Skincare with Retinol

We’ve all heard of skincare with retinol. But there’s a lot about retinol most people don’t understand.

Skincare with retinol (Vitamin A) is popular because it has the ability to increase skin cell turnover rate. In fact, inflicting trauma on the skin and/or using retinol on the skin are the only two ways we can increase skin cell turnover; this defines “corrective” or “clinical” skincare. This is crucially important if you are trying to resurface skin with acne and/or sun-damaged skin.

But all retinol is not equal or the same. There are many types of retinol in the category of anti-aging and acne-treating skincare. You can find different retinol strengths, both over-the-counter and prescription, along with endless patents all claiming that their particular form of vitamin A is the best. It’s hard to know which retinol to choose.

To add to the challenge, every skin health provider has their personal favorite. The debate revolves in part around what profit margin the professional receives (messed up, huh?).

There is also disagreement about how much inflammation and dehydration a person should pay for this increased skin cell turnover. The question: At what point does the cost outweigh the benefit?

Inflammation, dehydration, and increased sun sensitivity (all side effects of retinol) accelerate the aging process and exacerbate acne further. If we take one step forward, then three steps backward, is that smart? Or causing more harm than good? Is it even possible to arrive at healthier, more vital and balanced skin by adding more anxiety to our already problemed skin?

There is good news.

I have spent about 15 years as a licensed aesthetician experimenting with ALL of the different types of retinoids, and I have arrived at a solution to the retinoid dilemma.

This is what I have learned the hard way:

1. Customizing the right dose is everything.
2. Stronger is not necessarily better.
3. Stabilized retinaldehyde with liposomal delivery is the most efficient and least inflammatory, bioavailable form of vitamin A.
4. When our skin can synthesize its own retinoic acid from the successful absorption of the least inflammatory type of vitamin A (retinaldehyde), our skin can convert this into the best and most sustainable form of retinoic acid that increases skin cell turnover. Basically, our own self-manufactured retinoic acid is far more beneficial than something from a jar.
5. Don’t underestimate the power of hydration and barrier restoration to synergize and stabilize skin that is being stimulated into increased cell turnover with vitamin A. A detoxifying process cannot be set into motion without hydration and a healthy skin barrier. Making new skin cells is a bold task, in and of itself, so resourcing our skin properly with optimal hydration and a restored barrier ensures that there is no price to pay for the regeneration. This means zero irritation, zero dehydration, and zero increased sun sensitivity. It is crucial to avoid these pitfalls on the way to fixing our skin — or we are likely to end up far off course. Or at best, just wasting time going in circles. We must find all of the ways we can optimize our skin’s valuable time for preservation so it can age more slowly.
6. Find a skin Skin Harmonics professional who can adjust your skin’s Dermal Nutrient dose of stabilized retinaldehyde as it progresses through the different phases of a complete holistic skin resurfacing process and detox.

Keep learning about what the new paradigm shift means for your skin…practically.
Harm to heal is OUT and Nourish to Heal is IN.
Real healing is a beautiful process.
Check out my other skin related blog entries:

• How to Feed Our Skin for Real
• Our Skin is Hungry for Real Sustenance
• Update your Acne IQ- Fact #3
• Your Skin Health Bank