Let's debunk some myths around retinol. It thins your

skin. Research, including studies in the Journal of

the American Academy of Dermatology, shows that retinol, when

used correctly, actually thickens the skin's outer layer,

providing a protective shield. So how do you safely

and effectively incorporate retinol into your skincare regimen?

It's all about the slow and steady approach. Now,

sometimes you have to be really patient. If you don't use

a plant-based retinol, such as ours, you have to make sure

that you're not... Welcome to The Holistic Skin Guru, where what's

on the surface is just as important as what's underneath. I'm

your host, Aamena. Let's dive deep into the world of

holistic skincare. Hi,

and welcome to another episode of Holistic Skin Guru, your

go-to podcast for all things skincare. And today we're

diving deep into the golden elixir of

skincare, retinols. From debunking myths

to uncovering the science behind its magic, we've

got your all-in-one guide to understanding and using

retinol for radiant, youthful skin. So

what exactly is a retinol? In simple terms, retinol

is a derivative of vitamin A, a

powerhouse ingredient revered in the skincare world. But

why is it considered the golden standard in skincare routines? To

unravel the mysteries of retinol, let's break down how

it works to combat signs of aging. Picture retinol as

your skin's superhero, fighting off the villains of fine

lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Its superpower

lies in its ability to stimulate collagen production,

the holy grail for firm, plump skin. It

also increases cellular turnover, which helps maintain an

even skin tone and helps to eliminate fine lines.

Now, let's debunk some myths around retinol. First

up, the notorious idea that it thins your skin. Fear

not. Research, including studies in the Journal of

the American Academy of Dermatology, shows that retinol, when

used correctly, actually thickens the skin's outer layer,

providing a protective shield. Another myth

to bust is the idea that retinol is only used

for mature skin. That's wrong. Incorporating retinol

early in your skincare journey can act as a preventative measure,

keeping the signs of aging at bay. So we want to

start incorporating a retinol from about our 30s

into our skincare. And some people may even want to start in

their late 20s, and that's completely fine. So

how do you safely and effectively incorporate retinol into your

skincare regimen? It's all about the slow and

steady approach. Now, this is when we're talking about

retinols that are prescribed, so tretinoids and retinoids that

are prescriptives. Start with a lower concentration and

gradually increase this, starting using

it one day a week, And then after a few weeks, start

using it two days a week. And then after a few more weeks, then

you can start using it three days a week and so on. And so you start

to get your skin prepared for what the retinol is

doing. Now, sometimes you have to be really patient

with this radiant skin journey because if

you don't use a plant-based retinol such as ours, you

have to make sure that you're not allowing the skin to purge.

So a plant-based retinol, you don't need to go slow. You

can start daily and in the evening, and

if you use it regularly, you will see results quickly. So

that's usually a retinol palmitate. and it's usually

derived from plants. So look for something like that, that's organic, and

then you can just go straight into it and use it every single day. But

if you're going into a prescriptive, then you're going to have to use

it in a very, very regimented way

that's been prescribed by the dermatologist. Now

lots of people ask, how do I deal with the supposed retinol

uglies? And that's what they're referring to is

a temporary phase where

your skin might rebel after it embraces its

newfound glow. we tend to get like a skin purge.

You might break out in a tiny little what may look like

a rash or you might come up with what looks like pimples

and that's quite normal after using a retinol

and some tretinoins you may need to use like stop

using after a few months just to give your skin a bit of a break and

then you can go back on them. But my favorite retinol or

vitamin A is the retinol palmitate because

it can be used safely without having to stop and start and

you can use it every single day. Now when the purging is

found in your skin, the best way to deal with this is

to hydrate the skin during that time because that's

going to help you overcome any of those purging nasties.

And listen to your skin. Don't forget to wear your SPF because with

that extracellular turnover, the sun's rays are

going to affect the new plump, radiant skin.

So we want to make sure that we protect it. Now,

wrapping up today's episode, remember that retinol is not

just a trend, it is a timeless classic in the world of

skincare, and it is your secret weapon when

it comes to youthful, glowy, radiant skin.

And I put every one of my clients onto our organic

retinol because I know that they're gonna get beautiful results. Some

common questions we get about retinols Are retinols scary

or should we be scared to use them? Or some people are

scared to use them. Well, the reason is because of

the purging that happens during the ugly phase. And

if you use your retinol correctly, as

prescribed by your dermatologist, you will

still go through some type of purging, but you can manage that a

lot easier if you're being directed correctly by

your doctor. With a retinol palmitate, why

I love it, there's no purging involved. So you can use

that retinol safely and daily, and it's

derived from a plant. So it's a very gentle type

of retinol. And that's why I lean towards the retinol palmitate in

the vitamin A range instead of the more harsher retinol. So

yes, it can be scary, but fear not. If you get

the right advice and you follow the right prescription, then

you should get some beautiful results for your skin. Is there such a

thing as excessive or too much use of retinol? Absolutely.

If people are on prescriptive tretinoids or retinoids, they

can overdo it and then they've just got to pull back,

stop it for a few weeks or maybe even a month and

then they can go back onto it. But the best thing to do is to go back to your doctor

who prescribed it to you, show them what's happened and how your

skin has reacted and they will guide you as to

how you should move further with that particular retinoid. Another

question was, can we use retinols in the sun? And absolutely not.

It's a big no-no. When we use a retinol, we only use

it at night. We never mix it with a vitamin C or

anything else. We just use it by itself. And

when we're using our retinols at night, In the morning,

after we've washed our skin and cleansed it, we make sure after we've

used our skincare that we use a very, very good

SPF because what a retinol is doing is increasing cellular

turnover and we want to make sure that those cells are

nice and protected from the UV rays. So how long

will it take for you to start seeing results? If you're using a

retinol palmitate like the one that we stock in our Okeone range,

you will start to see results within the first few days. And

I've actually had clients message me like two or three days

later to say, you're right, my skin feels amazing. I

can't wait to see how my skin's going to respond over the next month.

When you're using a prescriptive retinol or retinoid or

tretinoid, then it might take a little bit

longer because you've got to use it in small amounts stretched

over time. So you'll start using it maybe once or twice a week to

begin with, and then you'll slowly increase your usage according

to the dosage that your doctor has provided. So

it might be a little bit longer before you start to see results. But for

everyone that's looking for that glass skin, retinol is

going to be your best friend. So that's a wrap for today's Holistic Skin

Guru. Thank you for joining us on this journey. Until next time,

stay radiant and take good care of your skin. If you found

this episode informative and you would like me to answer a

question, leave it in the comments below. And as

per usual, don't forget to like and subscribe and