While retinol can play an important role in your skin care routine, it is not the only thing you can do to maintain your complexion’s youthful-looking appearance. Add these steps to your skin care routine in addition to using a retinol cream for the best results.
1. Use a facial cleanser twice a day
Cleansing your skin is one of the best steps you can take to care for your skin. Washing your face at night is particularly important to help address the buildup of dirt, oil, and makeup that has piled up on the skin's surface during the day. Since dryness can become more prevalent as you age, opt for a gentle cream cleanser that hydrates while it cleanses, like our Age Perfect Classic Facial Cleansing Milk.
2. Remember to sunscreen every day
We can’t stress this point enough! We’ve already given you one good reason to wear sunscreen — retinoids can increase sun sensitivity — but there’s more. Without adequate protection, the sun can cause damage to your skin, which can lead to visible signs of ageing down the road, like wrinkles and dark spots. The sun emits two kinds of rays — UVA and UVB — and UVA rays are the ones responsible for making your skin look older, while UVB rays cause burning. Even on an overcast day, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin against both types of UV rays. Our Revitalift Classic Day Cream SPF 15 & Revitalift Laser Day Cream SPF 15 are formulated with SPF for added protection and prevention against ageing.
3. Exfoliate when you need
Get rid of dead skin cells from the surface of your skin by incorporating a gentle exfoliator into your routine once or twice a week. Exfoliation is an essential part of a skin care routine for ageing skin. This is as you get older, your skin’s ability to shed old surface skin cells slows down, and the resulting buildup can lead to a dull-looking complexion. Reveal brighter skin by introducing a chemical exfoliant into your skincare routine – we love the Revitalift Laser X3 Glycolic Pads. Formulated to reveal brighter, softer skin with Glycolic Acid, and suitable for all skin types.
4. Add a facial serum
A facial serum should be applied to the face and neck after cleansing but before your moisturiser. Serums are more lightweight than moisturisers, and often incorporate high concentrations of specific active ingredients, including retinol or hyaluronic acid. Different active ingredients will achieve results – to find the right facial serum for you, use our guide to facial serums. Our favourite for added hydration is Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid 1.5%, our most hydrating serum which provides replenished moisture for plumped, supple and youthful looking skin. It has been specifically developed to deliver an advanced anti-wrinkle efficacy with rapid absorption and non-greasy finish.
5. Pay attention to your eyes
Your eyes aren't just the window to your soul, they can also be a dead giveaway of ageing skin. As we age, our skin loses collagen, which often shows in the delicate skin around the eyes first. If you experience the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, or fine lines, try adding an eye cream that contains retinol to your daily skin care routine. The Revitalift Classic Eye Cream contains Pro-Retinol and should be applied both morning and night.
6. Moisturise!
During the day, apply your usual day cream. In the evening, finish up your skin care routine with your chosen retinol products, including the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Classic Night Cream.
Now you know what retinol is, what a retinoid is, and how retinol works, it’s time to put it to good use in your skincare routine!