What Is Retinol And Why Do I Need It In My Skincare

Here at Barbie’s Beauty Bits, we believe aging is a fact of life, but looking your age is not! And that is when good skincare comes into play with anti-aging ingredients like Retinol, aka the fountain of youth. But, What Is Retinol And Why Do I Need It In My Skincare?

Well, more than likely, you heard about Retinol and maybe some of its anti-aging benefits but do not really understand this star ingredient and everything it can do for your skin! So, if you are ready to venture into Benjamin Button's magical elixir of youth, continue reading.

Beverly Hills MD Cosmeceuticals
For this post, I partnered up with Beverly Hills, MD. I was impressed with this brand because plastic surgeons created this cutting-edge skin-care brand.

With their revolutionary line, Dr. Layke and Dr. Danielpour can reach beyond their office walls and offer real cosmetic results to those looking for the best non-surgical options available in the comfort of their own home.

In their selection of skincare products, I noticed that they had a retinol treatment that allows you to experience all the age-defying effects of a high-potency retinol treatment without dehydrating your skin’s surface and no micro-dosing! (You will see why this is awesome later on in this article)

Before I get into some of their products, let's talk about Retinol and why it is one of my all-time favorite skincare ingredients.

What Exactly Is Retinol
Retinol is a retinoid derived from vitamin A and is usually what is found in over-the-counter products. Retinol is not retinoic acid, also known as Retin-A or Tretinoin (that is often used to treat acne)—Retinol works because it converts to retinoic acid.

This game-changing active ingredient works to boost the appearance of collagen-depleted skin and encourages cellular turnover, which is one of the reasons it is the number one anti-aging product recommended by Plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aestheticians everywhere!

How Does Retinol Help With Anti-aging                          

What does Retinol do for your skin? Retinol is your secret weapon to aiding in the skin's renewal process by sloughing off dead skin cells, allowing new, fresher, radiant skin to appear.

You see, as we age, our cellular turnover starts to decline, meaning that our body is slower to shed dead skin cells and produce new ones. This buildup of dead skin cells can harm our skin, leaving it looking dry and dull, or worse, this accumulation can result in excess oil production and clogged pores, leading to problematic skin.

And if that wasn't bad enough, starting as early as your mid 20's, your collagen production begins to slow down. While this is not something, you may see the effects of immediately, it will impact you later in life, with sun-damaged skin,  thinner skin texture, premature fine lines and wrinkles, and elastin loss over time.  

Retinol is the skincare staple that helps reduce these aging issues by stimulating collagen production and accelerating skin turnover. In turn, this helps boost the skin’s surface renewal process and strengthens the skin’s foundation to the look of hyperpigmentation, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, all while improving the skin texture!- WOW, now that was a mouthful.

These are just some reasons Barbie's Beauty Bits recommend incorporating retinol into your skincare routine early to prevent future signs of aging and damage rather than waiting until later in life, trying to undo it. 

How To Achieve The Best Results With Retinol

Like applying moisturizer the right way, there is a correct way to use prescription strength Retinol.

Many people want everything now and think the more I use this product, the quicker I will be on my way to younger-looking skin. But the truth is you, while many want to hop on the anti-aging bandwagon, you need to be patient when using prescription-strength Retinol, as it can severely inflame the skin, cause burning, itching, severe peeling, dryness, redness, and more.

Because of this, Drs. always recommend micro-dosing, starting with a lower concentration and testing how your skin will react. For example, start off using it once a week, if that is ok, then move up two twice a week for two weeks, then three times a week for three weeks. If your skin has a minimal reaction, you can bump it up, but then keep it there for a few months before using it nightly! WHAT seems like a pain, right?

Well, not any longer with Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment, as there is no need to microdose using this retinol treatment because of its micro-encapsulation technology. What??? Find out more below.

Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment™
Unlike most store-bought serums, this retinol serum is not made with ordinary retinol. Instead, it is sourced with micro-encapsulated retinol — a rare form of non-dehydrating retinol that most skincare developers DON’T use. Allowing you to enjoy all of the age-defying effects of a high-potency retinol treatment without the side effects that require the microdosing regimen that most Dr.s suggest helping you avoid dehydrated skin and redness. And the best part about this type of retinoid, no peeling!

Another thing that sets this formula apart is the results. You see, micro-encapsulated retinol actually penetrates much deeper into the skin than regular retinol — which allows it to help combat the appearance of wrinkles, slacking skin, uneven pigment, and other signs of aging far more effectively and quicker, for example...

Additional Benefits Of Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment™

• Stimulates collagen production and accelerates skin turnover
• Ideal for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles
• Combats the look of dark spots and discoloration
• Fades acne marks
• Naturally improves the appearance of sagging skin
• It makes your complexion look fresh, vibrant, and luminous

How To Use Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment
Each application of this retinol treatment penetrates deep down to help combat the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, dullness and sagging, all while leaving all skin types feeling luxuriously plump and hydrated after every nightly use.

Step 1: At night time, our skin goes into repair mode. And this treatment is designed to support your natural cell turnover processes while you sleep, so use it at nighttime, before bed.

Step 2: Wash your face with a cleanser packed with antioxidant vitamins and anti-inflammatory properties.

Step 3: Since this formula works to support cell turnover, it is recommended to apply before using other skincare products — as this will help them penetrate more deeply into your skin.

Step 4: Using your fingertips, apply 1-2 pumps to your face in an upward, outward direction. And do not forget the neck!

Step 5: Retinol products should be used with other anti-aging skincare products containing skin-replenishing ingredients, antioxidants, and restorative ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate, replenish, and nourish resulting in healthier, reinvigorating skin.

Avoid combining with AHA’s & BHA’s as you have already done the work. Doubling up can compromise the skin because mixing acids and retinol can irritate.

I like to wait about 10 minutes to ensure the product is absorbed. I then apply a hydrating serum and finish with a great moisturizer, avoiding anything that includes benzoyl peroxides or salicylic acids to prevent irritation.

Step 6: Using this product for at least 60 days is recommended to see the full benefits. While many may start seeing a visible improvement in their skin’s tone and texture in as little as 2-4 weeks, everyone’s skin responds to retinol differently, and your results may require more — or less — time to kick in.

So beauties, when it comes to results of a non-prescription retinol product, this advanced treatment is genuinely in a league of its own! As not only does it offer the tremendous anti-aging benefits of prescription-strength retinol, it provides something more-some fantastic hydrating effects, which is not common with the use of retinol.

The key with this Beverly Hills MD retinol treatment is continual use, as it is designed to keep BUILDING with each application. So the longer you use this bad boy, the younger, smoother, and more radiant it can make your complexion!