You may have heard the buzz that if you’re a woman over 40, you should be using retinol! If you want to age gracefully then it’s not a bad idea to incorporate retinol into your skincare routine. But as an aesthetician, I like recommending retinol alternatives that can be just as effective and gentler on your skin.
FAQs
- What is retinol? Retinol is a type of vitamin A that is added to serums, creams, and moisturizers to help improve the skin.
- What are the benefits of retinol? Retinol can help with: reducing fine lines and wrinkles, exfoliating the skin, promoting cell turnover, reducing hyperpigmentation, unclogging pores, and increasing collagen production.
- How do you use retinol? Because retinol is strong, it’s best to start low and slow. Start with a low dosage and start incorporating it slowly into your skincare routine to see how your skin adjusts.
- What are retinol alternatives? Retinol alternatives are gentler on the skin and can be just as effective. These are some great retinol alternatives: F82 GREEN RETINOL FACE ELIXIR, F87 CORRECTIVE KAHAI ELIXIR, F65 CORRECTIVE MIDNIGHT ELIXIR, and 004 DOPE YOUR WRINKLES FACE OIL SERUM.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a type of vitamin A that is added to serums, creams, and moisturizers to help improve the skin.
What are the Benefits of Retinol?
Retinol is a great product that helps reverse the signs of aging. As we age, the skin on our face may have fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, large pores, and loose skin. This skincare product can help age us age gracefully.
Retinol is made from vitamin A. The small molecules penetrate deep into the epidermis to your dermis (the outer layer of your skin to your inner layer). This helps heal the skin at a deeper level and can help boost the production of collagen and elastin. Retinol helps speed the rate at which is creates new skin cells. Peeling, flaking, and dryness may occur at first as the skin heals and increases cell turnover.
Here are some benefits of retinol if you use it properly and consistently:
- Retinol reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
- Retinol exfoliates the skin.
- Retinol helps promote cell turnover.
- Retinol reduces hyperpigmentation.
- Retinol helps unclog pores.
- Retinol increases collagen production.
The Best Retinol Alternatives
Retinol is a great way to help with the anti-aging process but it can also be known to be strong and irritating if you use the wrong product or too often. A great option for getting the youthful skin that you want but without the harsh and drying reactions is to use natural retinols. Here are a few forms of natural retinols:
- Bakuchiol is a plant-based alternative to retinol. It comes from a plant grown in India and is extracted from the seeds of this plant. It provides similar results and benefits to retinol but is a gentler option. Any of the products below are derived from olive leaf elixir and contain a powerful ingredient called hydroxytyrosol. These retinols are healing and soothing.
- Kahai Oil- This is derived from an Amazonian tree called Cacay. The oil is extracted from the nuts of this tree.
- Fish liver- This is a form of vitamin A that is found in cod liver oil.
Using natural forms of retinol can be gentler on the skin and is a great option if using a full strength retinol makes you nervous. Because they are naturally derived, the higher concentration of retinol is effective yet gentle on the skin. Here are some great options to try:
- F87 CORRECTIVE KAHAI ELIXIR is great for all skin types and is known for giving the skin luminosity, finer pores, hydration, elasticity, firmness, and anti-pigmentation. Contains 3.8% Kahai Oil and contains the highest amount of retinol out of these products. (This is my personal favorite retinol!)
- F82 GREEN RETINOL FACE ELIXIR combines Hydroxytyrosol with Green Retinol (Bakuchiol = alternative retinol) and Vitamin A rich Kahai Oil. The Bakuchiol remedies fine lines and reduces the appearance of pores, while the Hydroytyrosol, together with the Kahai Oil, minimizes redness, counteracts pigmentation and protects against oxidative damage. Bakuchiol also stimulates collagen formation, actively counteracting skin aging. It contains 2.5% Bakuchiol + 1% Kahai Oil and is the gentlest form of retinol out of these options. (This option is best for sensitive skin.)
- F65 CORRECTIVE MIDNIGHT ELIXIR is combines retinol (fish sourced), arbequina and kahai oil with the patented “hyaluron in oil complex” and the regenerating super olive tree antioxidant hydroxytyrosol. This regenerates and tightens the skin overnight, reduces wrinkles and enhances the luminosity of the skin while you sleep. Apply this retinol at night only because it is photosensitive. This contains 2% retinol from fish liver + hyaluron + 2.5% Kahai Oil.
- 004 DOPE YOUR WRINKLES FACE OIL SERUM combines hemp and retinol, arbequina and kahai oil with the patented “Hyaluronic in Oil Complex”. It regenerates and firms the skin, reduces wrinkles and supports the daily glow of the skin. The unique complex of active ingredients regenerates the skin overnight, firms and smooths wrinkles and fine lines, and gives the skin a natural glow for the next day while you sleep. This contains 2% retinol from fish liver + hyaluron + 2.5% Kahai Oil but also contains hemp.
Here are the best retinol products for your skin type:
- Sensitive skin- F82 GREEN RETINOL FACE ELIXIR
- Fine lines & Wrinkles- F65 CORRECTIVE MIDNIGHT ELIXIR or 004 DOPE YOUR WRINKLES FACE OIL SERUM
- Hyperpigmentation, texture, large pores, acne, loose skin, wrinkles- F87 CORRECTIVE KAHAI ELIXIR
Other Alternatives to Retinol
Besides serums as retinol alternatives, there are other ways to help reduce the signs of aging:
- Gua Sha- The ancient traditional Chinese skincare practice of Gua Sha uses a tool to massage your face. Doing Gua Sha exercises consistently can help reduce the signs of aging. Learn more about Gua Sha and how to incorporate it into your skincare routine.
- Red light therapy- Using a red light device like a mask or wand can help reduce wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Learn more about red light therapy and which one is best to invest in.
- Sleep with silk pillowcases- Using a silk pillowcase can help prevent wrinkles on your face when you sleep on your side or stomach. It’s also great for your hair!
- Drink water- Staying hydrated by drinking a lot of water can be so good for your skin! And especially opting for water over sugary drinks will benefit your skin.
- Avoid drinking from a straw- When you suck from a straw, the muscles around your lips purse and wrinkle. Over time, this can increase your wrinkles.
- Don’t vape or smoke- Vaping and smoking is terrible for your skin! If you want to age gracefully, then stay away from harmful drugs that won’t just affect your skin but your entire body.
How to Safely Use Retinol Alternatives
Since retinol is a strong skincare product, it’s important to follow the steps carefully so you don’t cause irritation to your skin. Here’s how to use retinol in your skincare routine:
- Start slowly so your skin can get used to the product. Incorporate retinol once a week and build up as your skin gets used to it.
- Only use at night because it can cause UV damage to your skin.
- Use a pea size amount–a little goes a long way.
- Apply to dry skin after you have cleansed and toned your face.
- Finish with moisturizer.
- Do not combine retinol with Vitamin C or acids like AHAs or BHAs. Use these products on alternating days to avoid over exfoliation and irritation. Learn how about skin cycling so you use your skincare products safely and don’t wreck your skin barrier.
*Pro tip: You can squirt a few drops of your serum and retinol in the palm of your hand, create an emulsion, and then apply to your face. This helps it blend and absorb better into your skin.
When Do You Use Retinol in Your Skincare Routine?
Here’s a step-by-step skincare routine when using retinol in your lineup:
- Cleanse
- Tone
- Serum + retinol
- Eye cream/elixir
- Moisturizer
If you want to learn more about how to take care of your skin, no matter your age, then check out my skincare courses! I share tips, techniques, and the tools you need to have happy and healthy skin.
I love being your virtual beauty coach! Feel free to EMAIL ME or message me on social media if you have any questions or need any guidance in your skincare and makeup journey. When you feel good, you do good!
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- Enhance Your Beauty with Waterless Makeup: Introducing Olive Rose No Makeup
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- Ditch the Popping! How Pimple Patches Help You Break Bad Skin Habits
- Surviving the Skin Purge: 5 Tips to Keep Calm and Let Your Skin Heal
- Eyes of Youth: How the Right Eye Cream Can Turn Back Time
About the Author
JoEllen is a licensed aesthetician, certified makeup artist, and certified John Maxwell coach, speaker, and trainer. She works with women helping them look and feel confident. She loves teaching women simple beauty techniques so they can feel empowered to try it at home. Her motto is that when you look and feel good, you do good!
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