I’ve entered my mid-30′s and a phase in my life where I have multiple small children underfoot leading to less sleep, more stress and quite frankly, I can see it wearing on me physically. The wrinkles are starting to creep in and I have occasional issues with acne creeping in when I used to have relatively clear skin. So, add in the dark circles under my eyes and I’ve been on the hunt for solutions  that can help me combat the stresses that life is causing on my skin.
As I’ve begun to pay closer attention to various products, I noticed a common ingredient being mentioned and that was Retinol A. In the brief snippets I caught, I gathered it was a beneficial way to combat some of my issues, but I wanted to research it further to be sure because I was also guessing that the face creams that carried this magical ingredient would likely cost a pretty penny.
So here’s what I found out:
Retinol is a form of vitamin A – a key vitamin that provides us with the nutrients needed for our body to build immunities which fight infections. It also helps to keep the eyes and skin moist.
What are the Benefits of Using Retinol Creams?
- Clears Acne
- Reduces wrinkles
- Evens out skin-tone by reducing discoloration
- Shrinks pores
- Naturally exfoliates and encourages cell regeneration
- Solid alternative to harsher skin treatments which have more severe side effects
Should You use Retinol Creams??
As a woman who’s starting to see some of the signs of aging, I think I might start using a retinol cream as a way to push off the aging process a bit longer. I’m not a fan of the more invasive procedures, so if a regular cream application will freshen up my appearance, then it sounds like a fantastic option.
Precautions to Take
One thing to be mindful of when using retinol creams is to ensure you wear sunscreen regularly. When you use retinol, you will become even more sensitive to the sun, so make a 30+ SPF a part of your morning moisturizing routine before applying makeup.
Would you use a retinol cream? What things are you doing, now that you are beginning to see the signs of aging?
Image: Martina Rathgens  via Flickr
