Why You Should Be Using Retinoids In Your Body Care Routine
Retinoids are a group of ingredients that have completely transformed the skincare products we know and love. The two most common ones you’ll come across are retinal and retinol (but they have a few key differences, which we’ll explain below). Derived from Vitamin A, these highly active ingredients are prized for their ability to smooth wrinkles, improve texture, reduce the appearance of pores, address acne, soften scars and fade pigment. Read on to discover more about the many benefits of using retinoids in your body care routine.
WHAT CAN RETINOIDS DO FOR YOUR BODY CARE ROUTINE?
Although most commonly associated with facial skincare, using retinoids in your body care routine has many benefits including:
Anti-Ageing: retinoids stimulate collagen and elastin production, helping to slow down wrinkles and fine lines.
Skin Smoothing: retinoids speed up skin turnover, encouraging the shedding of dead cells to reveal softer and smoother skin.
Reduces Body Acne: retinoids deeply clear out the pores, removing dirt, dead skin cells, oil and acne-causing bacteria.
Brightens Skin & Evens Pigment: retinoids prevent the production of melanin, which is responsible for giving the skin dark pigment.
Treats Strawberry Skin: strawberry skin (keratosis pilaris) are small red dots caused by excess keratin. Retinoids unclog pores and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Fades Scars: retinoids encourage skin renewal and can assist with both fading and flattening scars.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RETINOL AND RETINAL?
Retinol and retinal are both classified as retinoids. However, retinal is further along the Vitamin A chain than retinol and is closer in composition to retinoic acid. This means it can act more quickly and effectively on the skin. It’s also the only retinoid with antibacterial properties, making it a great option for treating acne and congestion.
HOW SHOULD I INCORPORATE RETINAL INTO MY BODY CARE ROUTINE?
We suggest choosing a moisturiser, like our BODY MOISTURISER, that has been formulated with retinal along with hydrating ingredients to nurture the skin and mitigate any potential drying effects. It is pH-balanced and infused with naturally active ingredients. The powerful benefits of retinal are boosted by complementary ingredients like brightening niacinamide, vitamin C-rich cloudberry oil and fatty molecule squalane. Like with use of all retinoids, we recommend following with sun protection during the day.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF USING RETINAL IN MY BODY CARE ROUTINE?
Immediately after applying our BODY MOISTURISER, your skin will feel soft, supple and give off a subtle glow. As with all active ingredients, seeing the true results of retinal can take a number of skin cycles (from several weeks up until a few months). Gentle enough for daily use, we recommend applying the BODY MOISTURISER generously onto skin while it’s still slightly damp from the shower or bath.