In the past year, I’ve really started to notice signs of aging on my skin. I don’t think I’m alone in wanting to keep my skin looking youthful for as long as possible, so I’ve been doing some research into the best products to combat fine lines & wrinkles!
Enter: Retinol.
For those that have never heard of retinol before, it is a type of retinoid, derived from vitamin A. It helps increase skin cell turnover to reveal new, brighter skin. Retinol has become a must-have ingredient in my skincare products! Aside from providing brighter, tighter, and smoother skin, retinol also helps to diminish acne scars. Lots of you know that I struggled with severe acne as a teenager & have also experienced adult acne from time to time (which shouldn’t even be a thing IMO..), so am relieved to have found an ingredient that will take care of ALL of my skin needs all at once! I’ve been testing out Olay’s Retinol24 products for the past few months, and could not be happier with the results. Check out how much smoother & brighter my skin looks in the before and after images below! You can really see the results in the texture on my forehead and the lines around my eyes.
But with great power comes great responsibility – retinol can have a bad reputation because it can cause irritation if it isn’t formulated correctly. But it doesn’t have to be that way! I’ve pulled together some of the misconceptions I had prior to using retinol and have debunked those myths below.
some FAQ’s / myths about retinol
Does retinol increase your risk of getting a sunburn? It doesn’t, but you should restrict using retinol during the day as it is sensitive to UV rays and can breakdown when exposed to the sun. As part of good skincare practice hygiene, ALWAYS use SPF in the day to help protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
It’ll take four to six weeks for your retinoid to really work. This depends on how often you use it, and what type of product you’re using. With any new skincare product, you should give yourself at least a month to see if it’s improving. However, it can take a few months to notice an improvement. With Olay Retinol24 specifically, you can see improvements within 28 days. (Which I did – see my before and after images!)
Don’t put retinoids around your eyes. The skin there is too sensitive. It is true that the skin around your eyes is senstive, but Olay’s Retinol24 eyecream was formulated to be sensitive enough to use around your eyes!
The skin-smoothing benefits of retinoids plateau after six months. False. During the first few months you’ll probably notice the most change especially your first time using a retinol product. However if your retinol product is formulated properly, it will remain active for months and will continue to help improve your skin! How do you know if it’s formulated properly? Look at its colour. If you notice your cream or serum is becoming increasingly yellow then the retinol is breaking down, becoming ineffective!
I’m in my 20s – Am I too young to start using a retinol? Anyone can use it! But one of the best times to start using it is in your mid-twenties to help prevent aging. Especially because Retinol24 does more than just prevent wrinkles – it also improves brightness and tone, as well as dark spots like acne scars!
Can all skin types use retinol? Absolutely! People with sensitive skin may be scared to try it though, as it’s been known to irritate the skin and cause flakiness and redness. However if you use a product like Olay Retino24, which is gentle enough for daily use (!), you should be okay!
What are the skincare benefits of using retinol? Retinol is known to smooth and improve brightness. Retinols can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
What should I do if my skin has a bad reaction to retinol? If you believe it was the retinol product that’s irritating your skin, take a break from the product and give your skin about a month to rest. Then slowly re-introduce it back into your routine, maybe once every three nights and slowly build up from there. Everyone’s skin is different but if you have sensitive skin you may also want to avoid using acids or exfoliating on the same nights you use retinol.
So, why do I love Olay Retinol24? That’s an easy one – because the Olay Retinol24 collection has been the most effective formula I’ve found at the most affordable price! Seriously, I have tried a few other retinol skincare products from Sephora that I personally felt did nothing for my skin AND cost an arm & a leg (figuratively, not literally – I still have both my arms + legs in case you were worried lol). Another problem I have had with other retinol products I’ve tried in the past is my skin became irritated and dry. I am happy to report I have not experienced any irritation or dryness since using the Olay Retinol24 Night Cream every evening before bed for the past 6 weeks! I’m on the road to smoother, brighter, younger looking skin – who’s coming with me?!
The Olay Retinol24 line is comprised of 3 different skincare products. There is an eye cream, serum, and night cream (my fav). You don’t need all three products in order to see results – how awesome is that?! I often just apply the night cream before going to bed and use the eye cream about once a month. I love that Olay offers a variety of retinol formulas so YOU can decide the best product for your skin and lifestyle. To learn more about Olay’s new Retinol24 line, visit their website: olay.ca
This post was in partnership with Olay Canada. As always, all thoughts & opinions are my own. All photos taken by StellarSocialCo
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