Increased sensitivity to the sun
While using retinol A products one of the most important things you need to do is wear a good sunscreen. It’s often advised to wear one daily. In order to simplify the process, many retinol cream products include a SPF 15, 25, or 30 sunscreen in them, however not all of them do so check the label carefully. Even after all other side effects go away, it’s important to continue using UV protection as long as you’re using retinol.

Tingling or mild stinging while applying
During the first few weeks or sometimes even months of retinol A treatment, one of the side effects you may encounter is a slight tingling or mild stinging when the product is applied. Usually this goes away after a few minutes.

Itchiness and flaking
This retinol A side effect generally only happens with products that use higher concentrations of it. If it does occur, during the first few weeks (while your skin adjusts to the retinol) there may be irritation or itchiness. Sometimes mild flaking will be present. For me personally, I don’t experience these side effects at all while using mild to moderate strengths. With the strongest concentrations I did experience some very mild flaking, but it stopped after a few weeks.

Tips for dealing with retinol A side effects
Washing your face with a very mild cleanser instead of a strong soap is generally recommended. As mentioned, sunscreen will not only help protect your skin from UV damage, but it will also help protect against excess swelling and redness which sun exposure can cause. The best retinol skin cream will also contain nourishing moisturizers to help sooth any irritation which might occur. For questions about these skin symptoms, it’s always recommended you ask a dermatologist for professional advice.

Are retinol A side effects worth it?
Formulations of retinol have been proven to even out skin tone and reduce wrinkles. In fact, it is arguably the best anti aging skincare treatment in existence. So you tell me… are the possible retinol A side effects worth it? Personally speaking, even during the first few weeks they were barely noticeable and didn’t bother me. Fortunately, they went away rather quickly and I’m not enjoying more beautiful skin than ever thanks to my retinol face cream!

Q: What is retinol A serum and is it any good?

A: Thanks for asking and reminding me to discuss this. Well, ever since retinol products first the market, they’ve been making them in either a cream or gel form. Why? Probably because up until recently, those were the two most popular delivery vehicles for anti wrinkle products. However over the past several years, serum is now becoming the form of choice for many. But how does retinol A serum compare to the regular versions? Let’s find out…

The pros of retinol A serums:
One of the benefits of using a skin serum is its excellent ability to penetrate the skin’s surface and be absorbed, compared to creams, which some people feel just sit on the surface of the skin. But is that feeling of increased absorption real or is it just in our heads?

Well the truth of the matter is that all forms of skin care products (creams, gels, and serums) can deliver the nutrients and active ingredients adequately if they’re made the right way. Perhaps the feeling of higher absorption is because there is little residue left behind (as thick creams tend to do).

The cons of retinol A serums:
I guess to each their own, but personally I’m not the biggest fan of serums. Actually let me rephrase that… I’m not the biggest fan of using only a serum. Why? Because I actually like the thick residue that sits atop the skin – I know it is moisturizing and nourishing my skin as long as it’s there. With serums, I feel the liquid is absorbed rather quickly, leaving my skin exposed to the elements.

However I think there is one way to do it that incorporates the best of both worlds – both creams and serums. I’ll let you in on my little secret. After showering and towel drying off, I first apply the serum to my  face and neck, carefully rubbing it in to all areas. Then about 20 or 30 minutes later, I apply my cream. That way I get the instant absorption through the retinol A serum, and the long lasting moisturizing power of the retinol face cream.

Q: Do you recommend retinol eye cream and if so, which ones?

A: If you have ever really analyzed the signs of aging, you will find that the eyes are on the top of the list without a doubt. Because the skin around them is so delicate, it’s one of the first place we develop wrinkles. Whether it’s the periorbital lines (crow’s feet), the glabellar lines (the “elevens” between our eye brows from squinting), or the fine lines under eyes… this area is a magnet for wrinkles!

Why should you use a retinol eye cream?
Retinol A eye cream is an excellent way to help you fight these telltale signs of your true age. Whether you’re in your early twenties or sixties and beyond, the skin surrounding the eyes is always a problem. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see someone in their early 20’s with highly developed crows feet… this adds about ten years onto their appearance! The use of retinol eye cream is one way you can help to prevent these from forming and improve the existing ones you already have.

How does a retinol eye cream work?
Retinol (technically retinol A) is the animal form of vitamin A. When it is applied to the surface of our skin on a regular basis, it changes the way it operates. How does it do this? Well, it increases the cycle at which old skin cells are shed and new ones grow in. Why is it better for this to be faster? Well, when a person is younger this naturally occurs at a more rapid rate. But as they age, the process slows dramatically. Retinol products are one of the very few ways we can achieve a faster skin cell turnover rate.

Which retinol eye cream is best?
To be quite honest, I don’t think there is a single eye cream that is the “best” one. Why do I say that? Because what works best for one person, may not be right for someone else’s skin type. For example, males have tougher skin, so more often than not they would probably be better off using a stronger retinol product. Meanwhile females would probably be better off with a low to mid strength cream.

Retinyl palmitate is derived from palm oil

What is the difference between retinyl palmitate and retinol? Well, they are both similar, yet significantly different.

They are similar in that they both are a form of vitamin A. Retinol (which is retinoic acid) is the acidic formulation. Meanwhile, retinyl is the ester formulation of it. Now we all know what acidic means, but perhaps you need a chemistry class refresher on the other. Well basically, it occurs as a reaction from an alcohol and an acid, minus the water molecules. Esters are extremely similar in structure to salt. Okay, now enough of the boring stuff…

So you probably want to know if they are equally as effective in treating wrinkles and acne vulgaris? Well, all of the prescription strengths use retinol. As far as the over-the-counter versions of these medications, you mainly only see retinyl palmitate (coming from palm oil) as a dietary supplement of vitamin A, not for topical purposes. Now I have seen a few topical wrinkle creams that use this ingredient, but they have always been cheaper products and brands I’ve never heard of. In fact, their labels even looked kind of homemade’ish to me!

Now this doesn’t mean that retinyl isn’t beneficial for skin care purposes, but it does mean that as of today, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies have chosen to use retinol A instead for their products. Did you know that one formulation in particular (Renova skin cream) is the only face cream that has been greenlit by the FDA for wrinkle treatment? That’s right, it’s the only ingredient to get that seal! However if you’re not out to stop wrinkles, this is also an amazing way to treat moderate to severe acne. The brand of Retin A products is the most well known but there are also retin A generic formulations available now, too.

Vitamin A retinol is the animal form of vitamin A. It comes in a few different forms, including retinoic acid (tretinoin) which is probably the most popular form found in skin care products today. But unlike many other lotions and potions on the market that claim to work without any real scientific proof behind them, this is something that has actually been clinically proven to be effective. In fact, tretinoin is the active ingredient that is approved by the Food & Drug Administration for being effective for anti-wrinkle treatment – In the 90’s it was by RX only. Now, there are OTC strengths widely available (which we recommend instead).

The good news is that this ingredient or a form of retinol is found in a number of face creams you can get without a prescription. Many people though really begin using these not realizing or believing how powerful they are. You need to understand that the first few weeks of use, it will probably be uncomfortable. You may have peeling and irritation. This is normal. What’s happening is your skin is adapting itself to it. Why does it need to do that? Well, how it works is that it increases the rate at which cells are shed and replaced by new ones, somewhat similar to how they act when you are in your youth. You do need to be prepared for that when you first start treatment.

So vitamin A retinol cream is definitely something you should consider. The problem is that because it’s so strong, for liability and cost reasons, many of the brands you find at stores just don’t put much of it into their products. True, using them is better than using nothing, but wouldn’t you rather have a stronger version of it so you can benefit more?

This is where the internet really comes in handy. There are a few companies which have chosen to manufacture vitamin A retinol products with a higher concentration, yet they are still non-prescription because their concentration is just below the threshold. Usually you can buy these products either online or at specialty beauty stores and spas. Of course, the brick and mortar stores usually mark them up quite a bit.

According to the company’s website at the time this article is being written, they advertise this wrinkle night cream which typically comes in a 1 ounce tube is “up to 7x more effective” than another leading brand. They don’t specify what “leading brand” that is, but we’re going to go out on a limb here and make the assumption that they are referring to Olay skincare.  Being that Olay is far from being what we would consider a leading brand, beating them isn’t all that impressive. Also notice the part of their statement that says “up to.” Upon closer inspection, you will discover their “7 times” claim applies to crow’s feet only, and not the other two categories listed in the bar graph on their site. So although this statement may be technically correct, many interpret it as being a bit deceiving.

More Questionable Advertising…
While we’re on this subject, you may be shocked to hear what is about to follow. In 2008 the Advertising Standards Authority, which is a UK committee for keeping tabs on the ad industry, came down hard on advertisements Roc was using to sell their Complete Lift products.  According to this committee, they said that Roc’s claims were not supported by “robust science.” A revelation like that certainly concerns us and makes us wonder if this will happen for their other products in the future, such as the Retinol Correxion deep wrinkle night cream.

Is it worth it?
Now in defense of Roc, we will say that their creams certainly are not bad for you, and definitely better than not treating your wrinkles at all. This particular night cream contains retinol. If you’re not familiar with what retinol is, you should know that it has been proven to be one of the most effective substances for anti-aging. In fact, a form of retinol is the active ingredient in a prescription cream in the US, and it is the only topical cream that has been approved by the FDA to fight the signs of aging. That’s a big statement right there to say that a government regulatory body has found that forms of retinol are indeed effective at wrinkle reduction.

But how does it work? Well, retinol A increases the cell turnover rate on your skin. In turn, this means your cells are replenishing and replacing themselves at a much faster rate. When you’re younger, your skin cells have a higher turnover rate. So for many people this ingredient is an extremely effective method for them to fight the signs of aging. So the Roc retinol correxion deep wrinkle night cream 1 ounce tube is actually not a scam because it does contain a small amount of this amazing substance. However, there are other OTC skin products on the market that contain higher concentrations or retinol A.

Well, the truth is that the active ingredient in this cream (retinol A) has been proven to be one of the most effective methods known today for treating wrinkles and fine lines. It increases the turnover rate of skin cells on your face. This helps mimics what you experienced during your youth, when you skin had a higher turnover.

But this is not something exclusive to Pro Retinol A, the name L’Oreal has branded for their retinol A. In fact, from glancing at anti wrinkle cream reviews, you will discover there are many products out there that contain this same active ingredient. So when choosing a treatment, you don’t just want to limit yourself to this particular brand. It’s best to understand your options to find out which one would be best for your particular needs.

Before you make your choice, you should also be educated on what exactly this is you are buying. Well, it’s the animal form of Vitamin A. It is found naturally in our diets in many foods and has several health benefits for your body. However, the topical treatments, such as Pro Retinol A, use this ingredient differently. It’s actually applied to the surface of your skin, and in turn, your skin changes on the molecular level. What it does is increase the rate at which cells replenish and replace themselves. So not only does this ingredient help to reduce wrinkles, but it also is great at way to remove age spots.  There are several other benefits too of this process. It helps to boost your collagen production which of course is a vital structure of your skin.

Back to the L’Oreal version, currently their RevitaLift Anti Wrinkle Moisturizers series uses retinol A as the primary ingredient. This consists of several different products, which includes cleansers, day lotion, night crème,  and cleansing towelettes. However, their most useful would probably be the RevitaLift Complete Lotion SPF 15. Why? Because it contains a sunscreen already in it. This is very important when you are using retinol, because it increases your skins sensitivity to the sun. But as a general rule of thumb, sunscreen should be an important part of any anti-aging regime. So this cream kills two birds with one stone. However as mentioned, there are other similar retinol products out there by different manufacturers that do this too, so this not an exclusive product.

Well first of all, the fact that you are looking for retinol products is a great first step. Unlike many so called anti-aging treatments on the market, this is one that has been consistently proven to be effective by everyone from laboratories, to educational institutes, and even government regulatory agencies. So there’s really no question as to whether or not this is an effective method for anti-aging. But to get the best results, it’s important to use retinol products with adequate concentrations.

Before we discuss concentrations, it’s important to make note of the importance of using a sunscreen with it. Retinol increases your skin’s sensitivity to the sunlight. So anywhere you are applying it needs to be protected with sunscreen. It’s recommend that an SPF of at least 15 or 30 be used everyday. But even if you’re not using this powerful wrinkle fighter, you should be doing this anyway. Why? Well, because more and more research has pointed to sun exposure as contributing to aging. Not even tanning salons are safe, and the government recently concluded and announced this finding in July 2009. So if you are looking for that sun-kissed glow, turn to a spray tan or lotion rather than exposing your skin to UV rays… especially if you are using retinol A.

Now back to the cream, which one is best? Well, my take on it is why bother with the hassle or Retin-A or Renova when there are dozens of over-the-counter formulas out there which are better?

Many people make the false assumption that they should automatically start with the prescription version since it’s strongest. Nothing could be further from the truth! Why? Because your face needs quite a time to get use to retinol; several weeks or even several months. This is why many dermatologists recommend starting with an OTC formulation instead and staying on that for a while. Some skip this step because they think they can be an exemption, but the truth is that nearly everyone on the prescription strength will experience excessive peeling, irritation, and even pain no matter how “tough” of a person they are. In addition, because it’s a cosmetic treatment, insurance doesn’t cover it so you will have to pay it out of pocket.

So what are the best retinol A creams you can buy without a prescription? Luckily there are several to choose from which are all high quality. Loreal manufacturers a version called Pro-Retinol A and this is also used in their Advance Revitalift series. SkinMedica Retinol Complex is another popular option. DDF has several products out on the market which use it as an active ingredient. Another favorite of dermatologists is a line made by a company called Skinceuticals. However it’s best retinol creams are different for different skin types, so be sure and make an informed decision.

Well, for starters, Retin A is a trademarked brand name of a product. It is sold under the brand names Retin-A and Retin-A Micro by Ortho Dermatologics. These are products that have been out for years and originally they were developed to treat acne, but researchers accidentally discovered the astonishing anti-wrinkle properties of these products and quickly began using it for that purpose, too.

Meanwhile, Retinol is vitamin A in the natural animal form. It is not a specific brand name or product. As a component of food, it is an important nutrient that helps support your skeletal system and your vision. This nutrient is abundant in a number of foods; eggs and liver for the animal form, and the plant form is found in many vegetables, such as carrots. But skin care products use it in a different way – topically and in extremely high concentrations.

So what is the difference? There’s not much of one. You see the active ingredient in Retin-A is the acid form of Retinol, called tretinoin. So basically, Retin A Micro is just the brand name.

Today there are a number of over-the-counter products which use this as the active ingredient. Over the counter formulations are often very effective. While Retin-A and Renova are both essentially the same, Renova is the only one that went through clinical trials and tests specifically to fight wrinkles and get FDA approval for such. In fact, it is the only topical product on the market that is approved by the Food & Drug Administration for anti-aging. So unlike many other wrinkle cream scam products on the market, this type of retinol A is actually proven and verified by the U.S. government to work. But today there are many powerful formulations which have been developed that are OTC, which I think are better.

The first few weeks of using these products, you may have intense irritation and peeling.  Keep in mind that this will subside after a week weeks and your facial skin has adjusted to the product and began increasing its cell turnover rate. This is why it’s usually best to start with the lowest strength first.  The stronger strength of 0.10% is normally only used after someone has been on the lower strength for several months or more first. Because all tretinoin products increase the treated skin’s sensitivity to the sun, it’s extremely important to use a sunscreen regularly on your face.