Retinol. One of the biggest buzzword skincare ingredients on the market. Prescribed by doctors in high levels as a medicinal treatment for severe acne this wonder ingredient can help to clear up the skin. Sadly, at high levels it can also cause skin sensitivity and can be approached by many in trepidation.

Used with a lower inclusion level in skincare products to ensure suitability for sensitive skin, retinol or its lesser known alternative retinyl palmitate may be your best option.

So let’s get into how to use retinol, which are the best retinol products you need in your skincare stash and the difference between retinol and retinyl palmitate.

They’re both vitamin A ingredients and fall under the same retinoids umbrella with similar benefits but are not completely identical. Retinoids for many years have been prescribed by dermatologists and doctors in higher percentages but at TEMPLESPA we feel it’s very important to be careful of the percentage used as it can cause skin irritation, which is where retinyl palmitate steps in. It’s also brilliant to see technology today has advanced so much so that we can encapsulate retinol to keep it fresh, free from oxidation and also more targeted in application. This is alongside tried and tested retinol-like ingredients such as edelweiss, niacinamide, rose hip oil and more recently the emergence of bakuchiol that have similar benefits to retinoids.

 

Let’s start with the benefits of retinol and what does retinol do to your face.

  • With encapsulated retinol this improves its ability to penetrate the skin and reach where it needs to in your skin’s layers
  • Proven to stimulate collagen production for plumper skin and prevent the breakdown of collagen that can result in wrinkles and fine lines
  • Ideal for speeding up cell turnover so fresher and more youthful skin cells can make it to the surface quicker
  • Helps improve the texture of skin for smooth and soft results
  • Retinol is brilliant for unclogging pores which makes it great for blemish-prone and scarred skin too

The best thing is that everyone can benefit from retinol, no matter what your skin type or concerns are! 

 

So what’s the difference between retinol and retinyl palmitate?

In essence retinyl palmitate is an ester of retinol, used in vitamin supplements and eye drops it is the least irritating of all retinoids, including retinol, so it’s a perfect option for sensitive skin that doesn’t want to miss out on the benefits of a retinoid! It works in the same way as retinol and has the same benefits of exfoliating, helping to promote skin cell turnover and slow down the formation of wrinkles but is a longer process than using retinol. You gradually add it to your skincare routine, pair it with a sun protection, like you would with any other retinoid.

How to use retinol:

We’d recommend applying a retinol serum in the evening, with the addition of a morning application if you feel like your skin would need the boost (a favourite morning serum is LET’S CONCENTRATE Skin Glowing Serum!). Gradually add a retinol serum to your skincare routine, for example a couple of days over a week and then build up to daily application. It’s essential that you wear a minimum of SPF30 every day and especially when using a retinol product as this can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Once using daily you’ll receive maximum benefit for your skin over a 28 day or more period, as this is the usual time for your skin cell turnover to see results.

We’re often asked at what age can I use a retinol serum, and we’d suggest depending on what results you’re looking for e.g. reducing fine lines, helping promote a youthful complexion, increasing collagen production, is when you would start using a retinol serum.

Where can I find a retinol serum?

The best retinol serum is from our targeted and high performing TRUFFLELIXIR Super Luxe Luminosity Serum! With the help of Swiss derma-scientists using patented technology, we’ve crafted a retinol serum with powerful botanicals and highly refined ingredients to provide short and long-term results.

With the assistance of encapsulated retinol and a blend of intelligent ingredients, this serum helps target visible signs of ageing, boosting collagen production and evening skin tone. The results? Smooth, firm, and plump skin glowing with youth and vitality! We call it bottled radiance and think you’ll agree too.

 

What about skin care products with retinyl palmitate?

Because it’s ideal for sensitive skin types as it’s one of the less irritating retinoids and still has the same benefits, we have included it across a variety of our products. Like how you would use your retinol products, gradually add retinyl palmitate into your skincare routine and always wear sun protection during the day.

 

The best products from TEMPLESPA with retinyl palmitate:

And this list is only some of the products with retinyl palmitate included that we have, simply look out for it in our ingredients list. Because retinyl palmitate has so many great benefits for youthful, smoother and clearer skin we think everyone should get to enjoy them in our products.

 

So that’s everything you need to know about retinol, from the how-to the benefits and where you can find the best retinol serum to try to the difference between retinol and retinyl palmitate. Don’t forget to read our Hyaluronic Acid and Glycolic Acid blogs for more in-depth guides on skincare ingredients.