Retinol and retinoids: what is the difference and what is more effective for the skin

Retinol cream manufacturers

The initial indicator of product quality is brand reputation. As practice shows, when choosing cosmetics, women are guided by the fame and reliability of the manufacturers. Therefore, before looking at the best retinol creams, experts offer a short guide to brands and brands:

• Filorga is a French company that has been selling effective anti-aging products for over 30 years. The entire range belongs to medical cosmetics; these are innovative products with active advanced ingredients. Leading medical specialists are involved in development.
• Christina is an Israeli cosmetics brand, created by cosmetologist with 40 years of experience in this field, Christina Miriam Zehavi. Most of the range is products for eliminating acne and prolonging youth. Active ingredients of natural origin do not cause allergic reactions.
• Lancôme is a French cosmetics brand that has been around since 1935. Today it is owned by the famous company L'Oreal. The brand was literally the first to make a revolutionary revolution in the market, offering a huge selection of skincare, decorative, and medicinal cosmetics.
• Sesderma is a Spanish company that was one of the first to produce genocosmeceutical products for anti-aging care that affect not only the manifestations of aging, but also its causes. Active formulas solve problems at the cellular level. The assortment includes offers for all dermis types and ages.
• Renophase is a French pharmaceutical laboratory included in the list of leaders in the production of anti-aging technologies. The founder is a pharmacologist who has earned many international patents. The brand has held a stable position in the dermatocosmetology market for more than 30 years.
• Natura Siberica is a Russian cosmetics company founded in 2008. It sells organic, natural products for the care of skin, hair, body, figure, etc. All products at the creation stage are under the strict control of scientists. The trademark is a subsidiary of the Russian one.
• Deoproce is a young Korean brand of skin care products that is listed in the State Register of Companies with Environmentally Friendly Products. Founded in 2004, the range began to appear on the Russian market only 10 years later. The company received invaluable support from the world-famous Samsung brand.
• Brandt is an American brand created in 2001 by the outstanding dermatologist Frederick Brandt. This is an original program based on the use of environmentally friendly plant components to maintain youth and beauty. The range has been available on the Russian market since 2011.
• Cell Fusion are professional cosmeceutical products from South Korea. They differ in intensity of action and innovative technologies. The credit for this goes to professional plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and biochemists who are developing new unique products. The company was founded in 2001.

Making homemade face masks with retinol

At home, you can cope with any rashes and pimples using masks with vitamin A. Retinol will help relieve inflammation, reduce oily skin, eliminate bacteria and speed up the healing of wounds.

1. It is not recommended to apply undiluted retinol to the skin.
2. Before using retinol in masks, test for an allergic reaction. To do this, apply an oil solution of vitamin A to your wrist. If irritation does not appear within 15 minutes, then you can safely apply a mask with retinol to your face.
3. Do not overheat preparations with retinol so as not to destroy its molecular structure.
4. If you are preparing a mask with retinol, then it must be dissolved in oils. Vitamin A belongs to the fat-soluble group, so it interacts little with water.
5. Do not use retinol for facial skin at the same time as acids: fruit, lactic and lemon juice.
6. To enhance the effect, preparations with retinol can be used together with vitamins B, C, E.
7. Before applying the mask, take a steam bath to expand the pores. It is good to use a decoction of herbs.
8. Cleanse your skin with a scrub to prepare it for the beneficial ingredients.
9. To improve the penetration of the drug into the layers of the skin, do a light massage while applying the mask, but try not to stretch the skin.
10. The exposure time of the mask is 15-30 minutes. Depending on your skin type.
11. The mask is washed off with warm water or a decoction of herbs.
12. After the mask, you need to apply your usual nourishing cream.
13. Masks should be repeated no more than once a week.
14. The course consists of 12 procedures. Then you definitely need to take a break for several months.

Rating of creams with retinol

On the shelves of stores and pharmacies you can see a huge selection of creams, serums, concentrates and other forms of cosmetics with vitamin A for prevention, treatment, and rejuvenation. It will be difficult for the average buyer to give preference to one thing. This raises the question, which retinol cream to buy, what criteria to rely on? Vyborexperta.ru selected nominees for the rating based on several parameters:

• Country of origin – domestic, imported goods;
• Appearance – day/night, for face, neck, around the eyes;
• Composition – active ingredients, additives;
• Concentration – dosage of retinol and additional components;
• Texture – watery, oily, hypoallergenic base;
• Age categories – universal remedy, 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+;
• Effect – rejuvenation, restoration, correction, nutrition, cleansing, etc.;
• Packaging – volume, convenience, cost-effectiveness;
• The result is performance, preservation of the effect after cancellation;
• Purpose – what type of epidermis is it suitable for?
• Frequency of use – daily, periodically, multiple times of application;
• Consistency, aroma - absorption rate, presence or absence of fragrance.

Another important indicator that buyers are guided by is price and its compliance with quality. Therefore, the review included both budget products and expensive, but worth the cost, highly effective cosmetics from well-known brands. Feedback from those who have personally experienced the performance of each nominee showed their strengths and weaknesses.

The best products for eyelash growth

The secret properties of retinol

When purchasing a cream that contains retinol, few people think about what benefits it actually has for facial skin. First of all, such a product will nourish and saturate the depleted skin, as well as additionally eliminate age-related changes. Rejuvenation occurs due to the following points:

• Antioxidant properties.
• Promoting the formation of elastin and collagen.

If we talk about the composition of the cream, then the issue of choosing a product must be approached with particular seriousness. The content of this substance should be in the range of 0.3 – 10%. But retinol itself is difficult to absorb on the skin, so the composition must contain special conductors (ACA acids), thanks to which the vitamin is able to penetrate into the deep layers of the epidermis.

A very important point is that a cream containing retinol should not contain vitamin C. These two components are absolutely incompatible. Therefore, if the label is full of vitamin A and C, then this is just a marketing ploy and there will be practically no benefit from such a product.

The best retinol creams for the skin around the eyes

The skin around the eyes requires the most competent support with special products, as it is thin and susceptible to negative factors. In large dosages, vitamin A is harmful, so regular cream is not suitable for such purposes. Otherwise, it will help avoid the early appearance of facial wrinkles, lighten this area, and eliminate dark circles and bags. The best recommendations were received by 3 modern imported products.

Deoproce Retinol Real White Cream

Eye cream with retinol from a Korean company rejuvenates, whitens, and strengthens. There are no age indications or prescriptions for skin type, so any woman can purchase it. The most useful and safe form of vitamin A has anti-aging activity if you regularly apply the cream to problem areas - around the eyes, nasolabial folds. The main ingredient has added beneficial oils for moisturizing, antioxidant tocopherol, bee products with immunomodulatory properties, glycerin for nutrition and recovery, as well as other beneficial substances. A long course guarantees smoothing of crow's feet, nasolabial folds, elimination of puffiness, dark circles under the eyes, brightening, and increasing natural collagen synthesis. UV protection is also provided.

Advantages

• Large volume and economical consumption;
• Light texture with instant absorption;
• Promising lineup;
• Convenient packaging with dispenser;
• Pleasant aroma;
• UV protection;
• Inexpensive.

Flaws

• May sting in the eyes;
• Not suitable for daytime treatments.

The manufacturer recommends using Deoproce Retinol Real White Cream in the evenings before going to bed with light massage movements. This will allow you to get a fresh complexion by the morning without puffiness and bags under the eyes. Intended only for problem areas where the first signs of aging are visible or are already visible.

Dr. Brandt 24/7 Retinol Eye

A delicate cream with a melting texture against wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes is presented by a popular American brand. It contains a safe concentration of encapsulated retinol, complemented by micronized natural ruby ​​crystals. In synergy, innovative components guarantee a powerful anti-aging effect. The first ingredient brightens the dermis, promotes its renewal, and smoothes the eye contour. The second gives radiance and increases its own protective functions. The drug is unisex, that is, for both women and men at any age if they want to prevent or slow down the aging process. For hydration, a patented Oliveactive complex (olive fruit) and a Hydrobalance complex (lemon tree honey) are provided.

Advantages

• Large dose of reflective particles;
• Several patented complexes;
• Concealing dark circles;
• Light, quickly absorbed texture;
• Prevention of facial wrinkles;
• Economical consumption.

Flaws

• No lightening of problem areas, only camouflage;
• Price.

Apply Dr. Brandt 24/7 Retinol Eye can be used on any areas prone to wrinkles. It is better to do this in the daytime, applying it to the orbital bone with light patting movements from the outer corner of the eye to the inner one.

Cell Fusion Cellular Eye Cream

Corrective agent for the prevention and elimination of fine expression wrinkles. The active formula contains many valuable ingredients. This is a form of vitamin A, anti-inflammatory allantoin, burdock root extract against swelling, tocopherol acetate for nutrition and smoothing, tonic hydrogenated lecithin, a source of salicylic acid, white willow extract with restorative healing properties, the strongest antioxidant camellia extract. In terms of quality and effectiveness, Cell Fusion Cellular Eye Cream belongs to professional cosmetics for salon care. Regular use promises calming, nutrition, hydration, and increased elasticity.

Advantages

• Multicomponent composition;
• Professional level;
• Medicinal properties;
• Versatility of purpose;
• Good lifting effect;
• Safety.

Flaws

• Price;
• Difficulty finding for sale.

To tighten problem areas and smooth out facial signs of aging, you need to apply this corrector regularly for at least 1 month. The manufacturer recommends carrying out the procedures before bedtime, using light, delicate massage techniques.

Retinol for facial skin

The stratum corneum of the epidermis becomes thinner over time, and the number of fatty layers increases. Retinol enhances the synthesis of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Due to biological processes, the skin becomes fresher, more hydrated, smoother, and fine wrinkles disappear.

It is recommended for people to use retinol:

• over 30–35 years old;
• with photodamage to tissues.

The symptom complex of early aging is manifested by thinning tissues, a large number of wrinkles and pigmentation disorders.

Which retinol cream is best?

The choice of cosmetics is an individual decision based on the characteristics of the body, age, and the nature of the existing problems. It is impossible to unambiguously answer the question of what to buy from the presented rating nominees. The editors of the magazine analyzed the advantages and disadvantages, unique characteristics, and then summed up the results:

• Holy Land Alpha-Beta with Retinol Restoring Cream – multi-fruit composition with a set of valuable acids and UV protection;
• Filorga Hydra-Filler – the most powerful long-lasting hydration with instant results;
• Lancome Visionnaire Correcting Night Concentrate - night concentrate with high corrective abilities;
• Sesderma Mandelac – a medicinal product with plant stem cells for rejuvenation;
• Brandt 24/7 Retinol Eye is a light-reflecting concealer for all-day radiance;
• Cell Fusion Cellular Eye Cream is a professional corrective lifting cream with safe content.

Whatever product is chosen, upon first use it is advisable to test a small amount for the presence or absence of an allergic reaction. It is important that the product is suitable for the specified age group, the characteristics of the dermis, and is used for its intended purpose. Manufacturer image and prices are secondary indicators.

How to store vitamin A cream

Retinol must be stored correctly. The bottle with the substance should be kept in a dark, cool room. A refrigerator is suitable for this purpose. Once the package is opened, retinol in its pure form evaporates within two to three months. To increase shelf life, containers are of great importance. It is not recommended to store retinol in a jar. Give preference to products in a vacuum dispenser. In such bottles, contact with oxygen is minimal. The chances increase that beneficial substances will remain active longer.