All about Retinol
The Effect of Retinol
Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays can lead to a decrease in collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, etc. which are essential elements that compose the skin, and retinol can fill up the skin that becomes hollow and improve elasticity and wrinkle by promoting the synthesis of decreased components in the skin.
Premature aging slows the formation speed of new keratin cells, which also slows the coming off of dead keratin cells as the skin turnover cycle lengthens, and retinol can get rid of dead skin cells and improve the skin texture by promoting new keratin cells to normalize the turnover cycle.
Increasing sebum production in the pore results in skin problems like acne, and retinol can not only improve skin problems but also improve hyperpigmentation caused by skin problems by reducing sebum to suppress sebum cell propagation.
▶ Characteristics of Retinol
As explained earlier, retinol has been used as a skincare ingredient for a long time because of its excellent skin efficacy. However, it is relatively difficult to make high retinol concentration because it is unstable against ultraviolet rays, and the higher the retinol content, the lower the stability. To solve this unstable problem, not only the development of various retinol derivatives but also the techniques for stabilizing retinol are constantly being studied.
Retinol and Retinol Derivative
Retinol derivatives are known to be converted to retinol by certain chemical reactions and enzyme actions and can bring an effect on the skin. However, it is a little difficult to be sure that retinol derivatives have the whole effect of retinol, as it is unclear how much can be converted to retinol in our skin by what action.
In fact, in Korea, retinol and retinyl palmitate(retinol derivative) are included as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s notification ingredients that prove to be effective in improving wrinkles, and the notification content of these two ingredients is 4 times different.
In simple language, it means that retinol derivative needs at least 4 times the amount of retinol to obtain certification for wrinkle improvement effect in Korea.
Retinol and Retinal
Recently, an ingredient called “Retinal” is also used in cosmetics, but the ingredient that has been studied for skin efficacy for a long time is known as retinol. Therefore, the most recommended ingredient for proper efficacy is retinol.
Skin Reactions and Caution for Using
Using retinol may cause skin reactions that have not been easily seen in other ingredients. Depending on the skin type, skin reactions such as stinging, burning, skin peeling, and redness may occur. These skin reactions are phenomena that can occur when retinol works effectively on the skin. This is not a phenomenon that occurs in all skin and can be disappeared after enough period of adaptation. It is recommended that you pay more attention to your skin condition while using retinol.
However, in the case of pregnant and lactating women, it may cause side effects to the fetus, so please avoid using it during that period.
▶ COSRX Retinol Product Recommendation
COSRX has two retinol products, and both are derm skincare products that compound retinol in high concentration.
These are a cream containing 0.1% retinol and an oil containing 0.5% retinol.
Because the concentration and formulation types of retinol are different, you can choose the product depending on the effect and after-feel that you want.
If you are new to retinol or are a little worried about using retinol, try 「The Retinol 0.1 Cream」.
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If you’ve already used retinol and have adapted enough, you can try 「The Retinol 0.5 Oil」.
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▶ Tips to adapt to Retinol
It is important that using a product that contains a high concentration of retinol is necessary to go through a guided adaptation process.
During the adaptation period, you may have skin reactions temporarily such as tingling, redness, peeling, etc. or there is no skin reaction.
Even if there is no skin reaction to the first use, it is recommended to use it according to the guidance for use at the beginning as you may have the adaptation reaction late. If the retinol-sensitive reaction continues after the adaptation period, it is better to gradually increase the amount of use and cycle of use by considering the skin condition rather than increasing it at once.
If your skin is sensitive to reaction, it may be helpful to use 「The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum」 before using retinol. COSRX’s other derm skincare product, 「The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum」, is full of natural moisturizing factors (NMF) present in the skin, which not only moisturizes the skin but also helps to care for skin barriers.
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Retinol is an unstable ingredient for ultraviolet rays, so it is recommended to use it at night and to use sunscreen in the daytime during the period of use.
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