A Guide to Retinol

It comes as no surprise that Retinol is one of the most talked about ingredients in anti-ageing skincare.

This ingredient produces impressive results. Its efficacy is supported by numerous studies and clinical trials.

If you’re interested in purchasing a Retinol serum, we suggest taking some time to learn about this ingredient first.

It is crucial to know whether the Retinol you’re considering is stabilised, and to understand the way it is packaged, what ingredients it’s paired with and how it’s used within a broader skincare regimen.

There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to Retinol – so take a look at the following guide we’ve put together so you can reap the benefits of this ingredient.

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a form of Vitamin A belonging to a group of compounds known as Retinoids. We use it in skincare because of its ability to improve red, dry and ageing skin. It does so by stimulating skin cell turnover and providing mild exfoliation. 

Retinoids are extremely effective topical products for the reduction of the signs of ageing. 

How is Retinol 'anti-ageing'?

The epidermis, which is the outer layer of skin, renews every 28 days for adults younger than 40. For children, epidermis renewal occurs every 14-21 days. For those aged 40-60, epidermis renewal occurs every 45-60 days. Beyond this age, epidermis renewal occurs even less frequently.

Interestingly, skin cell regeneration is increased by Vitamin A, which works to prompt the skin to renew itself more frequently. When applied to the skin, retinol encourages skin cells in older skin to mimic the behaviour of skin cells in younger skin. The result is a refreshed complexion that can help combat the appearance of lines and wrinkles. 

What else does Retinol do?

Retinol works to stimulate collagen production. Retinol is also an antioxidant which helps to reduce collagen breakdown caused by exposure to UV rays. Also, for each year that we age, our skin loses about 1% of collagen. Collagen production through use of Retinol is crucial for this reason.

An improvement in elastin fibres is also possible through the use of Retinol. Elastin is the component of the skin that reduces the appearance of sagging and wrinkling.

Pigmentation can also be addressed using Retinol as it can help brighten and even the skin tone through encouraging the turnover of skin cells.

What is Encapsulated Retinol?

Encapsulated Retinol refers to Retinol that exists within patented liposomes or a lipid bilayer. Put simply, it is Retinol contained within a microscopic capsule. It is considered the most superior form of Retinol. When encapsulated, Retinol is delivered to the skin through a slow-release process.

Retinol can sometimes cause irritation to the skin. Superior Retinol formulations are designed to prevent this from occurring while still achieving results. Through slow-release delivery, the likelihood of a reaction to Retinol is significantly reduced as it is delivered to the skin far more gently than non-encapsulated retinol products.

The Encapsulated Retinol complex we use in our Night Serums is optimal for the delivery and efficacy of Retinol. It is rare for an in-clinic patient or online customer to report Retinol irritation to us.

Further, when considering a Retinol product for purchase, it is crucial to understand that this ingredient is only as good as its delivery system.

Retinol is an unstable ingredient. This means that when it’s exposed to air, it undergoes a chemical reaction called oxidisation. When Retinol oxidises, it degrades to a biologically inactive form. The efficacy of Retinol is reduced significantly when this occurs, so it is critical that Retinol is protected from air.

Our Night Serums have been formulated with Encapsulated Retinol and are packaged using Airless Pump Technology.

How do you use Retinol?

If you’re new to using Retinol, it is best to begin slowly. Start by applying it every third night, then every second night. This way, your skin will build tolerance to it and with time, you can use it every night.

It is important to keep your skin hydrated when using Retinol. We recommend using Retinol in conjunction with a hydrating product like our Day Gel. Following, seal with a moisturiser like our Day Cream or Night Cream.

Keep in mind that the use of Retinol increases skin sensitivity to UV rays. For this reason, we recommend that it is applied at night and that SPF is applied during the day. Additionally, UV exposure can cause the Retinol to degrade, which is another reason we recommend applying it in the evenings only.

A myth about Retinol is that you should not pair it with Vitamin C, AHAs and BHAs. In reality, Retinol used in conjunction with all three can lead to excellent anti-ageing skin results. Our results suggest that our AHA Power Mask actually increases the effectiveness of our Retinol.

We recommend to gradually introduce AHAs when using it with Retinol. Begin by introducing your AHAs product in the morning. By doing so, your skin will be exfoliated by the AHAs and able to absorb the Retinol more efficiently at night. 

How to choose the right BROMANCE Retinol serum

Selecting the most suitable Retinol concentration from our range is dependant on your skincare aims and whether you have used Retinol previously or are trying it for the first time. 

Night Serum Advanced contains double the concentration of Retinol compared to Night Serum Regular. Both Night Serum Regular and Night Serum Advanced contain Encapsulated Retinol. 

Night Serum Regular is recommended to those who have not used Retinol. Night Serum Advanced is recommended to those who have used it. 

Night Serum Advanced is suitable for those with advanced anti-ageing goals and goals to reduce pore size and congestion.