Youthful Skin Isn't Worth Your Health
I could spend a lot of time trying to convince you that wrinkles are okay, but to be honest it would probably be a waste of time. Wrinkles are like gray hair. You’re either into it or you’re not.
And to be honest, that’s perfectly fine.
So if you’re in the “the less wrinkles the better” club, I’m sure you know about and probably even use products with retinol in them.
Retinol formal name is Vitamin A, and can also be listed as retin-A and retinyl palmitate to name a few. It is known to be the holy grail for aging skin. Retinol is known to deal with and treat wrinkles, fine lines and generally smooth out skin.
But what happens when the side effects of retinol being in your products are (way) less than stellar?
Cue info-commercial that rapidly lists the 8,000 side effects of some random pill you “should ask your doctor about”.
Now before you try to argue that everything has side effects and the risk may be worth the reward, I have a question for you.
There have been so many harmful and unhealthy effects caused by the use of retinol in skincare that there is actually a term for those conditions caused.
Google retinoid dermatitis.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to use anything that has a condition as a result.
So what are the less than appealing side effects?
Excessive inflammation
Redness
Flaky skin
Burning & itchy skin
Increased sensitivity to the sun
This is a biggie. The increased sensitivity can trigger the growth of cancerous tumors.
The thing is that the top layer of your skin is meant to be the protector. The accumulation of using retinol over and over creates a situation where the barrier function of your skin decreases in ability. This happens because retinol is demanding your skin (too) rapidly produce new skin cells.
One more thing. Retinol is not exactly safe to use while you’re pregnant. It is placed in a group (by the FDA) that classifies it as being “at risk”. I’ve made the argument before, if something isn’t safe for me while I’m making a baby & if it isn’t safe for that same baby, why….. Why would I consider using it at all?!
I digress.
Okay, so where does that leave you? If you don’t want to embrace your wrinkles, like I said, I get that. So let me tell you about the wonderful science that went down in the Beautycounter lab.
Beautycounter developed a safer alternative to retinol and did so while keeping the desired effects at the frontline. They did so by creating what they call Retinatural Complex. Retinal Complex is meant to improve the barrier of your skin (opposite of retinol if you remember), plump and smooth your complexion, and prevent oxidative damage.
Check out press from Fast Company & from The Zoe Report.
Retinatural is made of two main ingredients - two plant essences.
Bakuchiol
Swiss Alpine Rose
Bakuchiol comes from the seeds of the babchi plant and has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. So, in other words, we are only a little late.
Swiss Alpine Rose comes from the highest points of the Swiss Alps and is used because of its ability to protect your skin against those pesky environmental stressors and dehydration.
So how do you get your hands on these ingredients and their intended benefits? Check out Beautycounter’s line Countertime. This line of products is focused on utilizing the best of Retinatural Complex in each product. That translates to layering for dewy, glowing skin for the gods.
Listen. Don’t sacrifice your health for younger looking skin.
If you’re unsure where to start, ask me!