why you should add retinol into your skincare routine in your 30's

If you are over 30 and aren't yet using retinol, then its time take a closer look at this powerhouse ingredient. Today many of us are happy to let our skin reflect a life well lived with a few lines and wrinkles, so might be thinking that retinol isn't for them as it's best known as an anti-ageing ingredient.

However, Retinol actually delivers a whole host of skin benefits that can help with all challenges your skin faces as you age. If you are looking to brighten dull skin or help skin navigate hormonal changes brought on by the menopause, menstrual cycles or birth control, then retinol can be a game-changing addition to your skincare routine.

WHAT IS RETINOL?

Retinol is a type of retinoid derived from Vitamin A. Retinoid is the umbrella term for both gentler at-home grades as well as the more potent types only available with prescription. The strongest Retinoids, like isotretinoin and tretinoin, are pure retinoic acid, which means you’ll start seeing results straight away. However, this can come with significant side effects which is why these types of retinoids can be prescription only.

Retinol Esters, Retinol and Retinaldehyde (retinal) are gentler versions found in many skincare products you can purchase without prescription.

Retinol is more stable, cheaper and suitable for most skin types, which is why it tends to be the most popular form of retinoid.

Retinaldehyde (Retinal) is said to work 11 times fasters, but with this fast action, there is the possibility of more side effects which makes it less tolerable across all skin types. For that reason, retinol tends to be the one most commonly found in your skincare products.

With retinol, because its formulated to be suitable for more skin types, its important use consistently. Just remember that if you don’t think its working for you, keep preserving as it can take about 12 weeks to start seeing results.  

why retinol is so good for over 30s skincare

Loss of collagen

For all genders and ages, Retinol is the number one ingredient to add into your skincare routine if you want to target signs of ageing, as it's one of the few skincare ingredients that can help promote cell regeneration and collagen production. Collagen is a protein that plays an essential part in keeping skin plump and elastic.

For women over 30, ageing will become more noticeable as collagen depletes from the skin at a greater rate than seen in male skin. Once collagen starts to be lost the skin starts to experience loss of density and sagging, which then accelerates in the first 5 years of the menopause when women's skin loses around 30% of its collagen. Using a product containing retinol will help to stimulate collagen production and therefore help reduce the impact of skin ageing

The menopause

Unfortunately, the menopause is linked to a wide range of skin concerns, with a deepening of wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin. Changes in pH levels, a drop in oestrogen and hormonal fluctuations can also cause conditions like acne, rosacea and eczema to flare up. Retinol will help with some of these symptoms such as collagen loss, as well as tackling dull skin or dark spots. However, as skin can become drier its best to make sure skin can tolerate retinol to prevent irritation while in the menopause

Uneven skin tone

Dark spots, hyperpigmentation and post-blemish marks are tough to treat, and from our 30s onwards we are likely to have more of these marks from things like sun exposure or hormone fluctuations. Retinol helps dead skin cells (including those with melanin in) to slough off, helping new cells to reach the surface. It also helps to prevent breakouts which means fewer post-blemish marks to deal with

Adult acne

Around 3% of people are thought to have acne over the age of 35, as well as those who experience regular breakouts with hormone fluctuation or life stages like the menopause. Introducing retinol into your skincare routine will help to prevent breakouts by exfoliating the skin and reducing the risk of clogged pores

HOW TO USE RETINOL IN YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE

When introducing Retinol into your grooming routine, it can take a while for skin to tolerate it. This means that retinol is well known to cause dryness depending on how skin adapts to it. Here our are top tips for avoid any discomfort or irritation:

Start low and go slow
Use a lower concentration of retinol 1-2 times per week and increase use if your skin is dealing OK with the level used
Use in the evening and follow with SPF in the AM
If also using acids in your skincare routine then use on alternative nights to AHA/BHAs, with Vitamin C application in the morning. This way you’ll maximise effectiveness and minimise irritation
The right level for you will depend on your skin needs and tolerability. For retinol, anything above 0.0015% is effective, up to a max level of 0.3% as allowed by UK/ EU. Any formula higher than this would need to have additional studies to prove their safety.

WHY CLEAR SKIN DAYS RETINOL SERUM IS PERFECT FOR ACNE AND BLEMISHES

Our serum was created for brighter, smoother, clearer and more even skin whilst minimising any skin irritation.

We’ve included a 5% Retinol complex, which contains 0.05% pure retinol which is effective and tolerable for most skin types
We’ve used a Cyclosystem Complex in which the retinol is micro-capsuled, controlling its release to prolong its action time
We’ve included 5% Niacinamide. Like retinol, Niacinamide has a whole heap of skin benefits for any skin type, which is why we love it. It’s a great partner to retinol as it helps to balance oil production, even pigmentation, smooth skin and reduce pore appearance
Finally we’ve also added 5% Morus Alba extract (White Mulberry) - this is a tried and tested ingredient to help fade discolouration and uneven skin tone, whilst helping to calm skin for a brighter, more radiant complexion.

So whether you’re wanting to target blemishes, signs of ageing, or need to give dull skin a brightening boost, we recommend trying out a retinol into your skincare routine if you haven't already.

GET IN TOUCH

We hope that you've found this blog helpful - if you have any questions or would like to share your skincare journey with us, we'd love to hear from you. You can get in touch via the form below or by DM on IG.