
• Squalene: Derived for pure olive oil to soften and condition delicate skin.

What To Avoid
In addition to looking at the ingredients that are in a product you also want to look at the what is not in it, thus natural, and organic products are essential in my book.   You want to stay away from synthetic fragrances and dyes, as they are two additives known to cause irritation.  Plus, with the change of humidity in the fall months, the last thing you want to do is to apply something on your skin that could be potentially irritating!

On the other hand, natural ingredients with an organic base have proven most effective at repairing skin damaged by the sun or the wind, preventing signs of aging such as wrinkles, dark spots, and reversing the effects of oxidative stress on the skin.

Lastly, you want to make sure that you look at the packaging as vitamin A can break down when it is overly exposed to light. Hence you want to purchase a retinol that is bottled in a darker container that minimizes the exposure to light and air.

Exfoliation
Although I think skin exfoliation is important all the time, adding it to your fall regimen is a must.  While there are plenty of beauty tools out there that can help with skin exfoliation, retinol's can also act as an exfoliator by sweeping and removing your dead summer skin cells.  As mentioned above retinol's also help with enhanced collagen production, so combine that with the fact it can also act as an exfoliant, you will be well on your way to a fantastic fall face!

How To Use
It is important that you are using this product correctly to get the best results.  See below some of my guidelines

• If this is your first time using a retinol, I always suggest adding it slowly to your NIGHTTIME skincare routine.
• If you are in your 30, using it three times a week can help slow the aging process.
• For those in their 40+ using the Retinol ever other night, or every night if your skin can tolerate it.
• Apply in a circular motion using your ring finger as pulling and tugging on the skin can age you quicker.
• Use an SPF of 20 or higher during the day to protect your skin.

Want To Try Some For Yourself
Well, Valentia has given my readers 20% off, so go to Amazon and get your skin fall ready with Valentia Night Revive Retinol Serum.   
Use Code: YJ7CWBI7 to get 20% off your order.

Oh one last thing, make sure to stay social by following Valentia on Facebook & Instagram!

Until next time, beauties!