What is Retinol?
Hello Beautiful! I’ve gotten a few questions about this topic and I’m here to help you understand what retinol is, how to use it, and the benefits it gives you.
Retinol
Retinol is a type of retinoid that works to increase collagen production as well as increases the rate of skin cell turnover. They help treat acne, blackheads, and clogged pores by reducing the cells that clog pores. They also speed up the rate at which skin cells regenerate.
These wonderful benefits improve your skin’s overall texture by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, evening out skin tone, and decreasing pore size.
Options
When it comes to retinol, I have an abundance of options for you, all with different benefits.
Calm: our most gentle Vitamin A Serum designed to rejuvenate deep into the skin - $78
Correct: one of the most powerful, non-inflammatory rejuvenation serums available - $86
Renew: Spoil your skin with the most advanced, age-reversing formula available - $96
Clarify: Blemish-prone skin has met its match with this powerful vitamin A serum - $60
How to Use
The best part about retinol is that it works on all skin types and should be used as a daily step in your skincare routine.
Step 1: Stick with a gentle cleanser. I have a few options for you linked here.
Step 2: Apply your retinol serum
Step 3: Always follow your retinol with a moisturizer, especially those with hyaluronic acid and ceramides. If you have sensitive skin, you should add your moisturizer before your retinol.
If this is your first time using retinol, I recommend easing it into your routine by applying once a week and working up to every other or every night, depending on how your skin reacts.
Step 4: Don’t forget your SPF daytime of course!
If you’re curious about how to layer other products in your skincare routine, I can help! Visit this blog: “How to Layer Skincare Products.”
Benefits
Anti-aging: Retinol prevents wrinkles due to its minimizing effect. It also works to smooth out existing fine lines and wrinkles because it helps your skin produce collagen, elasticity, and encourages cell regeneration.
Brightens: Retinol brightens dull skin by exfoliating at a cellular level. The results are brighter, smoother skin.
Decreases acne: Retinol can help regulate oily skin and minimize breakouts.
Improves skin tone: Retinol can help fade dark age spots, sun spots, and is proven to improve hyperpigmentation. It evens out your complexion over time.
Side Effects
Before adding retinol to your skincare routine, it’s my responsibility as an aesthetician to let you know some of the side effects.
Because of its exfoliating powers, when not used in moderation, retinol can cause the skin to redden, peel, or dry out. That is why it is crucial you follow retinol up with a hydrating moisturizer. This may occur even if you do not have sensitive skin. You may experience these side effects when you first introduce retinol, but your skin should stabilize over time. This is why I recommend slowly adding it to your routine.
I’m so excited for you to experience the benefits retinol has to offer and I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have. Just book a consultation with me :)
XOXO,
Tana Marie
My Signature Facelift Peel
Hello Beautiful! The Signature Facelift Peel is one of my most beneficial peels, so I thought I would highlight those benefits for you. Keep reading to learn more.
Description
Our signature results-driven treatment combines vitamin C, hydroxy acids, and enzymes to speed up cellular renewal. The new technology of centella stem cells supports redness prone skin and botanical detoxifying and energizing complexes give noticeable results in just one session.
Skin Type
The signature facelift peel is for redness or dry/dehydrated skin.
Benefits
Vitamin C and fruit enzymes blended in aloe vera base with anti-inflammatory botanicals to reduce redness. Hyaluronic acid adds moisture to dry/dehydrated skin. Gently exfoliates while infusing the skin with potent antioxidants.
The signature facelift peel combines enzymes with hydroxy acids and is gentle yet effective. Last month, I wrote an article about the benefits of enzyme peels. Let’s chat about how beneficial enzyme peels are combined with Alpha Hydroxy acids.
The Myth
One of the best things about my signature facelift peel is that your skin doesn’t actually peel. By its very nature, a peel will make your skin peel, but that doesn’t always have to be the case to achieve glowy moisturized skin. Here’s how it happens: the hydroxy acid dissolves the top layer of the dermis, removing thousands of skin cells at a time. Once the peel is removed, so are the dead skin cells, thus eliminating the peeling of your skin.
If you would like to read more benefits about hydroxy acid peels, this article from Allure explains with in-depth research.
Ingredients
Organic aloe vera gel base, Vitamin C Fruit enzyme blend Hyaluronic acid, Centella stems GX™ (centella asiatica stems), Botanica blend - coffee and peppermint, Essential oil blend eucalyptus and ylang ylang, Luminescine, Seashine (undaria pinnatifida extract), Bearberry, Licorice, Mulberry, Mallow extract, Alchemilla vulgaris (lady’s mantle), Arnica montana, Camelia Sinesis (green tea), Comfrey, Blackberry
If you’re convinced that this is the peel for you, let’s book an appointment to give you gorgeous skin.
XOXO,
Tana Marie
Skincare After 30: It's Your Time to Glow
Hello Beautiful! So, you’ve turned 30 and you’re wondering what you can do to take care of your skin. Lucky for you, I have some easy tips for ensuring you keep your healthy glow long into your 40s. Let's talk about skincare after 30.
Thirty can be an exciting time in your life. You’re confident and empowered in your career, you might be slaying the mommy game or traveling the world, and you’re already doing great things for your skin by trusting me to help you along the way. Here are three ways your skin is going to change:
Your skin will need more hydration: Your skin will experience dryness like never before. In fact, “it takes longer for the top layer of the skin to slough off, giving a more dull and dry quality and production of hydrating factors in the skin such as hyaluronic acid slows down and break down increases,” according to Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, M.D., board-certified NYC dermatologist and clinical instructor at NYU Langone and Mount Sinai.
You might start to notice signs of aging: Fine lines, hyperpigmentation, larger pores, and duller-looking skin and usual suspects. Don’t let this scare you, because your 30s are prime years for preventative skincare practices.
You notice dark spots: Depending on how much time you spend out in the sun soaking up the Vitamin D, you might notice some dark spots. There’s also a possibility that scars from acne aren’t vanishing as fast as they used to. This is due to the hydrating factors in your skin slowing down.
So, now that you know how your skin is going to change, let’s get you into a new, preventative skincare routine. The best way to prevent adult acne, dark spots, aging, and dryness are through this routine:
Don’t be dirty: Remember to wash your face morning and night. Getting rid of dirt, oil, and makeup will prevent adult acne.
Hydration station: Moisturize right after you wash your face. Because you’re a smart cookie, you already know that soap can naturally dry out your skin, so moisturizing right after you wash should become a part of your regular routine. (BONUS: if your moisturizer also contains some SPF15 or higher, you can skip the next step)
Use protection: From the sun! It’s always important to use SPF15 or higher with your moisturizer, so mix them together for a quick routine.
Consider a serum: Serums are more concentrated moisturizers, so using that in addition to step 2 will ensure you don’t have to worry about pesky dry skin.
Treat yo’ eyes: Adding an eye cream to your routine will stop those fine lines in their tracks. It will also help with dark circles and puffiness.
In the words of the great Benjamin Franklin, “You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again,” so girl, get on that routine. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow, for what you did today. And there’s no greater feeling than having pride in what you accomplished yourself.
XOXO,
Tana Marie