I recently posted a reel on my Instagram feed featuring a retinol product which sparked a conversation amongst my followers. One concern brought to light was how often to use retinol. “I’ve just invested in Retinol but am a bit wary about using it… “ says Este Estilo. It is essential to know your skin type before purchasing any skin care product. Retinol treatment is a gradual process, especially if you are new to it. Take baby steps, or in other words, build up a tolerance and slowly incorporate it into your skincare regime to minimise any side effects. I did not realise how potent retinol is; hence, I use it nightly – once or twice per week. For those with sensitive skin, I suggest using retinol once a week.

Let us go back to basics. Retinoid is the umbrella term of retinol. There are different types of retinoids, all of which derive from Vitamin A. The difference between them is concentration. Retinoic acid (known as Retin-A or Tretinoin), or retinaldehyde, is the strongest, prescription-level retinoid used to treat acne and ageing.
Other retinoids include retinol and retinol esters. From the outset, pay attention to the percentage of Vitamin A used in retinol.

MZ Skin Skin Booster

I have commenced a new retinol-based treatment program with MZ Skin by Dr Maryam Zamani. Her Retinol Skin Booster contains 2% encapsulated Vitamin A, designed to penetrate deeper into the skin layer. The general rule of thumb is to start with the lowest percentage, 0.1% or 0.2%, and build up to 1%. One pipette of MZ Skin Retinol Skin Booster to treat your face is advisable twice a week. I used two pipettes upon initial use. My skin experienced a slight dryness after a couple of days; thus, I may have applied more retinol than needed. MZ Skin retinol is highly concentrated.

5 Benefits of Retinoids

Retinoids are known for increasing cell turnover and can make skin temporarily thinner. Thus, be mindful of your SPF. The tricky part “is trying to work out sun sensitivity with [retinol] products” says Nique Forde Presents. Research suggests using retinol for three months and then have a three-month break as cell turnover decreases after three months of usage. Furthermore, avoid using retinol with different products. Combining acids and retinol can irritate. However, the pros of retinol use outweigh the cons, such that retinoids accomplish the following:

Stimulate collagen and increase elasticity
Decrease fine lines and wrinkles
Improve an uneven skin tone
Treat pigmentation
Reduce cystic acne and blemishes

MZ Skin Retinol Skin Booster helps to smooth and repair the skin’s surface overnight. My skin felt incredibly supple after adjusting to the richness of MZ Skin retinol. A 20ml bottle retails at £110 .00.

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