As the craze for perfectly flawless skin commands social media, our resident skin expert at Chelsea and Fulham Dentist, Dr Day reveals the secret to skin that is healthy, smooth, radiant and even.
What is retinol?
The agent that everyone is talking about now is retinol. But what is retinal and how does it work? Retinol is a form of vitamin A. It is the most used and most researched anti ageing compound causing reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, reduction of pigmentation, smoothening of the skin texture and reduction in pore size. Retinol works by energising the cells within the skin, stimulating them to increase the production of collagen and elastin.
When should I start to use retinol?
For most people the production of collagen and elastin starts to reduce in our late 20’s. Many people choose to use retinol in their 20’s and 30’s to prevent the onset of lines and wrinkles and keep the skin firm and tight. Retinol is also very popular in patients who are 40+ to help smooth and even out lines and wrinkles that have started to settle in. This, combined with a high SPF and Vitamin C in the morning, will help set you up for a life of great skin.
Are all retinol creams the same?
No! Absolutely everyone right now is claiming to have the best retinol anti ageing cream – even Asda! The two key things to look out for is the concentration of the retinol and how the retinol is transported through the skin layers. Many off-the-shelf products claim to have high concentrations of retinol however the unfortunate truth is that the transport of the retinol into the deeper layers of the skin is so minimal that it rarely reaches the target skin cells to stimulate them to produce collagen elastin and instead simply sits on top of the skin and oxidises throughout the day and therefore leaving the user with a disappointing result.
Dr Day recommends for those thinking of improving their skin to book a complimentary skin assessment to discuss your needs and if retinol is suitable for you and where to start. The retinols she recommends to her patients are high potency, ensuring they get deep into the skin layers to make the skin smooth, even and firm, with improvements seen in a matter of days. These products must be prescribed by a qualified clinician.
Dr Day’s 4 retinol ZO skin health hero products:
1. Advanced Radical Night Repair – A bestselling, award-winning formula with a 1% retinal concentration that targets UV damaged and aged skin.
2. Retinol Skin Brightener 1% – Targets skin discolouration and breaks up existing pigmentation working to brighten the skin and help even the skin tone.
3. Retinol Skin Brightener 0.5% – formulated to even skin colour and tone and can also be used as a maintenance product after more aggressive treatments. A good starting product for those who have not use retinal before.
4. Wrinkle Texture and Repair – Light weight hypertensive retinol solution that helps reverse the signs of skin ageing and reduces lines and wrinkles. At 0.5% retinol it is a good starting product for those who have not use retinol before.
For your complimentary skin consultation, contact us by calling 02030801000, email us mail@cfdentist.co.uk , DM us on Facebook or Instagram.
